The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 2 potential seaport expansion zones: Potential expansion of the Port of Ostend (Art. 16§2), Potential expansion of the Port of Zeebrugge (Art. 16§3). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 1 coastal protection experiments zone: Coastal protection belt (Art. 20§2). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The law of 13 June 1969 defines “Belgian Continental Shelf” as follows: the seabed and the subsoil of the marine areas adjacent to the Belgian coast but beyond the Belgian territorial sea.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 13 dredging zones: Dredge spoil disposal zone S1 (Art. 15§1.1°), Dredge spoil disposal zone S2 (Art. 15§1.2°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Ostend" (Art. 15§1.3°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Zeebrugge East" (Art. 15§1.4°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Zeebrugge West" (Art. 15§1.5°), Dredge spoil disposal site "Public Works Nieuwpoort" (Art. 15§1.6°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Zeebrugge Erosion Pit" (Art. 15§1.7°), Zone 1 for future replacement of dredge spoil zone S1 (Art. 15§4.1°), Zone 2 for future replacement of dredge spoil zone S1 (Art. 15§4.2°), Search zone 1 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Search zone 2 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Search zone 3 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Dredge spoil disposal zone for future replacement "Public Works Nieuwpoort" (Art. 15§8). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 1 commercial and industrial zones: Zone C for commercial and industrial activities (Art. 27§1). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

This dataset represents the location of the Princess Elizabeth zone in the Belgian Part of the North Sea as described in the Royal Decree of May 22th, 2019, establishing a marine spatial plan for the period 2020-2026. Art. 8. § 3.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 8 scientific research and recreation zones: Thorntonbank monitoring area (Art. 23§10.1°), Gootebank monitoring area (Art. 23§10.2°), Scientific research zone (Art. 23§3), Search area for scientific research reserve (Art. 23§6), Zone with prohibition of additional fixed structures (Art. 23§7.4°), Zone accessible for scientific research 1 (Art. 23§8.1°), Zone accessible for scientific research 2 (Art. 23§8.1°), Reference area for calibration and quality assessment of measuring instruments (Art. 23§9). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 1 measuring pole: Measurement poles (Art. 25§2). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 12 sand and gravel extraction zones: Sand and gravel extraction sector 1a (Thorntonbank) (Art. 19§1.1°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4d (Art. 19§1.10°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 5 (Blighbank) (Art. 19§1.11°), Sand extraction sector 2kb (Kwintebank) (Art. 19§1.2°), Sand extraction sector 2br (Buiten Ratel) (Art. 19§1.3°), Sand extraction sector 2od (Oostdyck) (Art. 19§1.4°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 3a (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 19§1.5°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 3b (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 19§1.6°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4a (Noordhinder) (Art. 19§1.7°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4b (Oosthinder North) (Art. 19§1.8°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4c (Oosthinder South) (Art. 19§1.9°), Extraction search zone (Art. 19§4). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

This dataset describes the extents and location of Sandbanks (code 1110) in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) as required for article 17 of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The Council Directive seeks to contribute to ensuring biodiversity in the European Union by the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora species.