Belzig citizens are happy: license plate BEL” is back!

Belzig citizens are happy: license plate BEL” is back!

The revival of historical license plates is progressing, and in Bad Belzig the familiar “BEL” has fought its way back into traffic. On November 5, 2025, District Administrator Marko Köhler handed over the first license plate of this type to Mayor Dr. Robert Pulz and thus gave the starting signal for the citizens of the region who have been longing for the old license plate for a long time. From now on, all Potsdam Mittelmarkers can apply for the “BEL” license plate at the district’s registration office in Werder, as Potsdam Mittelmark reports.

The return of “BEL” is not only a formal revival of an old symbol, but also a strong symbol of home and identity in the region. “BEL” was already valid in what was then the old district of Belzig from 1991 to 1993, before the uniform identifier “PM” was introduced with the formation of the Potsdam-Mittelmark district. Many people in Bad Belzig and the surrounding area have never lost their connection to the region, and demand for the license plate has been persistent from the start, even if it temporarily faded into the background due to the change.

A long road to reintroduction

A longer application process was necessary for the reintroduction. The idea was made possible in 2012 by a Federal Council resolution that stated that previous license plates could be reintroduced. This led to the vehicle registration regulations being adjusted accordingly. At the request of the population, the Potsdam-Mittelmark district finally submitted an application to the state of Brandenburg to revive the “BEL” license plate, which ultimately met with broad approval in the district council on July 3, 2025. However, approval was not granted for a long time because the responsible ministry had not yet made a decision, as Flaeming 365 reports.

The previous years were not without hurdles. More than twelve years ago, there was initially no interest in reintroducing the license plate and no application was made, even though the possibility existed. But changing attitudes and the desire for regional identity have meant that the license plate has now returned to reality.

A look at the history of license plates

This return is not only locally significant, but also reflects a larger development in the German license plate system. The system has changed significantly over the decades - from its first introduction in 1906, when the Free City of Lübeck began issuing license plates in 1903, to the current regulations today. After the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1939 and the introduction of uniform license plates in post-war Germany, we can now look back on an exciting history, as Wikipedia) shows.

The return of the “BEL” symbol shows how important such symbols are for the feeling of belonging in a region. Eligibility to apply is now open to all vehicle owners in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, regardless of their specific municipality. This ensures the accessibility of the story for everyone who feels connected to Bad Belzig and its surroundings.