The DBRC administrative judge’s robe
Since 18 March 2024, four Flemish administrative tribunals have been governed by their own Togabesluit. It distinguishes effective judges, the first president, additional and substitute judges, assessors and clerks, using black for ordinary and camel for solemn dress.
Four tribunals under one Togabesluit
The Flemish Government Decree of 15 December 2023 applies to the Raad voor Vergunningsbetwistingen, Handhavingscollege, Raad voor Verkiezingsbetwistingen and Raad voor betwistingen inzake studievoortgangsbeslissingen. It entered into force on 18 March 2024 and gives these tribunals their own official-dress system.
The four tribunals share the rules, but not every participant wears the same version. The decree distinguishes office, rank and type of session. A DBRC robe should therefore not be presented as one uniform garment or as a derivative of the ordinary judicial robe governed by the 1970 decree.
Effective administrative judge: black ordinary robe
In ordinary service, an effective administrative judge wears a black wool robe with black silk components. Gold-coloured shoulder buttons bearing the Flemish Lion and a white batiste rabat are prescribed identifying features. Material, symbol and placement carry functional meaning rather than being selectable styling options.
‘Black with gold buttons’ is not yet a complete specification. Cut, silk finishing, rabat, shoulder construction and associated rank elements must be tied to the exact office. A standard black magistrate’s robe from another tribunal may remain unsuitable despite a broad visual resemblance.
Solemn robe: golden-brown camel wool
For solemn dress, the decree prescribes a golden-brown camel wool robe. It is accompanied by white lace, a black belt, a beret according to rank and white gloves. Camel is therefore a legally described element of ceremonial dress, not a seasonal trend or commercial colour variant.
The solemn robe forms a complete ensemble alongside the black ordinary version. Belt, lace, beret and gloves should remain linked to the same office in the garment register. A camel robe without correct rank and accessory verification is not automatically a compliant DBRC solemn outfit.
First president, other judges and assessors
The first president is distinguished in solemn dress by, among other features, a collar of white synthetic fur. The official material description must be respected; it should not be called real ermine or natural fur. The feature belongs only to the office for which the decree provides it.
Additional and substitute administrative judges and assessors have a more simply described version. Features of the effective judge or first president do not transfer automatically. The wearer’s full official capacity must be known before shoulder buttons, beret, collar or other rank details are specified.
The clerk’s robe and the limit of the material wording
For the clerk’s ordinary robe, the decree names black cloth and black silk components. Where the provision for an effective judge expressly states black wool, the clerk provision does not impose wool in the same way. Adding a mandatory minimum wool percentage to the clerk’s robe would therefore go beyond the source.
This distinction shows why roles cannot disappear into one product summary. A clerk is not an administrative judge and does not automatically receive Flemish Lion buttons, rank beret or other judicial features. Fibre and finishing are checked provision by provision and then stated transparently on the textile label.
Lawyers remain under the 1968 model
The Togabesluit does not create a new camel or DBRC-specific robe for lawyers. The Flemish Bar explains that lawyers are expected to plead in robes at the DBRC under Article 441 of the Judicial Code. Their model remains the black lawyer’s robe set by the Royal Decree of 30 September 1968.
A lawyer should not be dressed as an administrative judge because both appear in the same hearing room. The lawyer’s robe retains its own black wool construction, white pleated rabat and epitoge. Office comes before location: the tribunal provides context, while professional status determines the governing dress decree.
Plan staff and robe stock from current institutional data
The Togabesluit defines models and roles but publishes no current total of effective judges, substitutes, assessors and clerks. The fact that four tribunals are covered means neither four robes, four wardrobes nor a particular number of users. Institutional structure and garment volume are different data.
The 2024 start date does not prove a complete one-off purchase that year or fixed replacement afterwards. Dress may be introduced in phases, centrally managed or altered. Without official inventory and procurement records, no annual count of requests to have a robe made, sales, ownership rate or replacement cycle should be published.
Correct fitting, stock control and care
A specification starts with the tribunal, full office, effective or substitute status, rank and ordinary or solemn version. Fabric, silk, buttons, rabat or lace, belt, beret, gloves and any collar follow. Fitting checks shoulder balance, arm movement, seated posture and layers worn under the robe.
Black and camel versions receive separate garment numbers and their accessories remain registered as a set. Gold-coloured buttons, white lace, synthetic fur, wool and silk each need appropriate inspection. The care label and actual material combination guide maintenance; the decree sets no universal wash method or fixed service life.
Official sources and scope
Primary sources, scope and the latest editorial review for this page.
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