<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2026-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001031308</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENTLEY SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001963448</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ballard Brock</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>685 STOCKTON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19341</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Revenue Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2223</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.165</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65977</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer to cover taxes due by the Reporting Person upon the vesting of awards previously granted to the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares of Class B common stock acquired by the Reporting Person through the Bentley Systems, Incorporated Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan for an offering period ended on December 31, 2025 for which the Reporting Person's enrollment and contribution elections were made in June 2025.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael T. Fischette, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
