DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Belgium duty-free when entering from non-EU countries:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 g tobacco (people aged 17 and over);
1 l spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22% or 2 l spirits with an alcohol content of no more than 22% or sparkling wine (people aged 17 and over);
4 l table wine;
16 liters of beer;
Gifts / other goods up to a total value of € 430 (air and sea travel) or € 300 (travel by train / car); Children under 15 years of age generally € 175.
Import regulations
Travelers who bring meat and milk products into the EU from outside the European Union must register them. The regulation does not apply to the import of animal products from the EU countries as well as from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. Anyone who does not register these products can expect fines or criminal penalties.
Prohibited imports
For live poultry, there is a general import ban from third countries (with the exception of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Import / export to the EU
The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers, provided that the goods are intended for personal use and not for resale. In addition, the goods must not have been bought in duty-free shops. Proof of personal personal needs can be requested from travelers. Member States have the right to impose excise duties on spirits or tobacco products when these products are not intended for personal use.
The following maximum quantities apply to personal requirements:
800 cigarettes (people 17 and over);
400 cigarillos (17+);
200 cigars (only 17+);
1 kg tobacco (people aged 17+);
10 liters of high-proof alcoholic beverages (people aged 17 and over);
20 liters of intermediate products (e.g. liqueur wine, vermouth wine) (people aged 17 and over);
90 liters of wine (including a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) (people aged 17 and over);
110 liters of beer (people 17+);
Perfumes and eau de toilette: No restrictions if it can be demonstrated that the amount is for personal consumption.
Medicines: Amount appropriate to personal needs during the trip.
Other goods: The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers. However, gold alloys and gold plating in the unprocessed state or as a semi-finished product and fuel are excluded from this. Fuel may only be imported from an EC member state exempt from mineral oil tax if it is in the vehicle’s tank or in a reserve container carried with it. A fuel quantity of up to 10 liters in the reserve tank will not be rejected.
If additional quantities of these goods are carried, z. B. a wedding an event with which a bulk purchase could be justified.
Note: There are, however, certain exceptions to the regulation of the unrestricted movement of goods. They particularly concern the purchase of new vehicles and purchases for commercial purposes. (For more information on taxes on motor vehicles, see the European Commission’s guide “Buying goods and services in the internal market”).
EU
Duty-free sales at airports and shipping ports have been abolished for travel within the EU. Only travelers who leave the EU can shop cheaply in the duty-free shop. When importing goods into an EU country that were bought in duty-free shops in another EU country, the same travel allowances and the same travel allowance apply as when entering from non-EU countries.
SHOP
Overview
Shopping in Belgium, a country located in Europe according to computerannals, is a real pleasure: the best souvenirs are the famous Belgian pralines, chocolates and waffles; Chocolate fans will find a large selection of confectioneries in Bruges and Brussels. Lace from Bruges, Brussels and Mechelen (Malines) are also popular; Antwerp diamonds and jewelry; Ceramic and handmade copper items from Dinat; Crystal from Val Saint Lambert and wood carvings from Spa. Beer shouldn’t be bought in tourist shops, but rather directly from one of the regional breweries, such as the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels. The best shopping opportunities are in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ostend, Namur, Mons, Liège (Luik / Liège), Ghent and Mechelen.
If you are looking for something more unusual, you can buy a bottle of Jenever (spirit with at least 35% alcohol by volume) from Hasselt, handmade halve maantje (moon-shaped cookies dipped in chocolate) from Diest or a comic book (bandes dessinée) by one of the local cartoon artists from Brussels.
Fashion lovers will find what they are looking for in Brussels and Antwerp. The most elegant shopping arcades in Brussels include the glass – arched Galeries Royales St-Hubert, the Galerie Bortier and the Passage du Nord, while the usual fashion shops line up on Rue Neuve. Designer pieces can be found on Avenue Louise. High-quality antiques can be found in the Quartier des Sablon, cheaper pieces are available in the Quartier des Marolles.
Antwerp’s haute couture boutiques are concentrated along the Nationaalstraat and Lombardenvest. The most popular fashion stores are on the Meir boulevard, which connects the train station with the old town. Anyone looking for diamonds will find them in the Jewish Quarter in the area around the main train station.
There are a number of markets in Belgium, most of which take place in central squares on weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Probably the best known is the Marché aux Puces flea market (Internet: www.marcheauxpuces.be) in Brussels, which takes place on the Place du Jeu de Balle, and the Marché du Midi food market, which runs on Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. takes place on the Boulevard de l’Europe.
Opening hours
Shop opening times: Department stores: Mon-Sat 9 am-6pm / 7pm, Fri 9 am-9pm. Supermarkets: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Outside the tourist areas, shops are often closed for lunch.
