Gendarmerie (Belgium)

Belgian Gendarmerie
Rijkswacht (Dutch)
Gendarmerie (French)
A flaming grenade is the symbol of the gendarmerie forces
Agency overview
Formed10 July 1796 – 1 January 1992 (as military unit)
1 January 1992 – 1 April 2001 (as civilian organization)
Dissolved2001
Superseding agencyFederal Police
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionBelgium
General nature
Operational structure
Parent agency
Notables
Significant Battles
  • WWI
    WWII
    Années de plomb (Years of lead)

The Gendarmerie (French) or Rijkswacht (Dutch) was the former national Gendarmerie force of the Kingdom of Belgium. It became a civilian police organisation in 1992, a status it retained until 1 January 2001, when it was, together with the other existing police forces in Belgium, abolished and replaced by the Federal Police and the Local Police.