New-York tribune., 1901-08-05
BELGIAN POSTER LAWS
ADVERTISING SIGNS TAXED. AND Ar
LOWED ONLY AT DESIGNATED sPoTs
Brussels, JuIv 21

Brussels July 21.
An account was given recently in The Tribune
OF the municipal art movement in Belgium in
the course of which it was shown how the
crusade in favor of artistic posters and shop
signs first originated in Flanders. so that BEL
GUM must be considered the home of modern
artistic advertising This being the case. IL is
OF interest TO note the nature of the rnunicipai
regulations in Belgium concerning posters and
advertising signs Wen as shopkeepers' sign
boards
The rules and regulations Of the cftv Of Brus-
sells concerning posters and advertising signs
which are typical of the existing municipaI reg
ulations on the subject in Belgian cities. are a.
follows:
Flrst-Posters and advertising signboards NAV
only be affixed at such places on the public high
ways as are denoted by the Mayor and. Board or
Aldermen
Second-The only exceptions to this rule are
In the case of posters or notices with the an
nouncerlent of a public sale. which NAV be af
fixed 70 the walls of the building To be sold and
in the case of theatre and concert advertisine
posters. which may be affixed to the walls NJ
the theatre buildings or concert halls For these
exceptional cases bilIboards on which posters or
advertisements can be affixed. may be placed
either at the entrance door of theatres or con-
cert halls or on the walls of those buildings on
| condition that such biIbcards do not project
more than two eentimetres beyond the wall
Third-Signs on which the sale or the renting
! of real estate IS advertised may likewise be af-
liked to the facade of the house for sale or TO let
by means Of a billboard not more than twenty
centimetres (about eight inches) in width
Fourth--All persons commissioned to aHx
posters In public places must be provided with
permit from the Board Of Aldermen. which
theV on tbair
whenever so requested by the police
i Fffth-A copy Of every poster to be affixed
must be deposited. with the advertisers sigma
ture, at the central bureau Of police. in return
for which receipt is given certifying that the
poster has been deposited. Every poster thus
deposited is numbered at the police bureau. the
number being inscribed on the receipt
Sixth-It is forbidden tn remove. to Iacerate or
to soil advertising signs; to remove or to cover
over. in any manner whatsoever. posters which
have been affixed in the name of. OF under au-
4 thority Of. the city administration
Posters and advertising signbOards are sub-
Ject to State stamp tax. which varies accord
ing to the size Of the poster or signboard the
minimum tax being five centines Zone cent?.
This minimum tax is applied to posters and
slSnboards the size Of which is not above fifty
three centinetres (about twenty and one-haIf
lhches) in length by thrty-fve centimetres
tahout thirteen and One-half inchesl in width:
for every five centinetres 1.-TWO inchesl square
additional a tax OF one centime Cone-ifth of
cent? Is levied. The sum total of State taxes
on posters and sisnboards amounted in 1899 10
36+.41O francs ($TO33D
The regulations in the matter Of signs fndi-
eating the place Of business on the premises
Of the person whose business is advertised arc
contained in Article 46 Of the municipal rules
! OF the city Of Brussels concerning real estate
Such signs must be hung at a height Of al Least
two metres fifty centtunetres CabOut eight Feer
from the ground, and cannot project more than
I nfty centimetres nineteen and one-haIf inches,
from the wall. excepting in special cases when
permission is given by the Board OF Aldermen
There is no State or municipal tax levied on
signs OF this description.