Dutch language requirement for taxi drivers in Flanders starts on 1 July
From 1 July, taxi drivers in Flanders must meet a Dutch language requirement, the office of Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder has confirmed. The rule, part of the 2020 taxi decree, has been postponed twice.
The new taxi decree introduced mandatory driver’s permits and a requirement for drivers to attain Dutch proficiency at level B1. Drivers initially had two years to comply, but extensions in 2022 and 2023 pushed the deadline back.
The most recent extension allowed anyone who obtained a permit before 1 July 2023 to remain active, provided they registered for a qualifying language course by 30 June 2024.
In December 2023, drivers protested the requirement. Pierre Steenberghen, secretary general of the National Association of Taxi Companies, warned the 240-hour course, combined with labour shortages, could lead to “no more taxis on the road”. Drivers who fail to meet the requirement risk losing their licence.
The rule does not apply to Brussels-based drivers, many of whom operate at Brussels Airport. According to Steenberghen, around 400 drivers with a Flemish licence currently work there. He also described the taxi sector as “the most diverse in Flanders, with many people of different origins”.
#FlandersNewsService | Taxis at Brussels Airport © PHOTO BELPRESS
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