JESSICA MARIE RYAN
Installation Management Command – Europe
Chièvres Air Base, Belgium

The Benelux area offers scenic views for motorcycle riders to enjoy, especially during beautiful weather. However, before one jumps on their bike and goes for a ride, they must follow the proper procedures to legally ride in the Benelux.

Each host nation in U.S. Army Garrison Benelux has different rules for U.S. personnel to get motorcycle endorsements on driver’s licenses and required safety training. When in doubt, riders should always contact the Driver's Testing Station, or DTS, personnel at their location.

Before getting motorcycle endorsements in Europe, U.S. personnel must have the required driver's license for their host nation. To view the process in each country, go to https://home.army.mil/benelux/index.php/my-fort/all-services/drivers-licenses.

Belgium
Prior to arriving in Belgium, U.S. personnel must have a motorcycle endorsement on their valid U.S. driver's license. Within 30 days of arrival, the applicant should visit the DTS at SHAPE Building 220 to obtain a SHAPE driver's license. In addition, they are required to take U.S. Army Europe's motorcycle orientation course. The course is about four hours long, and attendees must pass the written test.

Active-duty service members will also need to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course offered through the USAG Benelux Safety Office and get a certificate of completion. They must then go back to the DTS with the certificates for the motorcycle endorsement to appear on their SHAPE driver's license.

The SHAPE driver's license is only valid in Belgium. To ride a motorcycle in other European countries, one must have a Belgian or international driver's license. For more information about getting an additional license, visit the USAG Benelux's driver's licenses website. The phone number for SHAPE DTS is DSN 314-366-6603 or +32(0)65-32-6603.

To register a motorcycle in Belgium, U.S. personnel must go to the registration office in SHAPE Building 210. More information can be found at https://www.shape2day.com/arriving--leaving-shape/vehicles/vehicle-registration-procedures.  

The Netherlands
For active-duty service members assigned to the Netherlands, the process is different. Prior to arriving to the country, U.S. personnel must have a motorcycle endorsement on their valid U.S. driver's license and a valid MSF card. They must also have a Schinnen driver's permit and NATO driver's license. They must call or visit the Schinnen DTS in Building 4 to register for a motorcycle safety class and then pass the end-of-course test. Afterward, they will go to JFC Brunssum Building H-102 to have the motorcycle endorsement added to their NATO driver's license.

Those who do not possess a valid MSF card will have to sign up for the next MSF training conducted by the garrison safety office in Schinnen. The DTS personnel can help identify upcoming class dates. The phone number for Schinnen DTS is DSN 360-7433 or +31(0)46-443-7433.

To register a motorcycle in the Netherlands, U.S. personnel must go to JFC Brunssum Building H-102. For more information on in-processing, call DSN 606-244-2848 or +31(0)45-526-2848.

Germany
Before arriving in Germany, U.S. personnel must have a motorcycle endorsement on their valid U.S. driver's license. They will have to attend a mandatory four-hour orientation briefing and pass a written test. Active-duty service members are also required to have a valid MSF card. Please contact the DTS to schedule attendance to the briefings. Contact information for each location can be found at https://www.afsbeurope.army.mil/Logistics-Readiness-Centers/LRC-Bavaria/Transporation-Division/Drivers-Testing/.

Personal protective equipment
All U.S. Army personnel, no matter where they are located in the world, are required to wear personal protective equipment when riding on a motorcycle as an operator or passenger at all times. The required PPE includes helmets, eye protection, clothing made from leather or abrasion-resistant fabric, gloves or mittens designed for motorcycle riding, and sturdy footwear such as leather boots or ankle shoes. Specifics on PPE are located at https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/PMV-2-Motorcycles.

Safety tips
Riders should always practice safety when driving on the roads, especially in Europe. In addition to the required training, some locations in USAG Benelux offer safety rides to help riders improve their skills.

"No roads are perfect. We discuss what's wrong with their ride and how they can correct their habits. We want people to be safe on the roads as they ride in the tri-border area," said Huub Melchers, an instructor for the safety ride in the Netherlands.

An experienced rider himself, Melchers recommends motorcyclists exercise caution and plan ahead to minimize potential accidents on the roads.

"Watch out for all three countries’ traffic laws,” he said. “If you have a plan, figure out where you are going. Be mindful of speed limits in the country you are riding in."