Having a beautiful website is good. Having a website that respects the law is better. In Belgium, the legal framework (Code of Economic Law and GDPR) imposes strict rules. Beyond avoiding fines, compliance is above all a powerful trust lever for your clients.
A visitor who sees clear notices and transparent data management will be far more inclined to contact you. Here is the checklist of mandatory elements for your website.
1. Legal Notices: Your identity card
It's a legal obligation: you must allow your visitors (and the administration) to know who is behind the site. This information must be easily accessible (generally in the footer).
- Full identification: Company name (or your own name if you're a sole trader).
- Registered office: Your establishment's full address.
- Contact: A valid email address and phone number.
- Administrative data: Your company number (CBE) and VAT number (e.g. BE 0XXX.XXX.XXX).
2. Privacy Policy: Transparency above all
Since the arrival of GDPR, you must explain in simple and clear terms what you do with your visitors' data.
- What data? Do you collect names via a form? IP addresses for your statistics?
- Why? Explain the purpose (responding to a request, sending a newsletter, analysing traffic).
- User rights: In Belgium, every citizen has the right to consult, modify or request the deletion of their data ("Right to be forgotten"). You must indicate how to exercise this right.
3. Cookie management: The user's choice
The time of the simple banner "By continuing to browse, you accept cookies" is over. To be compliant in Belgium:
- "Opt-in" consent: The user must actively click "Accept" before non-essential cookies (such as Google Analytics or advertising pixels) are activated.
- Right to refuse: It must be just as easy to refuse as to accept cookies.
- Technical detail: You must list the cookies used and explain their role.
4. Forms and Security: Protect your exchanges
Every form on your site is a data collection point that must be secured.
- SSL Certificate (HTTPS): This is essential. The small padlock in the address bar guarantees that data sent by your clients is encrypted.
- Consent checkbox: Before submitting a form, the user must be able to tick a box confirming they have read your privacy policy.
5. General Terms and Conditions (T&Cs)
If you sell products or services online, General Terms and Conditions of Sale are mandatory. They must specify delivery times, payment terms and above all the 14-day right of withdrawal — a strict rule of Belgian and European law.
Why is the technical aspect crucial?
Compliance is not just a matter for lawyers — it's also a matter for developers. Installing a cookie banner that actually blocks scripts before consent, configuring an SSL certificate or structuring a readable privacy policy page requires technical expertise.