A long weekend of lounging in the Walloon Ardennes is always a fun excursion. With an older car. Nice and drivable and yet completely abroad. But without too steep slopes or breathtaking passes. Nice is not it? It is not without reason that you see entire herds of classics on four or two wheels in the region.
An environmental burp
But do you want to discover the Ardennes with your classic car, or at least with your pre-1996 car? Then do this now, in 2021 or in 2022. Wallonia has decided to rename the entire area into one environmental zone. You read that right. Not only a city like Liège or Namur, but all of Wallonia will have to deal with the same rules. Today, what the Flemish call 'reserve French' are quite famous for their bureaucracy and regulations. And as far as the environment is concerned, we know that near the Eau Noir there is an old factory where they at least used hydrochloric acid. About thirty years ago we found the rustic ruin during a walk. The empty factory still contained full barrels of hydrochloric acid. They are still there now. They just aren't all full anymore. But to testify to the goodwill.
Wallonia will ban petrol and diesel cars produced before 1996 with effect from 1 January 2023. Every subsequent year, the rules will become stricter and stricter.
Old cars are not welcome in Wallonia
In 2024, cars older than 2000 are not welcome in Wallonia, in 2025 cars older than 2005 and in 2026 cars older than 2010. In subsequent years petrol cars are still welcome, but diesels are no longer. Diesels older than 2028 will be banned in 2015 and diesels older than 2030 in 2019.
Not many people will be sacrificed in the first year. The following years can start to break down. By 2026, there will still be enough people who own a pre-2010 car as a daily means of transport. That group will have to take a lot of money.
Exceptions
There are still a few exceptions. The main exception for older cars in Wallonia applies to vehicles that drive less than 3000 kilometers per year. So they remain welcome in the area. So if you have a Mustang from the 60s or 70s with which you occasionally make some kilometers, you can simply tour through Wallonia. You can read all about the measures on a special webpage of Wallonia.
We also have no idea how they think economically to work there.
Have you ever been to the Ardennes in the past 10 years? Not exactly the richest region, full of people from the long-standing class of the structural minima who probably not all drive a 20+ year old, deeply lived R20, Saxo or Clio diesel for fun. And you see quite a lot of it in daily traffic. Within a few years now, those people have to make a major upgrade from their already not very good income. Perhaps a European savings bank can be found for it.
Tourism as an economic float. And rest
And it is an area where a fair share of the income comes from tourism. Tourists who can also go to the nearby Eifel if their car is no longer allowed in the Ardennes. And in the meantime, half villages are for sale in the Walloon and French Ardennes. Acquaintances were already merchant m / f for 2.500 euros. But that was also a challenging project. They now run a B&B and a dog-friendly campsite where you can enjoy a delicious meal. Maybe a long weekend idea for this beautiful fall?
As an organizer we annually organize a 4-day trip in Wallonia, around East Belgium. We can always count on about 30 participants, to the delight of the participants. We will miss these rides if the schedule of the Walloon government is effectively established. But especially the local businesses, hotels, restaurants, events, etc. are good for 20 to 25000 € without taking into account the refueling. The expenses, for the Walloons this income, therefore also dry up. The middle class will not be happy with this.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen of the Walloon region, think about the law that you have voted on and let the fun-loving population, the oldtimers and the oldtimer friends earn their living and the others enjoy their often very beautiful and expensive oldtimer
In a while, and if we don't listen well enough in the eyes of mr Rufte, the Corona stick will be taken out and criticizing citizens will be brought to order. Seems as effective as the Millieu stick. Maybe it will help if we strap the classic on a face mask I think is just as ridiculous as these kinds of measures.
Nice story
In addition, in Germany they have to "run on gas", because cleaner,
And in Bels they receive a subsidy for Mega stables!
Nice, that environment!
They never get their redaction rules enforced!
Long live the EU, with separate rules for each country, but also each region!
The Ardennes are thus still made more isolated!
The rules have yet to be worked out; hopefully not just by leftist streams!
Am an Antwerp resident, yes, excuse me, I know all too well what can be done in that area, a city where the citizen, the devil is harmed. Where no one comes anymore, if it really doesn't have to be, where your own children, and circle of friends stay away. The city is crooked by the cameras, and it really works too well. This way you can see at what time you enter the city, whether your inspection has not expired, whether your insurance is legal, BVB. every day at 8 o'clock, with oldtimer? so, daily use, which is punishable, etc. Center of Antwerp more & more shops are empty, but that doesn't matter, greetings Bob
Indeed Robert, Antwerp was the first, in the meantime more cities have jumped on the cart (and I hear everyone say, it is bad for the economy, but the fines are direct income and that appeals to them ...) (politicians are “short term thinkers ”) I think it's terrible for the people who live there, (can't even get outside by car without paying…)
In the Netherlands there is an overly romanticized image of your yet heart-conquering kingdom.
