The short answer to the question in the title: no, not just like that. But in many circumstances, yes. Previously, we explored at The Patriot our favourite selection of penknives: from Victorinox to Spyderco. All quality and something for everyone.
Below, however, we explain where and when you may carry those items. There are numerous conditions and exceptions and, of course, the legislation in Belgium is not the same as that in the Netherlands.
Prohibited weapons
First and foremost: both in Belgium and in the Netherlands there are a number of prohibited weapons that are illegal in all circumstances. This concerns knives that have the sole purpose of wounding or killing.
Think of butterfly knives, stilettos, gravity knives or ballistic knives and any ‘bladed weapon’ that resembles another object (think then of umbrella swords, a lipstick knife and so forth).
As regards the category we wish to discuss today – the honourable penknife – matters are somewhat more conditional. This is the case both in Belgium and the Netherlands. But we are happy to help you quickly through the maze.
🔗 Discover here what prohibited weapons are
Belgium
Belgium has the most fluid legislation because of the ‘lawful reason’ principle. Owning penknives at home is always permitted and completely free. But carrying such a knife in public requires a ‘lawful reason’.
And the annoying thing about Belgian legislation: that reason is nowhere legally defined. That makes it rather unpleasant because in the event of a police check you must rely on your own explanation. Whether a report is then drawn up – which may be dealt with by the public prosecutor’s office – will then depend on whether the police believe you.
So a ‘lawful reason’ is not defined, nor is there an exhaustive list of lawful reasons. It is the case, however, that self-defence is never seen as a valid reason by the Belgian legislator. That being said, we can easily provide some examples so that you understand what the ‘spirit’ of the legislator is in this regard.
If you have a penknife with you whilst camping or you are on your way to embark on such a trip, you are 100 per cent legally in order. Another example: you go fishing and have a penknife with you. Or you go diving and have a diving knife with you. Yet another scenario: you have a Stanley knife with you, because you are going to move house and open boxes.
Regarding that last case, it would, moreover, also be perfectly legitimate to take your Spyderco with you, instead of a Stanley knife. Or think of an electrician who has a Leatherman in his pocket. There are numerous examples to think of, but what the police nor the public prosecutor’s office will ever accept is a vague generic reason.
For example: “I have the knife with me to peel an apple today.” The occasion must be concrete and utilitarian.
Spyderco Delica 4
The Delica 4 is the most common model from Spyderco.
A persistent urban legend
A persistent urban legend states that a legal knife in Belgium may not have a blade length longer than 7 centimetres or that it may not be longer than your hand in width (supposedly because you could then reach the heart). That is all incorrect.
There is no statutory fixed blade length in Belgium. In principle, you may walk around with a massive machete, as long as you are on your way to do, say, forestry and mowing work.
However, municipalities and cities can impose stricter rules via local police regulations (by means of administrative fines), such as a general knife ban in nightlife areas. Then you cannot even walk around there as the proverbial waiter with your wine and waiter’s knife.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the legislation is a lot clearer. But that too is changing. The Netherlands currently has no ‘valid reason’ legislation in any case. You may carry a simple penknife with you without that reason.
However, Dutch legislation does have a reverse control principle: the simple penknife can become a prohibited weapon once it can ‘reasonably’ be assumed that it is intended to inflict injury on persons or to threaten. This is in view of the nature of the object or the circumstances under which it is found.
That of course also sounds vague, but it is a lot less fluid than Belgian legislation. The prosecutor must, after all, demonstrate that you had an intention to injure, threaten or kill with your knife. Simply walking around with a Victorinox in your rucksack is then not sufficient evidence, even if you had no concrete reason to carry that knife.
If you carry the same knife in nightlife or around football matches, then people will naturally look at you more critically. Incidentally, in the Netherlands there is a length limit: the entire knife – including handle and unfolded – may not exceed 28 centimetres and must have only one cutting edge.
A second remark for the Netherlands is the growing local regulation. Due to an increasing number of stabbings in multicultural urban areas, local legislators have in response implemented numerous prohibition zones that can also affect utilitarian penknives. This already applies in Amsterdam, Winterswijk, Middelburg, Groningen and Vlissingen, amongst others.
But even more striking: on the initiative of the VVD, a nationwide knife ban has been under consideration since June 2026 “due to ongoing concerns about stabbing incidents, particularly amongst young people.” In other words: the clearer and freer legislation in the Netherlands regarding penknives is at a tipping point.
Opinel No. 8
The Opinel No. 8 is often the choice for scout groups or camping because it is not only simple, but also particularly sharp.
Leatherman Wave Plus
An absolute array of instruments (18), including of course a very good and sharp knife. All whilst the whole thing remains compact enough to still fit in your pocket.
Victorinox Huntsman
The legendary and iconic Victorinox has existed since the end of the 19th century and supplied the first soldier knives to the Swiss army. However, for officers, more compact knives were made, which formed the basis for today's pocket knives.
Penalties
Anyone walking around in Belgium with a penknife without a ‘lawful reason’ risks, according to Article 23 of the Weapons Act, a prison sentence of one month to five years and/or a fine of 100 euros to 25,000 euros. In practice, however, it rarely goes that far: most cases are dealt with via an amicable settlement at the public prosecutor’s office, an administrative fine or a confiscation without further consequences (due to discontinuation).
In the Netherlands, the regulation is somewhat dependent on where in the growing ‘patchwork’ you find yourself, but generally the penalties are not ultra-severe for anyone convicted solely for carrying an ordinary penknife with the wrong reason. It then concerns a fine of the third category (that means a maximum of 11,000 euros), no prison sentence. In practice, the fine will also be smaller than this maximum.
The oft-heard figures of “up to eight years in prison” apply to completely different offences, such as illegal arms trafficking or the possession of category I/II/III weapons (think of the butterfly knives and umbrella swords).
