The revelation of novel attire for the local and federal law enforcement officers, characterized by an abundant infusion of vivid yellow, has recently come to light via Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN).
Responses to this fresh uniform have, for the most part, been affirmative. The Chairman of the committee overseeing the local police, Nicholas Paelinck, expressed that the new uniform “elicits reverence.” Presently, the federal police uniform maintains a solid azure hue, while the local police uniform is adorned in light blue with subtle grey stripes.
“Our present attire garners no reverence whatsoever,” lamented Paelinck. “When interacting with colleagues from abroad, it fills me with profound shame. We appear akin to members of a brass ensemble. I don it as sparingly as I can.”
The prevailing uniform was adopted in the year 2001, and the police chief has continuously voiced his dissatisfaction since. He asserts that even during its inception, it was an unfortunate choice. The police leader asserts that he has spent the past decade advocating for a novel uniform.
“For a decade, I have engaged in a ceaseless struggle against individuals who remain unwilling to acknowledge that our current attire lacks the ability to command respect,” Paelinck conveyed to HLN. He details that the primary opposition to the proposal for a change, until recently, has been financial in nature, originating from the Federal Government.
The provision of fresh uniforms for a total of 12,000 federal police officers and 35,000 local police officers entails a substantial expense. However, recent times have witnessed the issuance of new uniforms to the Prison Service, the national railway company SNCB, and the military. Two years prior, the Federal Government initiated a task force to conceptualize a novel design, responding to mounting pressure from senior officials.
A Revitalized Aesthetic
Throughout these deliberations, members of the federal police fervently advocated for the new uniform to be both “distinctive and contemporary.” The police overwhelmingly supported retaining the rich navy blue, but with a heightened interplay of colors.
The incorporation of yellow within the new uniforms carries significance. Paelinck cites research that has determined human eyes are particularly receptive to the color yellow during daylight hours, and it remains conspicuously visible at night, surpassing the visibility of orange, employed by some other police organizations. Recent police uniform updates in the Netherlands, Germany, and France have all embraced this hue.
Dutch uniform designer, Karen Slegers, emerged victorious as the mastermind behind the fresh uniform’s design. Her creation prominently showcases yellow accents and reflective elements. She has previously lent her design skills to uniforms for Albert Heijn, Center Parcs, and Schipol Airport.
While the design is largely embraced, certain considerations still require attention, such as the placement of patches and ranks, with a critical focus on ensuring the uniforms are equally suited for women.
Upon resolution of these considerations, the uniform will be presented to police unions. If met with approval from both local and federal police, the final authorization rests with the Minister of the Interior. It is anticipated that the uniform could be introduced into active service as early as 2026.Belgian police to get new police uniforms
