West Flanders stretches from the North Sea coast to the French border. Its canals link Bruges, Ghent and the Westhoek and hold excellent bream, roach and carp. Bruges is just 45 miles from Calais — one of the most accessible fishing destinations in Continental Europe for UK anglers.
All anglers fishing in Flanders require a VISpas (groot visverlof), issued by Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. The annual licence covers most public lakes, rivers and canals in the Flemish region, including night fishing permissions (rules are built into site-specific regulations rather than requiring a separate night permit).
The VISpas costs approximately €14.50 per year. Purchase online at sportvisserijvlaanderen.be before your trip. UK anglers can buy the licence as a visitor — you do not need to be a Belgian resident.
Always carry your licence while fishing. Inspectors operate on Belgian public waters throughout the season. UK anglers should purchase before travel to avoid any issues at the waterside.
West Flanders is the closest Belgian province to the UK — Bruges is just 45 miles from Calais, making same-day arrival possible. The province's canal network links Bruges, Ghent and the coast and holds bream, roach and carp throughout. Night fishing is permitted on most stretches. The Leie and Ijzer rivers add river fishing options with pike and perch alongside coarse species.
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