The Belgian magistrate’s robe is defined by office and occasion

A justice of the peace, first-instance judge, court-of-appeal member and Cassation member do not share one complete specification. Presidents and other senior office holders may also have distinct toque, braid or fur details.

The procurement record should use the exact Belgian title rather than translating every office to a generic ‘judge’.

The black robe remains, with a national-colour silk belt ending in red fringe and a silver-trimmed black silk toque. Presidents and prosecution heads have further distinctions.

The belt should not be added to ordinary dress indiscriminately; its use belongs to solemn hearings and ceremonies covered by the decree.

Ordinary Cassation dress combines a black robe with a red belt. Solemn dress is red with red silk details, white lace and gold braid, with additional distinctions for senior offices.

Cassation is a separate institutional entity and merits its own approved reference and stock record.

Record whether the appointment is first entry, transfer, promotion, mandate or substitute function. Identify the exact court and whether the wearer needs ordinary dress, solemn dress or both. Do not infer a new full set merely because an appointment appears in an annual total.

Check qualification-related epitoge, robe colour, silk treatment, neckwear, belt, toque, braid and fur against the 1970 decree. Then assess existing personal or institutional garments for compliance and fit before deciding what is missing.

For a court-held set, link each configuration to office and occasion so a correctly sized robe is not issued with the wrong belt or headwear.

Have the competent court confirm the completed matrix before fitting or issue, particularly where an English translation could obscure a Belgian title or senior-office distinction.