EN
Are you one of the thousands of Belgians who've rediscovered the joys of cycling? Perfect! But before you head out to explore the country's bike paths, let's take two minutes to talk about what could turn a bike theft into just a bad memory: MyBike.Belgium.
I know, another government platform... But this one is actually worth your time! When you know that thousands of bikes are stolen every year in Belgium, you realize it's time to take things seriously.
MyBike.belgium.be is the bike registration platform supported by the federal state and all three regions. Concretely, it's a free service that allows you to register your bike and receive a sticker with a unique identifier.
The idea is simple but effective: this marking allows quick identification of the owner in case of loss or theft and also acts as a deterrent for thieves. Kind of like a license plate for your two-wheeler!
Picture the scene: you come out of the office, and there... no more bike! Your faithful companion has vanished, leaving only a cut lock and your bad mood.
But with MyBike, it's different. Thanks to MyBike, the chances of finding your bike are greater because the platform constitutes a central register accessible to police services and the Justice system. Law enforcement can thus quickly identify the owner of a recovered bike.
And the numbers speak for themselves: according to official MyBike.Belgium data, by the end of February 2025, there were nearly 110,000 cyclists who had registered 122,000 bikes. The community is growing, and with it, the system's effectiveness!
Registration is surprisingly simple. You go to mybike.belgium.be, create your account, and register your bike in just a few clicks. You then receive your sticker by mail.
Once stuck on your bike (preferably in a visible spot), this sticker becomes your best friend. Not only does it potentially deter thieves, but it also allows authorities to contact you quickly if your bike is found.
Let's be clear: MyBike is not insurance! It's an identification and deterrent system. If you want to protect your investment against theft, you'll need to take out specific bike insurance.
There are several types of bike insurance: simple bike theft insurance that only covers bike theft, comprehensive insurance that covers theft of your bike and material damage (for info, the average compensation for material damage amounts to €888 according to Assuralia), bike assistance insurance or breakdown assistance. You can contact one of our SWINZ partner brokers to assist you with this.
MyBike and bike insurance actually form the perfect combo: one increases your chances of getting your bike back, the other reimburses you if that's not the case. It's like having both a belt and suspenders!
Now that you know about MyBike, here are some additional tips to sleep soundly:
Invest in a good lock. I know, it's expensive, but it's cheaper than a new bike. Thieves are like water: they always take the easiest path.
Vary your parking spots. A bike that always sleeps in the same place is like an engraved invitation for pilferers.
Photograph your bike from all angles. In case of theft, these photos will be valuable for your declaration and to help law enforcement.
And if despite everything the worst happens, if you buy a second-hand bike and it has a MyBike.belgium.be identification number, you can check on MyBike.belgium.be if it's declared as stolen. Handy to avoid unwittingly buying a stolen bike!
MyBike.Belgium is a bit like social security for your bike: it costs nothing, it's supported by public authorities, and it can save your bacon the day things go wrong.
So before your next bike ride, take five minutes to register your mount. Because the only flight you should experience on a bike is the one where you feel like you're flying on the bike paths!
And don't forget: the best protection will always be caution. But with MyBike in your pocket and a good lock around your bike, you can pedal with peace of mind.
