Belgian public decisions, out in the open

The game · 2 minutes

The Belgian lasagne

Europe, federal, Communities, Regions, municipalities: in Belgium, powers are stacked like the layers of a lasagne. Who decides your tuition fees? Your tram ticket? Your turn to sort them.

This game needs JavaScript. The five layers are explained below.

The five layers

Each layer has its own powers, set by the Constitution, the special laws and, for Europe, the treaties. Open a layer to see what it decides.

Europe

The European Union. It alone decides in a few areas, such as the euro and customs, and sets common rules in others, such as roaming or the VAT framework.

Federal

The Belgian state: social security (pensions, unemployment, health insurance), justice, defence.

Communities

Flemish, French (also called the Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and German-speaking: matters concerning people, such as education and early childhood care.

Regions

Flemish, Walloon and Brussels-Capital: matters concerning the territory, such as employment, public transport and planning.

Municipalities

The level closest to you: civil status (marriages, identity cards) and the local police, organised in police zones.

A lasagne, not a pyramid

The federal state, the Communities and the Regions are on an equal footing. None is above the others; each decides within its own powers. Some matters are shared, such as unemployment (federal benefits, regional checks). In Flanders, the Flemish Parliament and Government exercise both the Community's and the Region's powers. Provinces exist too; they stay out of the game.

Sources

Each card cites its source in the game. Cards checked on 26 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.

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