<p>Spiriferides are the most diverse brachiopods found in the Lower Devonian (except the top part of the Emsian) of the Ardenne Allochthon, with at least 53 species belonging to 20 genera identified so far on the southern margin of the Dinant Synclinorium. They are followed by the strophomenides, orthides, and rhynchonellides, whereas the spiriferinides only include some poorly known <i>Cyrtina</i> species. In Belgium, the oldest spiriferides are from the Silurian Colibeau Formation (Condroz Inlier). Sporadic delthyridid occurrences are recognised within the Pridoli (lowermost Gedinnian; <i>Quadrifarius</i>) and the lower Gedinnian (<i>Howellella</i>) of the Ardenne Allochthon. After the ‘Rhenish Gap’ (sensu stricto), corresponding to the installation of a facies inappropriate for brachiopods during the late Gedinnian–early Siegenian, the onset of the middle Siegenian (top of the Mirwart Formation; Gensberg regional event) is characterised by the development of the Cyrtospiriferoidea and, to a greater extent, of the Delthyridoidea; a first peak in diversity is reached during the deposition of the La Roche Formation (late Siegenian). After an interval poor in brachiopods at the lower–upper Emsian transition, the Hierges Formation (upper Emsian) recorded the maximum spiriferide diversity (e.g. <i>Brachyspirifer</i>, <i>Paraspirifer</i>) and the first occurrences of Adolfioidea (<i>Adolfia</i>) and Reticularioidea (<i>Rhenothyris</i>) in this area. The end of the Emsian (Moulin de la Foulerie Formation) is characterised by the predominance of <i>Paraspirifer</i> and <i>Sollispirifer</i> representatives. The primary type specimens (holotype, lectotype, neotype) of the spiriferides firstly described in the Lower Devonian of the Ardenne Allochthon are re-illustrated, and some of them are briefly discussed.</p>