IS A KATANA LEGAL IN THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM?
If you are about to buy a katana , you may think that this could be a forbidden one?
What exactly does Dutch law say about this? We will explain everything to you here in clear language.
Is the Katana a prohibited weapon in the Netherlands?
A Katana was carried by the Samurai Warriors and was a dangerous weapon in trained hands.
A Katana is of course a sword with a sharp edge and sharp point. This indeed falls under the weapons law in the Netherlands. You can own a Japanese sword at home in the Netherlands without any problems. In the Weapons Act they call this keeping it freely available.
The Dutch weapons law has different categories of weapons. A Katana falls under the so-called blank weapons and that is category IV. This also includes swords and sabres, regardless of whether they are decorative or functional swords.
You must of course be 18 years or older, so if you are younger this is prohibited. Buying a sword under the age of 18 is also prohibited.
You are not allowed to carry a Katana in public and it must therefore be properly packaged. This packaging must be done sufficiently, a towel over it is not enough. A closed cardboard box with tape or sheath with a buckle and a zipper is fine.
Is selling a Katana legal?
Selling swords in the Netherlands is not illegal. All weapons that fall under category IV are not prohibited, contrary to what many people think. Of course, the age limit of 18 years and older applies again. When ordering a product from Samurai-Katana-Shop.nl, you must agree to our general terms and conditions and this is clearly stated here. When placing a product in a shopping cart on the webshop, you must also check that you are over 18 years old. This obviously does not apply to accessories such as a sword sheath or sword stand.
A Japanese sword is a special sword with status and is often purchased as a decorative object. Placing it at home on a beautiful stand is therefore no problem if you are over 18 years old.
You can find everything about the law and weapons on the link below:
https://www.justis.nl/producten/wet-kleding-en-munitie
Katana legal in Belgium?
The law in Belgium for blank weapons is not much different from the Dutch weapons law. A Katana also falls under the Blanke weapons here and are freely available and may therefore be available. Of course, you must also be 18 years or older.
So you have to follow almost the same rules as in the Netherlands, you can also find the regulations about this on this website:
https://justitie.belgium.be/nl
If you feel attracted to purchase a Samurai Sword, this does not prevent you from displaying it beautifully at home. It is advisable if you want to show your Katana, wakizashi or tanto to do this at home. So by adhering to the rules you can enjoy your samurai sword with peace of mind.
