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The Federal Police will test the new Belgian uniforms over the coming months in 13 police zones. But the rollout still faces some challenges, since the new gear hasn’t yet received formal approval through a Royal Decree. In this article, I break down what that means in practice.
New Belgian uniforms have been quite a journey
Back in 2023, the Belgian Federal Police officially launched the process of introducing new uniforms. This sparked a lot of attention, especially since officers had been wearing the same gear for over 20 years, gear they were far from satisfied with. Many felt it lacked a professional look and didn’t project enough authority. I previously wrote an article about this, where you can also see the old uniforms.
A year later, the new design was finally unveiled. It came from Dutch designer Karin Slegers, a well-known name in the industry. In the Netherlands, she designed uniforms for Schiphol Airport and the Dutch Ambulance Service. As expected, her design triggered a lot of debate.
Curious about the public’s reaction? I made an English-language video about it on social media. The TikTok clip below was viewed over 225,000 times and received nearly 400 comments. Tap the play button to watch the video and click the text below it to read the responses.
@prettybusiness Belgium gets a new police uniform! The officers will start wearing these from the end of 2026/beginning of 2027. #belgium #belgium🇧🇪 #belgiumpolice #police #uniform #workwear #officer #policeofficer #karinslegers #designer
♬ origineel geluid – Aileen | workwear & uniform
One of the most talked-about features was the horizontal yellow stripes, which reminded many people of the Dutch police uniforms. According to Slegers, that was intentional. Several neighboring countries use similar high-visibility colors to ensure that emergency services remain recognizable and can work together more effectively.
However, it didn’t take long before the first counterfeit versions of the uniform popped up on AliExpress. In response, the police contacted the Chinese webshop, which fortunately removed the fakes. Authorities were concerned not only about potential misuse but also that impatient officers might start ordering them on their own while waiting for the official rollout.
New Belgian uniforms tested in 13 police zones
Now, the testing phase has finally begun. Between July 15 and October 15, thirteen police zones will try out the new uniforms. However, not every officer in those zones will receive the new gear during the test.
Walter Vranckx from the Lubbeek police told VRT they’ve received only two uniforms so far. He added, “Since the new uniform hasn’t been officially included in a Royal Decree, officers can’t write official reports while wearing it. That’s why they always patrol in pairs.”
The participating zones are testing the uniforms in a variety of working conditions. During the trial period, officers will actively share feedback on comfort, fit, material quality, practicality, and durability. The Antwerp police zone leads the national project and gathers all the input. They’re placing particular focus on how weather-resistant and long-lasting the materials are.
If all goes well, authorities expect that the full rollout of the new uniforms will begin at the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Best regards,
Aileen