Belgium
- Who issues it
- Service public fédéral Mobilité et Transports — Direction générale Navigation [Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport — Directorate-General Shipping].
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- Règlement international de 1972 pour prévenir les abordages en mer
Do you need a licence?
Yes, for professional use, a hull over 15 metres, or a motorboat capable of over 20 km/h.
You don't need one for:
- a boat on designated closed waters
Main licences start at 16. For a boat meeting the size or speed trigger in coastal ports or at sea, the driver must be 18, except jet-ski drivers may be 16; boats over 24 metres at sea need STCW qualifications.
Attestation d’expérience · Experience attestation
- What it lets you do
- This is for private use on Belgian sea waters. Only existing holders can renew it every 3 years; new applications are closed.
- How you get it
- Before each renewal, you complete at least 8 hours of refresher theory and a non-binding test.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de conduite restreint · Restricted steering certificate
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use inland waters, except the Lower Sea Scheldt and coastal ports.
- How you get it
- You answer 30 multiple-choice questions and need 60% overall and 50% in each section. The practical lasts at least 1 hour and needs 60%; a critical safety error is a fail.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de conduite général · General steering certificate
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use all inland waters and go to sea up to 6 nautical miles. For private use, it also covers all of Belgium's territorial sea and EEZ.
- How you get it
- You take the restricted theory plus 30 MCQs, needing 60% overall and 50% in each section. The practical lasts at least 1 hour and needs 60%; a critical safety error is a fail.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet yachtman · Yacht skipper certificate
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use all inland waters and go to sea up to 200 nautical miles. Commercial use brings extra requirements.
- How you get it
- You take the general theory plus 35 MCQs, needing 60% in each section and overall. The practical is at least 6 hours for motor or 10 for motor and sail, needs 60%, and a critical safety error is a fail.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de navigateur de yacht · Yacht navigator certificate
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use all inland and sea zones, including beyond 200 nautical miles, under motor and sail.
- How you get it
- You need Yachtman first. Then you answer 35 written theory questions over 2 days, scoring 60% in each section and overall.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de formation · Training certificate
- What it lets you do
- This is for instructors teaching on cabinless pleasure craft in Belgian waters, excluding the EEZ, under the recognised training scheme.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de radar · Radar certificate
From 16- What it lets you do
- This optional certificate shows you can navigate a pleasure craft using radar.
- How you get it
- You answer 50 multiple-choice questions and need 70% overall. The practical lasts at least 30 minutes and needs 60%.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat international de conducteur de navire de plaisance (ICC) · International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft
- What it lets you do
- You can use this abroad with inland or coastal and motor or sail endorsements. It supplements your Belgian national certificate.
- How you get it
- It is based on an eligible Belgian certificate. You may need a sailing test for the sail endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
More exam guides
Algemeen stuurbrevet (België)
Met het algemeen stuurbrevet mag je op de binnenwateren, de Beneden-Zeeschelde, in kusthavens en tot 6 zeemijl uit de kust varen: zones 0 tot en met 4. Het brevet wordt afgegeven vanaf 16 jaar. M geldt voor motorboten; om ook met zeilboten te varen heb je MS nodig.
Professional deck titles
Matelot faisant partie d’une équipe de quart à la passerelle
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can take part in the navigational watch as a deck rating.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Marin qualifié Pont
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- This lets you work as an able seafarer in the deck department.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Officier chargé du quart à la passerelle / Capitaine — yachting commercial côtier
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can serve as an officer or master, as endorsed, on commercial yachts from 2.5 to 24 m or under 200 GT, up to 30 nautical miles.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Officier chargé du quart à la passerelle
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a navigational watch officer. Your vessel and trading limits depend on the certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Second
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief mate on ships of 500 GT or more, subject to your certificate restrictions.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitaine
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as master of ships of 500 GT or more, subject to your certificate restrictions.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Certificat restreint de radiotéléphoniste (VHF)
- What it lets you do
- You can operate marine radio stations without GMDSS capability.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat pour les navires de cabotage (SRC)
SRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate marine radio, including GMDSS, on non-SOLAS vessels in sea area A1.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat pour les navires au long cours (LRC)
LRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate marine radio, including GMDSS, on non-SOLAS vessels without an A1-only restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat restreint d'opérateur (ROC)
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can operate marine radio, including GMDSS, on vessels including SOLAS ships in sea area A1.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat général d'opérateur (GOC)
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can operate all marine radio stations, including GMDSS on SOLAS ships, without an A1-only restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
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Official sources: SPF Justice — Koninklijk besluit betreffende de pleziervaart (consolidated) · SPF Mobilité et Transports — Examens théoriques · SPF Mobilité et Transports — Certification des marins en Belgique, STCW FAQ (13 October 2025) · Moniteur belge — Arrêté royal du 14 décembre 2018, maritime radio operator certificates · Vlaamse Codex — Coastal navigation regulations, Annex 7: IALA zone A · SPF Mobilité et Transports — Brevet ICC