Ford Mustang Diesel?
It will happen that diesel cars will be banned, especially with the current environmental awareness. Fortunately, I bought a good (and affordable) diesel from 2014 this month, the diesel versions are nicely priced nowadays.
I stuck with Ford Mustang Diesel… .has the illustrious one
Mustang a diesel version? Is my classic knowledge so limited that I don't know this? That's really new to me if it's true.
It amazes me that the Americans built efficient engines in their musscle cars in the 60s / 70s at the time of the big slurpers. Please don't let it be true ...
Who speaks here of a Mustang Diesel? try “reading comprehension” nowhere does it say “Mustang Diesel” ...
Bad news! Emotion! I'll just take a look at the Kuebler-Ross change curve (5 phases).
1. First shock: We love to come to the Ardennes. And we regularly stay there for a weekend. Or travel quietly through it to Northern France. As far as the mutual pleasure of a Dutch tourist and Walloon hosts and ladies. That will no longer be possible soon.
2. Dan Fury: I can't imagine anyone would want to spoil that. How are they going to check, what idiots, they never succeed. Crazy! Bad for the economy!
3. Negotiation: It is an impracticable rule. Runs against fundamental rights. Think for a moment, politicians: “Half times!”.
4. Depression: Although, in some Flemish cities they also make it difficult for you to visit with a classic car (which is why I no longer go there, but I don't like that).
5. Acceptance: Oh well, I have three classics on the road. I drive nowhere near 9000 km a year. If I have to, I buy a nice classic or I finally get my Duck (is now suspended and is my fourth classic) again. That is actually a good intention.
See, that's the positive approach!
And then point six of the curve…. It is our friendly neighbor where - just like here, just think of Lelystad airport - there is often an impossible balance between plan and practice.
And how will the Walloon agent check how many kilometers I have driven or will still drive per year with my car?
On the basis of the mileage of the last MOT inspection?
We're just gonna get away with it. It's just like here: a tension between regulation and enforcement
Indeed. The counter jumps from 98500 to 00260 km. 'Désolé monsieur, this odometer reading is not accepted'.
Easy to check with automatic number plate recognition (from here one calculates the shortest route, this is always stored in a database, once the 3000 has passed (in Wallonia) you automatically get the bill ...) and there are also many such cameras in Wallonia (Flanders is already full ...)
That will never work, certainly not with a rather anarchist people like the Walloons. Moreover, you see a lot of old bricks in villages and on farms. To be classified as a test balloon
We will get away with the stated mileage for 'special cars'!
I do not know Walloon very well and because I speak my language the easiest, I prefer to meet Dutch Brabanders & Limburgers. I've never put it this nicely before. You shouldn't worry too much because it seems that Flanders ships many ducats every year to Wallonia and the capital of Flanders, Belgium & Europe> Brussels. I agree with Wallonia if they want to protect their nature, because if they succeed, they will have an eternal trump card. Flanders clearly does not have this, or to a much lesser extent. Officially not much is allowed here, but unofficially there are opportunities. And who is honest, can eat the beans daily.
Amen!
In the early 2000s, my flight instructor required me to make a 'solo routine flight' to Liège airport. In a small plane, a PA-38. In between the cargo 747s. I received air traffic control, first 'Liège Tower', then 'Liège Ground'. Landed on runway 23L of 3,7 km length. Once off the track, a follow-me car with flashing lights pulled up in front of me. There I was allowed to drive / taxi to the parking lot for the small stuff. When I arrived on the spot, a person with 'bats' jumped out of the car and started to swing back and forth with them in front of me so that I could park exactly in the 'box' under his responsibility. The apparently satisfied person then immediately jumped back into his 'airport mobile' and whizzed away. I go to the office to pay the landing fee. The debt was 6,95 euros. That included the subsequent departure procedure. Later I learned that the costs for the same escapade at Ostend airport were 29 euros. It was then clear to me who kept Belgium 'going'.
But the true Zen master, with mild amazement, sees it as endearing. Let it be a consolation: Strange things also happen to our tax money in NL
source ?
The newspaper of my brother living in Flanders. But as classic drivers, we're going to get away with it
Which newspaper is that exactly? I cannot find a reliable source for this information either. In addition: "You can read all about the measures on a special webpage of Wallonia." Can you share this link please?
I have now found this official webpage: https://www.walloniebassesemissions.be/fr/
The BFOV also provides some explanation on this page: https://www.bfov-fbva.be/nl/wetgeving-121/wetgeving/lez/wallonie
This indeed shows that the regulations have not yet been worked out in all details. So wait and see how everything will be concretely completed.