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In Belgium, businesses are typically closed on public holidays, so it’s important to know when they are. Annually there are 10 national holidays for workers, seven of which have fixed dates each year.
For travelers and expats, holidays also require some financial planning. Whether you’re budgeting for festival attendance, purchasing gifts, or planning getaways, managing your money across borders can be challenging. Using services like Wise can offer competitive exchange rates and transparent fees for currency conversion.
To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, read this list of Belgium’s holidays and observances:
Wise account
Are you an expat or thinking of moving to Belgium? Managing your money across borders shouldn’t be complicated. With a Wise account, you can hold over 40 currencies and pay with a Wise debit card in more than 150 countries. Whether you need to spend abroad, receive or send money home, Wise can help make international money management simpler.
An overview of public holidays in Belgium
Most of the holidays in Belgium are observed nationwide. However, some holidays only apply regionally for the country’s three language communities:
- Dutch-speaking Flanders
- French-speaking Wallonia
- German-speaking provinces in eastern Wallonia
Businesses are typically closed on public holidays (Dutch: feestdag, French: jour férié), with the exceptions of police stations and hospitals. This is increasingly changing, however.
One of the most important holidays is Belgium’s national day (Belgian Independence Day). This day is celebrated with big festivities and military shows. There are also plenty of popular local festivities, such as Carnival and a number of top Belgian festivals, which are not official public holidays.
If you’re planning to attend these celebrations, it’s worth preparing financially, especially if you’re traveling from abroad. Using the Wise account to convert your currency at the mid-market exchange rate can help you avoid the inflated tourist rates often found at airport kiosks and local exchange offices during busy holiday periods.
When the country’s holidays fall on a Thursday or Tuesday, some companies close on the Friday or Monday to make the bridge. This ensures that employees get a long weekend away from work.
The law prohibits working during national holidays in Belgium, although exceptions exist. In such situations, an employee should receive a compensation day within six weeks following any holiday they worked.
It’s important to note that if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday does not typically transfer to another day in the week.
When are Belgium’s public holidays in 2025?
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 1 January 2025 | Wed | New Year’s Day |
| 18 April 2025 | Fri | Good Friday |
| 21 April 2025 | Tue | Easter Monday |
| 1 May 2025 | Thu | Labor Day |
| 29 May 2025 | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 30 May 2025 | Fri | Day after Ascension Day |
| 9 June 2025 | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 21 July 2025 | Mon | Belgium National Day |
| 15 August 2025 | Fri | Assumption of Mary |
| 1 November 2025 | Sat | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 November 2025 | Tue | Armistice Day |
| 25 December 2025 | Thu | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2025 | Fri | Boxing Day |
Local holidays in 2025
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 8 May 2025 | Thu | Feast of the Iris – Feast Day of the Brussels-Capital Region |
| 11 July 2025 | Fri | Celebration of the Golden Spurs (Day of the Flemish Community) – celebrates the victory of the Count of Flanders and the borough militia against the king of France outside Courtrai |
| 15 September 2025 | Mon | Feast Day of the Walloon Region |
| 27 September 2025 | Sat | Day of the French-speaking Community – commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830 |
| 15 November 2025 | Sat | Day of the German-speaking Community – the date a decree was published to prescribe the arms, flag, colors, and community day of the German-speaking area |
Other important dates in 2025
| Date | Weekday | Occasion |
| 6 January 2025 | Mon | Epiphany |
| 11 May 2025 | Sun | Mother’s Day |
| 8 June 2025 | Sun | Father’s Day |
| 15 November 2025 | Sat | King’s Day – although not a public holiday, most government offices close |
| 6 December 2025 | Sat | Saint Nicholas Day – when Sinterklaas/Saint Nicolas fills children’s shoes with presents |
| 31 December 2025 | Wed | New Year’s Eve |
When are Belgium’s public holidays in 2026?
