Actor Matthias Schoenaerts faces prison sentence for repeated driving without licence
The police court in Beringen has sentenced actor Matthias Schoenaerts in absentia to six months in prison, a one-year driving ban and a fine of 4,000 euros. The ruling relates to two instances in April 2024 in which the Flemish actor was caught riding a motorbike without a valid licence.
Schoenaerts was stopped on 5 and 21 April 2024 in Pelt while riding a motorbike, despite being banned from driving since a 29 September 2021 conviction. He was required to take remedial exams before recovering his licence, but had failed to do so. His licence has been held by the authorities since January 2023.
The court found three offences proven: driving twice without a valid licence and failing to present a certificate of insurance on 5 April. Alongside a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 4,000 euros, the court imposed a new one-year driving ban.
Before being allowed to drive again, Schoenaerts must pass theoretical and practical driving tests, as well as medical and psychological assessments.
"A strict signal is necessary to protect society and prevent recidivism"
Court spokesperson Luc De Cleir said the chances of Schoenaerts actually ending up in jail are almost nonexistent. Under current legislation, the prison sentence will not be executed and that the judiciary has no say in whether the actor might receive an ankle tag instead. He could also file an opposition and then appeal the ruling.
12th conviction
Schoenaerts has been convicted in the police court 11 times in the past. The court considered that an aggravating circumstance, according to De Cleir. When previous measures fail, "a strict signal is necessary to protect society and prevent recidivism", he said.
Monday's conviction might not be the last for Schoenaerts. On Friday, it emerged that he was stopped by police in Pelt on 21 November 2025. He did not have a licence, refused a breath test and behaved aggressively when his vehicle was towed. He was administratively detained for several hours. These new facts are still under investigation.
Schoenaerts is one of Belgium’s most internationally recognised actors. Since his breakthrough in the 2011 Oscar-nominated Flemish film Bullhead, he has appeared in major international productions, sharing the screen with stars such as Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy. Next year, he is set to play the main villain in DC's Supergirl.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO MARTIN BUREAU / AFP
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