Public Holidays in Belgium
Statutory public holidays in Belgium, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Belgium at a glance
Belgium has ten public holidays set nationally, with the National Day on 21 July the main civic date. Many are Catholic feast days that move with Easter.
When a holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is usually granted, and July and August are the peak holiday months.
Belgium public holidays 2026
Belgium has 12 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Pentecost | May 24Sun | National |
| Pentecost Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| National Day | Jul 21Tue | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| All Saints' Day | Nov 1Sun | National |
| Armistice Day | Nov 11Wed | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Belgium
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Belgium.
Brussels
The EU's de facto capital, with a UNESCO Grand Place and Art Nouveau townhouses.
Bruges
A canal city of medieval brick gables, bell tower and chocolate shops.
Ghent
A university city of medieval wharves, a castle and a vast church.
Antwerp
A fashion and diamond city with a cathedral and a reworked docklands.
Leuven
A beer city of Gothic guild houses and one of Europe's oldest universities.
Top attractions in Belgium
The places that draw most visitors to Belgium.
Grand Place, Brussels
A guild-house square of gilded facades, the finest town square in Europe.
Historic Centre of Bruges
An entire medieval canal city preserved within its old walls.
Ghent Belfry
A 14th-century bell tower standing above the city's cloth halls.
Atomium
A steel sphere-and-tube structure built for the 1958 world's fair.
Ardennes
Wooded hills of castles, caves and river valleys in the south.
Flanders Fields
The World War One battlefields, cemeteries and memorials around Ypres.
Festivals, food and getting around Belgium
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Daylight Saving Time starts
Falls on Mar 29
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Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains are dense and cheap, with a flat-rate ticket for many internal journeys; trams and buses cover the cities.
Travelling around Belgium’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Belgium tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Belgium's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Belgium public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Belgium have?
Belgium has 12 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Belgium is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Belgium's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Belgium typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Belgium?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Belgium?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Belgium
School term dates in Belgium
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.