The Misuse of Identity Cards – not Best Practice in Belgium

I haven’t so far talked at all about living in Belgium – not that I consider myself a resident of Brussels, but rather a part timer with a very modest apartment.  However, having in the past been astounded by the scale of Belgium bureaucracy, I felt moved to write this post which describes a petty incident, but one which, I’m afraid, illustrates the kind of frustration you face here from time to time.  But, please don’t get me wrong; there’s a lot that’s good about being in Brussels and it is, on the whole, a better than average place to be.  Apart from the seemingly pointless rules, that is.

I rent a small flat here, which I find more congenial than constant hotel hopping.   The flat, in a modern block, is ten minutes walk from the European Parliament and therefore suits my purposes well.  So far nothing out of the ordinary.

This flat obviously has a front door, and this is where the present trouble started.  I needed to get an extra key cut, and thinking this would be a simple and painless task, I made for my nearest locksmith’s shop, the usual kind of place which does keys and shoes.  Then the bombshell struck.  In order to get the key cut I needed to produce my Belgian identity card!  Since I didn’t have this immediately to hand,  I offered my British passport, to no effect.  It’s got to be the ID card, no negotiation, it’s the rules.  I therefore had no choice but to find the card and comply.

This really is a case of the tail wagging the dog.  At my pied à terre here, I keep nothing of value in the flat, merely a selection of work clothes, toiletries, some food and a whole stack of books.   I would have thought it’s up to me to decide the level of security I require, and not some agent of the state.

Also, there was a time I thought identity cards may be a good thing, but I’m rapidly going off the idea.  After the front door key episode I really don’t  want any excuse for us in Britain to be inconvenienced by Belgian style petty bureaucracy.