Albert Canal is a canal in Antwerp/Limburg, Flanders, Belgium. Albert Canal holds Carp, Bream, Zander, Pike, Perch, Roach, Tench, Barbel and is a popular carp fishing destination.
Night fishing at Albert Canal is permitted with restrictions. Night fishing permitted on most sections of the Albertkanaal. Major 130km carp and bream canal running from Antwerp to Liège. Some ecologically valuable sections have night fishing restrictions — check local signage. World-class carp venue — large fish regularly caught. Groot visverlof sufficient for all Flemish government-maintained sections. Passes through Antwerpen, Grobbendonk, Herentals, Hasselt, Lanaken.. Regarding boats: Boats and float tubes permitted. Major inland navigation route — stay clear of commercial barges..
At just 139 miles from Calais, Albert Canal is one of the closest quality fishing venues to the UK. Flanders — a flat, canal-rich landscape within easy reach of the Channel Tunnel — makes an excellent short-break destination.
Night fishing is permitted with restrictions. Night fishing permitted on most sections of the Albertkanaal. Major 130km carp and bream canal running from Antwerp to Liège. Some ecologically valuable sections have night fishing restrictions — check local signage. World-class carp venue — large fish regularly caught. Groot visverlof sufficient for all Flemish government-maintained sections. Passes through Antwerpen, Grobbendonk, Herentals, Hasselt, Lanaken.
Boats: Boats and float tubes permitted. Major inland navigation route — stay clear of commercial barges.
Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.
Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be
Albert Canal holds carp, bream, zander, pike, perch, roach, tench, barbel. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
Image via Wikipedia · Used under Creative Commons licence
Join to unlock full rules, access notes and venue details for Albert Canal and all Belgium and Netherlands venues.
All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.
Antwerp/Limburg is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in Antwerp/Limburg and across Flanders.
