Last modified on: 21 June 2020
This document provides an overview which personal information is collected by The Belgian Lighthouse, what the information is used for, and why we need this information.
1. Responsible for handling personal information
The Belgian Lighthouse, Milseweg 9/0103, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
2. Application extent
This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information collected by The Belgian Lighthouse from users of the website of The Belgian Lighthouse.
In accordance with the stipulations and requirements of the new European privacy legislation “GDPR”, personal information is handled in a lawful, appropriate and transparent matter and only for specific and justified purposes.
The Belgian Lighthouse additionally takes appropriate measures to ensure that personal information of users is well secured and protected against data loss, destruction and damage.
3. Purposes for collecting and handling personal information
In order to offer the services and purposes listed below, The Belgian Lighthouse requires certain personal information of users. This information is obtained either directly from the user either automatically during a vist to the website by means of cookies (see also Cookie Policy).
3.1. Process and deliver orders
In order to fulfill your order, The Belgian Lighthouse needs the following personal information: full name, email address, delivery and billing address(es), and payment information. Through these means we can finalise payment of the order, deliver the order to the correct address, and keep you informed about the status of your order. With your order we additionally collect the language you have selected for using the website (English, Dutch or French) such that we can communicate with you accordingly.
Depending on the payment method you choose, some of your personal information is shared with external specialised services so that they can securely process your payment.
Some of your personal information is also shared with external postal or courier services such that they can deliver your order to the address you have provided.
The handling of this personal information for this purpose is justified by the existence of an order you have places.
3.2. Handle questions and complaints
For remarks or complaints a user can contact us by email or through the contact form on the website. The following personal information may thereby be collected: full name, email address, order reference number, preferred language en information regarding the complaint.
The Belgian Lighthouse only uses this personal information in order to respond to your question or complaint as good as possible.
The collecting and handling of this personal information for this purpose is justified by the existence of a justifiable concern for The Belgian Lighthouse.
3.3. Provide updates to subscribers of the Album page
The website offers users the possibility to become, free of charge and on a totally voluntary basis, a subscriber of the Albums page. A subscribed user receives an automatic notification message at the by the user supplied email address each time a new photo album is posted on the website.
In order to provide this service the following personal information is collected: user name, email address and preferred language.
The handling of personal information for this purpose is justified by the existence of a subscription request you have submitted.
The hereby collected personal information is not shared with third parties and are not used for direct marketing.
A subscribed user can revoke his subscription to the Albums page at any moment by means of the “Unsubscribe” link that can be found at the bottom of each automated notification message. After receipt of the unsubscribe request, The Belgian Lighthouse will erase the personal information of the unsubscribed user from its systems.
4. Retention period
The Belgian Lighthouse retains personal information in a secure manner and not longer than required for realising the purposes described above or for fulfilling our legal or contractual obligations.
Should you wish that The Belgian Lighthouse no longer retains your personal information, you may contact us as described further in Section 6.3.
5. Sharing of personal information (receivers and handlers)
The Belgian Lighthouse never sells your personal information to third parties.
In order to ensure a high quality service, we do however partner with third parties that are specialists in their domain.
Depending on the payment method you have selected, some of your personal information is shared and handled by Bancontact, Stripe of PayPal such that they can securely process and finalise your online payment.
Some of your personal information is shared with external postal or courier services such that they can deliver your order to the address you have supplied.
6. Rights of the user
6.1. Right to information
You have the right to be informed about which personal information is collected and with which purpose, and about your rights to access, correction, etc.
6.2. Right to curiosity
You have the right to contact The Belgian Lighthouse in order to know whether we possess information that concerns you.
6.3. Right to access
You have the right to obtain a copy of the personal information subject to information handling.
To exercise your right, please submit an according request together with a proof of your identity, either by email at hello@thebelgianlighthouse.com either in writing to address Milseweg 9 / 0103, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
You will then obtain, within the legally imposed maximum term of 45 days following receipt of your request, a copy of the requested information.
6.4. Right to correction
Collected personal information should be correct.
You have the right to correct or erase personal information that concerns you. To exercise this right, please submit an according request as described in Section 6.3.
6.5. Right to object
Except when handling information is necessary for the establishment or fulfillment of a sales agreement (see also Purposes, Section 3) or in the framework of a legal obligation, you have the right to object against the handling of your personal information. For this you need to provide a serious and lawful reason concerning your situation.
In addition, you have the right to object, without reason and free of charge, against handling of personal information if this information is collected for direct marketing purposes. In this context we recall that The Belgian Lighthouse never employs collected information for direct marketing and only uses the information to fulfill the purposes listed in Section 3.
6.6. Right to be forgotten
You have the right, free of charge, to obtain an erasure or ban of use on that information that as far as the purpose of the information handling are concerned is incomplete or non-pertinent, or whose registration or dissemination or retention is forbidden, or is retained beyond the permitted period.
To exercise this right, please submit an according request as described in Section 6.3.
7. Security of your personal information
The Belgian Lighthouse takes measures, such as protections through passwords and verificiation protocols, to protect personal information against data loss, unauthorised access, publication, modification or destruction.
During your visit to the website both the information you provide and all information available on the website are exchanged through a secured connection with SSL certificate. You can easily verify this by ensuring that the page address starts with https:// and through the presence of a symbol (e.g. a lock) in your browser.
8. Modifications
This privacy policy can be modified from time to time in order to meet GDPR regulations.