Residential areaFlanders
4. Residential area
A residential area is a street or group of streets where housing and access to local properties are the main functions. Drivers should expect pedestrians, cyclists, children, parked vehicles and vehicles entering or leaving driveways.
Some countries identify particular residential areas with traffic signs and apply special low-speed and residential-area rules. The speed limit, pedestrian rights, parking rules and permitted road users therefore depend on local signs and regulations.
Wikimedia.org • Jeanhousen • CC BY-SA
How can you recognise a residential area in Belgium?
A legally designated Belgian residential area begins at the residential-area sign showing a pedestrian, a child playing, a car and a house. Its special rules continue throughout the area until the corresponding end sign.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
Start of a residential area.
English • Traffic sign F12a • Beginning of a residential area (zone résidentielle or zone de rencontre). The special traffic rules for these areas apply from the location of the sign. This sign is placed on the right at every entrance to such an area; it may be repeated on the left.
Français • Signal routier F12a • Commencement d'une zone résidentielle ou d'une zone de rencontre. Les règles spéciales de circulation dans les zones résidentielles ou les zones de rencontre s'appliquent à partir de l'endroit où le signal est placé. Ce signal est placé à droite de chaque accès à une zone résidentielle ou une zone de rencontre; il peut être répété à gauche.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord F12a • Begin van een woonerf of van een erf. De bijzondere verkeersregelen in de woonerven of erven gelden vanaf de plaats waar het verkeersbord aangebracht is. Dit verkeersbord wordt rechts geplaatst aan elke toegang tot een woonerf of erf; het mag links herhaald worden.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 71. Aanwijzingsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 71. Signaux d'indication (FR)
End of the residential area.
English • Traffic sign F12b • End of a residential area. This sign is placed on the right at every exit from a residential area (zone résidentielle or zone de rencontre); it may be repeated on the left.
Français • Signal routier F12b • Fin d'une zone résidentielle. Ce signal est placé à droite de chaque sortie d'une zone résidentielle ou d'une zone de rencontre; il peut être répété à gauche.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord F12b • Einde van een woonerf of van een erf. Dit verkeersbord wordt rechts geplaatst aan elke uitgang van een woonerf of erf; het mag links herhaald worden.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 71. Aanwijzingsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 71. Signaux d'indication (FR)
What is the speed limit in a Belgian residential area?
The maximum speed is 20 km/h. Drivers must still travel more slowly when necessary to avoid endangering or hindering pedestrians.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
Must drivers give way to pedestrians?
Drivers may not endanger or hinder pedestrians and must stop when necessary. Pedestrians may use the whole road, but they may not obstruct vehicle traffic without a reason.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
How do Belgians refer to a residential area?
In Dutch, used in Flanders, the official terms are woonerf and erf. In French, used in Wallonia, the corresponding terms are zone résidentielle and zone de rencontre. Brussels uses both Dutch and French.
A woonerf / zone résidentielle mainly serves housing. An erf / zone de rencontre can also accommodate activities such as shops, tourism, education and recreation. Both are designated by the residential-area signs and have a maximum speed of 20 km/h.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 2.32, 12, 22bis and 71 (F12a/F12b)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds

Traffic rules
Flanders