Public holidays in Belgium explained

In Belgium, there are ten official public holidays. Other particular days are also celebrated, but these are not official public holidays and employers are not obliged to give their employees a day off.[1] However, some employers do award a day's holiday in accordance with union negotiations.

Public holidays[2]

DateName
EnglishDutchFrenchGerman
1 January (fixed)New Year's DayDutch; Flemish: NieuwjaarFrench: Nouvel AnGerman: Neujahr
23 March – 26 April
(floating Monday using Computus)
Easter MondayDutch; Flemish: PaasmaandagFrench: Lundi de PâquesGerman: Ostermontag
1 May
(fixed)
Labour DayDutch; Flemish: Dag van de arbeidFrench: Fête du TravailGerman: Tag der Arbeit
40 days after Easter
(floating Thursday)
Ascension DayDutch; Flemish: HemelvaartFrench: AscensionGerman: Christi Himmelfahrt
50 days after Easter
(floating Monday)
Whit MondayDutch; Flemish: PinkstermaandagFrench: Lundi de PentecôteGerman: Pfingstmontag
21 July
(fixed)
Belgian National DayDutch; Flemish: Nationale feestdagFrench: Fête nationaleGerman: Nationalfeiertag
15 August
(fixed)
Assumption DayDutch; Flemish: Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaartFrench: AssomptionGerman: Mariä Himmelfahrt
1 November
(fixed)
All Saints' DayDutch; Flemish: AllerheiligenFrench: ToussaintGerman: Allerheiligen
11 November
(fixed)
Armistice DayDutch; Flemish: WapenstilstandFrench: Jour de l'ArmisticeGerman: Waffenstillstand
25 December
(fixed)
Christmas DayDutch; Flemish: KerstmisFrench: NoëlGerman: Weihnachten

In addition to the above, the same legal text names all Sundays as public holidays (which is why Easter and Pentecost, which always fall on Sundays, are "feasted" by extending the Sunday holiday to the following Monday).

Particular days celebrated in Belgium that are not official public holidays

Holiday Date LocationDutch French German
Epiphany6 JanuaryNationalDriekoningenÉpiphanieErscheinung des Herrn
Valentine's Day14 FebruaryNationalValentijnsdagSaint-ValentinValentinstag
Veterans Day7 April[3] NationalVeteranendagJournée des Vétérans Veteranentag
Iris Festival8 MayBrussels-Capital RegionIrisfeestFête de l'IrisIris-Festival
Day of the Flemish Community11 JulyFlemish CommunityFeest van de Vlaamse GemeenschapFête de la Communauté flamandeFeiertag der Flämischen Gemeinschaft
Meyboom3 AugustBrussels-Capital RegionMeyboomMeyboomMeyboom
French Community Holiday27 SeptemberFrench CommunityDag van de Franse GemeenschapFête de la Communauté françaiseFeiertag der Französischen Gemeinschaft
Day of the Walloon Regionthird Sunday of SeptemberFeest van het Waalse GewestFête de la Région wallonneFesttag der Wallonischen Region
Halloween31 OctoberNationalHalloweenHalloweenHalloween
All Souls' Day2 NovemberNationalAllerzielenJour des mortsAllerseelen
Saint Martin's Day11 NovemberOstbelgien, parts of FlandersSint-MaartenSaint-MartinSankt Martin
Day of the German-speaking Community15 NovemberOstbelgienDag van de Duitstalige GemeenschapFête de la Communauté germanophoneTag der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft
King's FeastNationalKoningsdagFête du RoiFesttag des Königs
Saint Verhaegen20 NovemberBrussels-Capital RegionSint-VerhaegenSaint-VerhaegenSankt Verhaegen
Saint Nicholas Day6 DecemberNationalSinterklaasSaint-NicolasSankt Nikolaus
Second Day of Christmas26 DecemberNationalTweede kerstdagLendemain de Noël2. Weihnachtstag

The days of the three communities are holidays for their civil servants and for employees of institutions controlled, supervised or financed by them (e.g. municipalities, universities) and may also be observed by banks in the community concerned. King's Feast is a holiday observed by all (i.e. federal, community or regional, provincial and local) administrations, including some of the schools they organize.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Public holidays in Belgium .
  2. Web site: Nationale feestdagen in België | Belgium.be .
  3. News: Noulet . Jean-François . Le 7 avril, la Belgique se souvient de ses vétérans : 252 militaires belges sont morts lors d'opérations de maintien de la paix depuis 1945 . 9 April 2022 . .