Can I homeschool my child?
Yes, you may home-educate your child — Belgium has compulsory education (a duty to be educated), not a duty to attend a school. From 5 to 18 your child must receive education, but not necessarily at a school. Strict conditions apply, differing by community. In Flanders you make a yearly home-education declaration (by the 3rd school day), allow the inspectorate, and your child must sit exams before the Examination Board: the primary-education certificate by the school year it turns 13, and the first-degree secondary certificate by the year it turns 16. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation you declare your child, there are level checks at ages 8 and 10, and it obtains the CEB (around 12), CE1D (14) and CE2D (16). If you don't meet the conditions, your child must enrol in a recognised school.
📋 The rules
- In Belgium: compulsory education (5–18), not compulsory schooling — home education is allowed
- Flanders: yearly declaration by the 3rd school day; inspection possible
- Flanders: compulsory Examination Board exams (primary certificate by 13, first secondary degree by 16)
- Wallonia-Brussels Federation: declaration, level checks at ages 8 and 10, CEB (~12), CE1D (14), CE2D (16)
- Home education may not be combined with enrolment in a recognised school
- If the conditions are not met, the child must go to a recognised school
🔓 Exceptions
- In Brussels you may choose between the Flemish and the French-speaking scheme
- Exemption from the Examination Board only if the CLB expressly grants it (e.g. a serious learning disorder)
- You may not combine home education with enrolment in a recognised school — it is one or the other
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If you don't meet the declaration, inspection or exam duties — or if your child doesn't obtain the required certificates by the deadlines — the child must be enrolled in a recognised school. That is the real sanction: you lose the choice. In Flanders, home education may only resume after at least six months at school and with the inspectorate's permission, so one missed deadline costs you half a school year. Not complying with compulsory education is also criminally sanctionable.
📎 Official sources
- Vlaanderen.be · home education (compulsory education 5–18) →
- Enseignement.be · home education (FWB) →
- Démarches CFWB · declaring home education →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I teach my child at home?
Yes. Belgium has compulsory education, not compulsory schooling: from 5 to 18 your child must receive education, but that may be at home. You must meet your community's declaration, inspection and exam duties.
Do I have to declare it?
Yes. In Flanders you make a yearly home-education declaration, by the 3rd school day at the latest, via the home-education desk. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation you likewise declare your child to the control service.
Does my child have to sit exams?
Yes. In Flanders your child sits exams before the Examination Board (primary certificate by 13, first secondary degree by 16). In the FWB there are the CEB, CE1D and CE2D, plus level checks at ages 8 and 10.
I live in Brussels — which rules apply?
In Brussels you may choose between the Flemish and the French-speaking scheme. But you then take that community's full package: its declaration, its inspection and its exams — you cannot mix the two systems.
What if my child fails the exams?
The child must then be enrolled in a recognised school. In Flanders, home education may only resume after at least six months at school and with the education inspectorate's permission.
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