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What may I film with a security camera or video doorbell?

Short answer

In principle no more than necessary: not the public road or the neighbours' property. In Belgium the camera law requires registration and at most 1 month of storage; in the Netherlands filming public space falls under the GDPR.

Explanation

Filming inside your own home for private use is usually allowed. As soon as you film the street, passers-by or neighbours, privacy rules apply. Belgium uses the camera law of 2007 (amended in 2018). In the Netherlands the Dutch Data Protection Authority supervises.

Rules of thumb

  • BE: register via aangiftecamera.be and validate yearly; pictogram at the entrance. [SW-S63]
  • BE: keep footage for at most 1 month. [SW-S63]
  • NL: aim the camera so that as little public space and as few neighbours as possible are in view. [SW-S62]

Pitfalls

  • This is not legal advice. Consult the local police (BE) or the Dutch Data Protection Authority (NL). [SW-S63, SW-S62]

By region

Belgium
Camera law of 21 March 2007; helpdesk of the FPS Home Affairs. [SW-S63]
Netherlands
GDPR and the Dutch Data Protection Authority. [SW-S62]

Search terms

These search terms are in Dutch; only terms that also find a topic in English are links.

camera videodeurbel privacy camerawet AVG

Read also

General information, not personal advice. Check the source and reference date.

Not legal advice. Rules differ by country and region; consult the competent authority.

Sources

  1. SW-S62 Camera use in and around the home — Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Reference date 2026-09-27)
  2. SW-S63 Moet ik aangifte doen van een bewakingscamera? — Lokale Politie Regio Rhode & Schelde (politie.be) (Reference date 2026-09-27)

Reference date: 2026-09-27 · Translated with AI from the Dutch original.