An initial 180-day contract
A Brussels pawn loan is taken out for 180 days, or roughly six months. During this period the annual rate is 6.5%, which represents 3.25% over the whole term when the capital is only repaid at maturity.
Interest counted per fortnight
The Mont-de-Piété calculates interest in fifteen-day periods: someone who repays after a month pays for only two fortnights. This method makes a quick redemption far cheaper than a contract run to day 180.
Extending: how many times?
No maximum number is set: extensions are unlimited, in 180-day blocks, provided the interest and fees due are paid. Each transaction incurs a €4 administration fee, according to the institution's FAQ.
The cost of a loan that runs on
The first extension adds four points: the rate rises to 10.5% a year and applies until full repayment. The differences with French institutions, limited to two years, are explained on the page devoted to the term of a pawn loan in France.
Extending without travelling
There is no need to go back to Rue Saint-Ghislain: the administration accepts extension requests by phone on 02/512 13 85 or by email. Payment can then be made by bank transfer, which avoids the limit of €3,000 in cash per month.
Renewing to review the amount
Renewal differs from a simple extension: it allows the amount lent to be reviewed with the appraisers, upwards or downwards. After a sharp rise in gold, a piece of jewellery can thus secure more, and the contract restarts for 180 days.
Repaying before maturity
Early repayment is allowed at any time, without penalty. Combined with the per-fortnight calculation, it limits the total cost, whose components are detailed on our page about the pawn loan interest rate in Belgium.
Repayment plan and partial redemption
To spread the effort, a six-month repayment plan can be arranged for a €4 administration fee. Someone who has deposited several items can also recover some of them by repaying the corresponding share of the loan.
What happens on day 181?
Without payment at maturity, late-payment interest of 0.5% of the capital per fortnight is added to normal interest from day 181. Reminders are charged at €1 by text message or email, €4 by letter and €15 by registered post.
Thirty days before the sale
Before any sale, the Mont-de-Piété sends a free letter at least 30 days before the item is entered for sale. This notice period leaves time to settle the situation and avoid the auction of the pledged item at a forthcoming session.
Choosing to sell during the loan
A borrower who gives up the item can ask for it to be sold at any time, at the earliest one month after the loan begins. Seller's fees then amount to 10% of the hammer price, with any surplus paid back to them.
Keeping your contact details up to date
Extending remotely assumes the administration can reach you: an address search is charged at €4. Reporting a move, since your home must remain in the European Union, avoids these fees. The other rules on pawn loans in Belgium are summarised in our general overview.
Who to contact about extensions
- Mont-de-Piété de la Ville de Bruxelles: The only declared pawnbroker in Belgium; its administration handles extensions, renewals and repayment plans.
Managing your loan's maturity step by step
- Note the date of day 180 as soon as you sign the contract and set a personal reminder a few weeks ahead.
- Choose between full repayment, a 180-day extension or a renewal with the amount reviewed by the appraisers.
- To extend, call or write to the administration, then pay interest and fees by transfer or by Bancontact at the counter.
- For a renewal, contact the appraisers so they can revalue the loan, for example after a rise in the gold price.
- If you are struggling, ask for a six-month repayment plan or redeem some of the items deposited.
- If the letter announcing the sale arrives, act within 30 days to put things right.
Costs linked to the passage of time
| Situation | Published cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| First 180 days | 6.5% a year | Interest per fortnight |
| After the first extension | 10.5% a year | Until full repayment |
| Late payment from day 181 | 0.5% of the capital per fortnight | Added to normal interest |
| Extension, renewal, plan | €4 administration fee | Per transaction |
| Registered reminder | €15 | €1 by text, €4 by letter |
| Voluntary sale | 10% of the hammer price | Possible after one month |
What to provide to extend or redeem
- Valid identification of the contract holder
- Legalised power of attorney if a relative acts on your behalf
- Means of payment: Bancontact, bank transfer or cash up to €3,000 per month
- Up-to-date bank details to receive any surplus
Pitfalls around maturity
- Extending several times out of habit without noticing that each period after the first costs 10.5% a year instead of 6.5%.
- Confusing extension and renewal: only renewal allows the amount lent to be reviewed with the appraisers.
- Ignoring the letter sent 30 days before the item is entered for sale, even though it is the final warning before auction.
- Believing early repayment is penalised: it is free, and the per-fortnight calculation rewards a quick redemption.
- Forgetting to report a change of address, which triggers €4 search fees and delays reminders.
Term and extensions: short answers
How long does a loan from the Brussels Mont-de-Piété last?
The initial contract runs for 180 days, or roughly six months. It can then be extended for successive 180-day periods, with no cap on the number, as long as the borrower pays the interest and fees due at each maturity.
Can a pawn loan be extended by phone?
Yes. The Mont-de-Piété administration accepts extension requests by phone or email. Payment of the interest and the €4 administration fee can then be made by bank transfer, without returning to the counter.
Does the rate change when you extend?
Yes, it rises by four points. The 6.5% annual rate applies only to the first period; from the first extension, 10.5% a year applies, and continues until the capital is fully repaid.
Can a pawn loan be repaid before six months?
Yes, at any time and without penalty. Because interest is counted per fortnight, repaying after four weeks costs only two fortnights of interest, plus the file-opening fee deducted on signing.
Official sources
FAQ du Mont-de-Piétémontdepiete.be
Étapes du prêtmontdepiete.be
Leningvoorwaarden (version néerlandaise)montdepiete.be
General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.