Dutch and French office words from Belgium, explained
The words you see in official letters in Belgium, in plain English.
- aangetekende brief
- Registered letter. You get proof that you sent it.
- aanmaning
- Payment reminder.
- aanslagbiljet
- Tax bill. It shows how much income tax or property tax you must pay, or get back, for one year.
- aanslagjaar
- Tax year. Aanslagjaar 2026 is about the income you earned in 2025.
- afbetalingsplan
- Payment plan to pay a debt in monthly parts.
- allocations de chômage
- Unemployment benefit, decided by the ONEM and paid by your union or the CAPAC.
- amende administrative (SAC)
- Fine from the town hall, for example for parking, litter or noise.
- arbeidsrechtbank
- Labour court. You can appeal social security decisions there, usually within 3 months and for free.
- avertissement-extrait de rôle
- Tax bill. It shows how much income tax or property tax you must pay, or get back, for one year.
- beslag
- Seizure of money or goods to pay a debt, for example part of your wage.
- bevel om het grondgebied te verlaten
- Order to leave Belgium by a set date.
- bevel tot betalen
- Formal order from a bailiff to pay a debt. After it, your goods or money can be seized.
- bezwaarschrift
- Written objection against a tax bill. You can send it online in MyMinfin or by post.
- citation
- Summons to appear in court on a set date.
- commandement de payer
- Formal order from a bailiff to pay a debt. After it, your goods or money can be seized.
- communication structurée
- Payment code like +++123/4567/89002+++. It links your payment to your file.
- CPAS
- Public social welfare centre in your town. It helps with money, debt and housing problems.
- dagvaarding
- Summons to appear in court on a set date.
- endéans
- Belgian French for “within”, as in “endéans les 15 jours” — within 15 days.
- exercice d’imposition
- Tax year. Exercice d’imposition 2026 is about the income you earned in 2025.
- GAS-boete
- Fine from the town hall, for example for parking, litter or noise.
- gerechtsdeurwaarder
- Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and collects debts.
- gestructureerde mededeling
- Payment code like +++123/4567/89002+++. It links your payment to your file.
- Groeipakket
- Child benefit in Flanders.
- huissier de justice
- Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and collects debts.
- huurwaarborg
- Rental deposit, usually on a blocked bank account in your name.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that they want back.
- ingebrekestelling
- Formal demand to pay or act. The last step before court.
- justice de paix
- Local court for rent, small debts and neighbour problems.
- leefloon
- Living wage from the OCMW for people with no or too little income.
- mise en demeure
- Formal demand to pay or act. The last step before court.
- mutualité
- Health insurance fund. It pays back medical costs and pays sickness benefits.
- numéro de registre national
- National register number. Your personal number in Belgium, also on your identity card.
- OCMW
- Public social welfare centre in your town. It helps with money, debt and housing problems.
- onmiddellijke inning
- Offer to pay a traffic fine quickly and end the case.
- onroerende voorheffing
- Yearly property tax for the owner of a house or flat.
- ordre de quitter le territoire
- Order to leave Belgium by a set date.
- perception immédiate
- Offer to pay a traffic fine quickly and end the case.
- personenbelasting
- Personal income tax.
- plan de paiement
- Payment plan to pay a debt in monthly parts.
- précompte immobilier
- Yearly property tax for the owner of a house or flat.
- réclamation
- Written objection against a tax bill. You can send it online in MyMinfin or by post.
- revenu d’intégration
- Living wage from the CPAS for people with no or too little income.
- rijksregisternummer
- National register number. Your personal number in Belgium, also on your identity card.
- saisie
- Seizure of money or goods to pay a debt, for example part of your wage.
- terugvordering
- Request to pay back money you got but weren’t entitled to.
- tribunal du travail
- Labour court. You can appeal social security decisions there, usually within 3 months and for free.
- vredegerecht
- Local court for rent, small debts and neighbour problems.
- werkloosheidsuitkering
- Unemployment benefit, decided by the RVA and paid by your union or the HVW.
- ziekenfonds
- Health insurance fund. It pays back medical costs and pays sickness benefits.