Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The new police uniform, featuring blue and yellow colours, was unveiled at the Etterbeek barracks, with Minister Annelies Verlinden present. However, officers won’t receive it until late 2026 or early 2027.
The new police uniform was presented on Friday at the Etterbeek barracks, in the presence of Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V). However, officers in the country will not receive the new uniform until the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027, marking over twenty years since the last update.
What Colors Are Featured in the New Uniform?
Blue and yellow are the colours of the new uniform. The orange that can be found in the current uniform disappears completely. The change was urgently needed, according to Chief Commissioner Nicholas Paelinck. He is chief of police of the West Coast police zone.Â
“The current uniform commands far too little respect. There is also a proliferation of ten different uniforms so that citizens no longer see whether they are police officers or not on the street.”
How Will the New Uniform Improve Recognizability?
“Recognizability is important so that police officers can be recognized in the same way by residents,” says Minister Verlinden in a video interview. “That recognisability contributes to the trust between citizens and the police. That is something we are working on on many fronts and now also with the new uniform.” All sections of the police will receive a uniform with the same design.
What Advantages Does the Prototype Offer?
Paelinck sums up the advantages of the prototype presented on Friday: “It makes us more visible day and night. It is much more user-friendly, much more modern and more aligned with other countries. It also offers more comfort.” It would be an improvement, especially for female police officers. It sounds much better.
The police officers on the ground may be longing for a new cut, but they will still have to be patient. “Now there will be test uniforms, a European tender, everything has to be written into legal texts,” says Paelinck. “We hope to land the basic uniform in late 2026, or early 2027.” Renewing the uniforms of 50,000 police officers is a huge logistical operation.”
