Weapons are also used for hunting, and their use falls under the Weapons Act.

Here is an overview of the Arms Act.
Specifically for the storage of weapons follow guidelines.

Keeping weapons

The following regulation for the storage of weapons by private individuals.

Safety measures that always apply

• Keeping weapons unloaded (not in the room, not in the charger)
• Weapons and ammunition out of reach of children
• Weapons and ammunition may not be accessible “immediately”
  • Weapons and ammunition in a separate cabinet
  • No indication of weapon storage
  • No tools that facilitate burglary nearby
• In the event of theft, or attempted theft, immediately report it to the police and governor

It is not recommended to store ammunition in a safe. After all, in the event of a fire, pressure can accumulate, with a possible risk of explosion.

In many police zones, it is possible to ask for “techno-preventive” advice from a security advisor of the local police. In some municipalities, urban subsidies are awarded for this purpose.

Storage is further regulated according to the number of weapons

• Storage of less than 6 weapons subject to a permit
• Storage of fewer than 11 weapons subject to a permit
• Storage of 11 or more weapons subject to a permit
• Private individuals with more than 30 weapons subject to a license must always observe the “Class G” security measures

Storage of one to 5 weapons subject to a permit

Anyone who has fewer than six weapons subject to a licence must take at least one of the following security measures:

• Attaching a security lock (e.g. a trigger lock with combination lock or with key);
• Removal and separate storage of a component essential to the operation of the weapon
• Attaching the weapon with a chain to a fixed point

Storing fewer than 11 weapons subject to a permit

Anyone who stores between six and eleven weapons subject to a permit must keep these weapons in a “lockable weapon cabinet made of sturdy material” with the following characteristics:

• This cabinet “cannot be easily broken open”
• The cabinet may not bear an external mark showing that weapons are stored in the cabinet
• ALL weapons must be kept in the cabinet. Mere possession of such a cabinet is not sufficient

Storing 11 but less than 31 weapons subject to a license

Anyone who stores 11 or more weapons subject to a permit must store all his weapons in a weapon safe designed for this purpose, with the following characteristics:

• The gun safe is locked with a mechanism based on: electronic, magnetic or mechanical key, an alphabetical or numerical combination or a biometric recognition.
• The gun safe and the ammunition must be located in a room of which all entrances and windows are properly locked.
• The keys to the gun safe and those to the room in which the gun safe is located must not be left on the locks. These keys must be stored in a safe place, out of the reach of children and third parties. Only the owner may have access to these keys.

All weapons under this regulation must therefore also be kept in a gun safe. Optionally, it can be opted to make a specific armory. Then separate safes are no longer necessary.

The Armory has the following features:

• doors in solid wood, or doors with laminated glass;
• at least two thieves’ claws must be installed in the entrance door to the armory and the outer doors of the building;
• The entrance door serves either a three-point lock that provides five minutes of resistance in the event of a burglary, or a combination of three locks that together provide five minutes of resistance in the event of a burglary.

Keeping hunting weapons – Exception

As hunters, we can enjoy an exception in the Weapons Act, which allows us to enjoy (even more than 30 weapons) an exceptional regime

Exhibiting firearms for hunting

(cfr New Implementation Decree on Storage by Private Individuals)

Security conditions for the display of long firearms allowed for hunting
Contrary to the above safety conditions for the storage of firearms, a private individual may exhibit long weapons permitted for hunting at his place of residence.
The following conditions must be met:

1. the weapons are unloaded;
2. they have been rendered unusable by a safety lock or by the removal of a component essential to their operation;
3. they are securely fastened to the lock-proof display unit in which they are displayed, by means of a chain, a metal cable or a similar device, so that they cannot be easily removed;
4. They are not displayed together with ammunition that they can fire and they are not immediately accessible together with that ammunition.

Note: This derogation only applies to long weapons subject to a licence and are permitted for hunting. Other firearms do not benefit from this derogation.

You can read this on the site of the Wapenunie