The only true reason why the Belgian government is so eager to apply those black digits on white background plates is that they have found out that those plates are better readable by the many expensive-ticket-issuing traffic cameras. If there is such a camera on each street corner in the Netherlands, in Flanders they also put an extra camera inbetween street corners. Wallonia was somewhat lagging behind but is catching up fast.

A free front plate is easy to obtain at many garages/ vehicle dealers, you only have to buy a new car there ...