Door Opening

Locked out, lost key or jammed lock? Our locksmith arrives in 30 minutes. Our locksmith arrives in 30 minutes and works without damage in 95% of cases.

When to use this service?

Emergency

Door slammed shut at 3 AM, lock broken on a Sunday? Our on-call technicians arrive within 30 minutes, with the same equipment and the same rates as during the day.

Security

Aging cylinder, unarmored door, single-point lock? We assess your weak spots and install A2P-certified solutions tailored to your budget.

Repair

Key spinning freely, bolt that won't engage, cylinder seized by frost? Our technicians diagnose the problem and repair on site when possible — replacement only if necessary.

Installation

Moving, renovating, or upgrading your security? We install European cylinders, multipoint locks, and Nuki smart lock systems. On-board stock means most installations are completed in a single visit.

Need this service?

Our locksmith arrives in 30 minutes, 24/7

Why choose Janssens?

No damage 95%
Arrival in 30 min
Available 24/7
Free quote by phone
Pay after service
Non-destructive techniques

How does it work?

1. You call

Describe your situation, we give you a precise time. Mention the door type and lock brand if you can — it helps us prepare the right equipment.

2. We arrive

Our locksmith arrives with all necessary equipment. The van carries a stock of cylinders, locks, and specialized tools.

3. Free quote

Price quoted before work. You approve. If the on-site diagnosis differs from the phone assessment, a revised quote is provided with no obligation.

4. Intervention

Careful and fast work. Pay after. You receive an official invoice and a warranty on all installed parts.

Door Opening in Brussels: How We Work

Slammed door, lost keys, jammed lock — each situation calls for a different approach. After 10 years of opening doors across Brussels and Brabant, one thing is clear: in over 95% of cases, the door opens without a scratch, without replacing a single part, and without any surprise on the invoice.

Three Techniques, Depending on Your Situation

Every door tells a different story. A simple latch bolt that slammed shut is not the same as a Fichet cylinder locked with a double turn. Here's how we assess the situation and choose the right method.

Locked-out door: bypass opening

When your door has slammed shut and the lock has not been turned with a key, we use a bypass technique. Using thin tools slid between the frame and the door panel, we push back the latch bolt without touching the cylinder. This intervention takes on average 5 to 10 minutes and leaves no trace on your door. It is by far the most common scenario and the simplest to resolve.

Read our complete guide: locked out in Brussels, what to do? for the right steps to take while you wait for our arrival.

Locked door: lock picking and decoding

If the door has been locked with a key or the mechanism is seized, we use lock picking or decoding to open the cylinder. These techniques require precise skill and tools adapted to each brand. We work regularly on locks from Fichet, Bricard, Vachette, Mul-T-Lock, Picard, and Wilka. The intervention time ranges from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the cylinder. Your lock remains intact and fully functional after the opening.

Cases requiring drilling

In roughly 5% of cases, when the mechanism is too damaged or the cylinder is a high-security anti-pick model, drilling becomes the only option. Our technicians perform a targeted drill that affects only the cylinder, without damaging the door or the lock body itself. The drilled cylinder is then replaced with an equivalent or higher-grade model. Learn more about our lock replacement service for details on the brands and cylinders we install.

Types of Doors We Cover

We handle every type of door found in Brussels and Brabant:

  • Apartment doors — entrance doors in wood or metal, fitted with European-profile cylinders or multipoint locks. This is the most common type of intervention across the Brussels municipalities.
  • House doors — front doors in solid wood, PVC, or aluminium, with mortice or surface-mounted locks from brands such as Vachette, Bricard, or Fichet.
  • Armoured doors — reinforced doors equipped with high-security multipoint locks. We carry the tools needed to open armoured doors from Fichet, Picard, and Mul-T-Lock without damaging the reinforcement.
  • Garage doors and commercial premises — tilt-up, sectional, or swing doors with round-profile or lever locks. We also work on metal roller shutters for shops and offices.

Smart Locks: When Technology Locks You Out

We're seeing more Nuki locks in Brussels every month, especially in new builds and Airbnb flats. The problem? They fail like any electronic device. Dead battery, Bluetooth that won't connect, an app that crashes after an update — the result is the same: you're standing outside. Most smart locks have a mechanical backup. And when they don't, we reconfigure the electronic module on site.

What Sets Us Apart

There are plenty of locksmiths in Brussels. But not all of them work the same way. Here's what our clients notice after an intervention:

  • The quoted price is the price you pay — no hidden call-out fees, no "complex lock surcharge" invented on the spot.
  • We don't replace what doesn't need replacing — if the lock works after opening, we won't push you to change it.
  • Every technician carries a full stock — Fichet, Bricard, Vachette, Mul-T-Lock, Picard, Wilka cylinders. No need for a second visit.
  • We know Brussels buildings — access codes, concierges, building managers, Art Nouveau entrance doors… after 10 years, we know how to get to your door.

Locked out right now? Call 0495 205 400 — it connects you directly to the nearest technician. No switchboard, no waiting.

Frequently asked questions

Can you open a door without damaging it?
Yes, in 95% of cases, we open doors without any damage using non-destructive techniques. Lock picking, bypass, decoding: we always choose the least invasive method. In practical terms, a slammed door is resolved in 5 to 10 minutes via bypass; a locked door takes 10 to 30 minutes of picking depending on the cylinder. In both cases, your lock remains fully functional after opening.
How do I know the price of a door opening?
Call us at 0495 205 400 for a free immediate quote. The price depends on the lock type and time of intervention. You know the exact price before we come, no surprises. When calling, try to tell us the brand visible on your cylinder and whether the door was slammed shut or locked with a key — this helps us give you the most accurate quote possible.
Do you open reinforced doors?
Yes, our technicians are trained on reinforced doors and high-security locks (Fichet, Picard, Tordjman). Opening takes longer — expect 30 to 60 minutes depending on the model — but remains possible without damage in most cases. From our experience, most residential reinforced doors in Belgium use European high-security cylinders, which we can pick without drilling.
What should I do if I locked myself out with keys inside?
Call us immediately at 0495 205 400. Don't try to open it yourself with a card or screwdriver — you risk damaging the lock and making our job harder. Our locksmith arrives in 30 minutes. From experience, a slammed door (not locked with a key) is the quickest and least expensive intervention. Stay near your door while waiting for us.
0495 205 400