NIS code
The NIS code is an alphanumeric code for the regional areas of Belgium .
This code is used for statistical purposes in Belgium. The code was developed by Statistics Belgium in the mid-1960s. It was first used for the 1970 census .
Structure of the code
The NIS code consists of 5 digits:
- The first number identifies the province . If this digit is followed by 4 zeros, this code identifies the entire province. Example: 70000 identifies the province of Limburg .
- The second digit identifies the district within that province. If there are three zeros after the first two digits, this code identifies the entire district. Example: 71000 identifies the Hasselt district .
- The last three digits clearly identify the municipality within the district. Example: 71066 identifies Zonhoven .
Special cases
- The country Belgium received the code 01000.
- The three regions received the codes 02000 for Flanders , 03000 for Wallonia and 04000 for the Brussels Capital Region .
- In 1995 the province of Brabant was divided into Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant with the first digit 2 . Flemish Brabant received the code 20001 and Walloon Brabant received the code 20002. The counties kept their old codes.
- The provinces and municipalities of Brussels are sorted alphabetically by their French name.