Yes, leases in Flanders must be in Dutch
In the Flemish Region, the lease must be drafted in Dutch. This requirement comes from the Flemish language legislation (Decree of 19 July 1973). A lease written in French or another language can be declared null by a Flemish court. However, the parties may add a translation alongside the Dutch original for practical purposes.
The language requirement for leases in Flanders is one of the most frequently overlooked rules in Belgian rental law. It applies to all leases for properties located in the Flemish Region, regardless of the nationality or language of the landlord or tenant.
The Decree of 19 July 1973 on language use in social relations governs this obligation. Originally focused on employment relations, the decree has been interpreted broadly by courts to cover civil contracts, including leases, when at least one party is a company or when the property is located in Flanders.
For international tenants who do not speak Dutch, the standard practice is to provide a Dutch original with a courtesy translation in another language. Only the Dutch version has legal value.
How to comply with the language requirement
Steps to ensure compliance:
- Draft the lease in Dutch as the primary and legally binding version
- Add a translation if needed, clearly marked as “informative translation” (informatieve vertaling)
- Use Dutch for the registration on MyRent
- All annexes must also be in Dutch (EPC, inventory, regional information annex)
- Correspondence related to the lease should be in Dutch
What counts as a “lease in Dutch”:
- Original lease text must be in Dutch
- All mandatory clauses must appear in Dutch
- Regional annexes must use the official Flemish templates
- Signatures and dates can be in international format
BailBelgique generates leases in Dutch automatically when you select a property in the Flemish Region. All mandatory clauses and Flemish annexes are included in the correct language.
Consequences of using the wrong language
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Lease in French for a property in Flanders | Can be declared null by court |
| Lease in English for a property in Flanders | Can be declared null by court |
| Bilingual lease (Dutch + French) | Valid if Dutch is the primary version |
| Dutch lease with informal translation | Valid (Dutch version prevails) |
| Nullity must be raised | Before the merits of the case are debated |
The nullity of a lease due to language is a relative nullity, meaning it must be actively claimed by one of the parties. A court will not declare a lease null on its own initiative. The nullity must be raised as a preliminary objection, before the substance of any dispute is discussed.
If the lease is declared null, the parties are placed back in their original position. The tenant must vacate and the landlord must return the deposit and any overpaid amounts. This can be extremely disruptive for both parties.
Do not assume that a French or English lease will be accepted in Flanders because “everyone understood the terms.” The language requirement is strictly applied and a party acting in bad faith can use it as a tactical weapon in disputes. Always use a Dutch lease for properties in Flanders.
Regional specifics
Brussels-Capital Region
Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch). Leases can be drafted in either French or Dutch, and both languages have equal legal value. There is no obligation to use a specific language. In practice, most leases in Brussels are in French, but a Dutch version is equally valid.
Wallonia
In Wallonia, the lease must be in French. The same language legislation principles apply: a lease in Dutch for a property in Wallonia could theoretically be challenged. The Walloon Residential Lease Decree and all associated templates are in French.
Flanders
The Flemish Housing Rental Decree and all official templates are exclusively in Dutch. The language requirement extends to all lease-related communications, notices, and legal proceedings in Flemish courts. Properties in the Flemish periphery around Brussels also require Dutch-language leases.
Decree of 19 July 1973 on language use in social relations — Applied to lease agreements for properties in the Flemish Region. Article 129 of the Belgian Constitution — Regional competence over language use.