BELGIAN FEDERAL POLICE

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History of the Belgian Federal Police Motorcycle Unit

Before 2001, there was a kind of paramilitary state police force (the Gendarmerie) that was in charge of the highway police.  This agency used motorcycles since 1933.  Beside the Gendarmerie, there were also numerous municipal police agencies.  The greatest of them used motorcycles since the 1930s.  The Gendarmerie used large amounts of motorcycles: first, Belgian made (Gillet Herstal), the Harley-Davidson and Finally, BMW’s.  The municipal agencies used various makes and models (Gillet, Sarolea, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, BMW, Honda, Moto-Guzzi, etc.).

Since 2001, all Belgian police forces are reorganized into a large amount of Local Police agencies (one or more municipalities) and the Federal police.  The Federal Police is in charge of Highway Patrol with BMW R1100RT and Yamaha FJR 1300.  Local police agencies still use various makes and models.  Nevertheless, the most used are Yamaha FJR 1300, Honda ST 1300 and BMW R1200RT. 

1960
1972

Information and Photos provided by The Belgian Federal Police