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 1 January 2026 | Tue | New Year’s Day |
| 3 April 2026 | Fri | Good Friday |
| 6 April 2026 | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May 2026 | Fri | Labor Day |
| 14 May 2026 | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 15 May 2026 | Fri | Day after Ascension Day |
| 25 May 2026 | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 21 July 2026 | Tue | Belgium National Day |
| 15 August 2026 | Sat | Assumption of Mary |
| 1 November 2026 | Sun | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 November 2026 | Wed | Armistice Day |
| 25 December 2026 | Wed | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2026 | Thu | Boxing Day |
Local holidays in 2026
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 8 May 2026 | Thu | Feast of the Iris – Feast Day of the Brussels-Capital Region |
| 11 July 2026 | Fri | Celebration of the Golden Spurs (Day of the Flemish Community) – celebrates the victory of the count of Flanders and the borough militia against the king of France outside Courtrai |
| 15 September 2026 | Mon | Feast Day of the Walloon Region |
| 27 September 2026 | Sat | Day of the French-speaking Community – commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830 |
| 15 November 2026 | Sat | Day of the German-speaking Community – the date a decree was published to prescribe the arms, flag, colors, and community day of the German-speaking area |
Other important dates in 2026
| Date | Weekday | Occasion |
| 6 January 2026 | Sun | Epiphany |
| 10 May 2026 | Sun | Mother’s Day |
| 14 June 2026 | Sun | Father’s Day |
| 15 November 2026 | Sun | King’s Day – although not a public holiday, most government offices close |
| 6 December 2026 | Sun | Saint Nicholas Day – when Sinterklaas/Saint Nicolas fills children’s shoes with presents |
| 31 December 2026 | Thu | New Year’s Eve |
When were Belgium’s public holidays in 2024?
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 1 January 2024 | Mon | New Year’s Day |
| 29 March 2024 | Fri | Good Friday |
| 1 April 2024 | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May 2024 | Wed | Labor Day |
| 9 May 2024 | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 10 May 2024 | Fri | Day after Ascension Day |
| 20 May 2024 | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 21 July 2024 | Sun | Belgium National Day |
| 15 August 2024 | Thu | Assumption of Mary |
| 1 November 2024 | Fri | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 November 2024 | Mon | Armistice Day |
| 25 December 2024 | Wed | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2024 | Thu | Boxing Day |
Local holidays in 2024
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 8 May 2024 | Wed | Feast of the Iris – Feast Day of the Brussels-Capital Region |
| 11 July 2024 | Thu | Celebration of the Golden Spurs (Day of the Flemish Community) – celebrates the victory of the count of Flanders and the borough militia against the king of France outside Courtrai |
| 15 September 2024 | Sun | Feast Day of the Walloon Region |
| 27 September 2024 | Fri | Day of the French-speaking Community – commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830 |
| 15 November 2024 | Fri | Day of the German-speaking Community – the date a decree was published to prescribe the arms, flag, colors, and community day of the German-speaking area |
Other important dates in 2024
| Date | Weekday | Occasion |
| 6 January 2024 | Sat | Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day) |
| 12 May 2024 | Sun | Mother’s Day |
| 9 June 2024 | Sun | Father’s Day |
| 15 November 2024 | Fri | King’s Day – although not a public holiday, most government offices close |
| 6 December 2024 | Fri | Saint Nicholas Day – when Sinterklaas/Saint Nicolas fills children’s shoes with presents |
| 31 December 2024 | Tue | New Year’s Eve |
When are the Belgian school holidays?
If you want to know when your children have a vacation, read more about school holidays in Belgium.
Looking for things to do with your little ones on their day off? Why not check out:
- Bellewaerde Park: Belgium’s oldest theme park near Ypres, with rides, attractions, and an animal park
- Domaine des Grottes De Han (Domain of the caves of Han): Located in Walloni, this safari park is great for spotting wild animals. For adventure-seekers, you can also take your child into the stunning naturally-formed Caves of Han.
- Walibi: Near Wavre, this theme park is full of exciting rides. Don’t forget to check out Aqualibi, too, the water park next door.
Practical tips for Belgium holiday travel
Managing your money
Proper financial planning ensures a trip without stress. Avoid the expensive currency exchange counters at airports and tourist areas that offer unfavorable exchange rates. With Wise, you can hold and convert money in multiple currencies, spend abroad with the Wise card, and enjoy lower fees when compared to banks. For example, when transferring 5,000 USD to EUR, you could save 86 EUR for using Wise compared to using a bank transfer*, helping your holiday budget go further.
*The calculation is from the comparison tool from the Wise website on the 9th of Sept of 2025 that compares USD transfers to EUR via Wise, multiple international money transfer providers and banks in the US.
Cultural considerations
Belgium’s unique cultural landscape reflects its position at the crossroads of Germanic and Latin Europe, with distinct linguistic and cultural regions that enrich the travel experience. The country has three official languages: Dutch (Flemish) in the north, French in the south (Wallonia), and German in a small eastern region, with Brussels being officially bilingual French-Dutch. Most Belgians speak excellent English, especially in tourist areas and among younger people, but learning basic greetings in both Dutch and French shows respect and is warmly appreciated.
Food and Drink
Belgian cuisine represents one of Europe’s great culinary traditions, combining French techniques with hearty local ingredients. Belgian chocolate is world-renowned, with artisanal chocolatiers in every city offering tastings and demonstrations of their craft. Visit local markets for fresh produce and regional specialties, make reservations at popular restaurants especially for weekend dinners, and embrace the Belgian approach to dining that values quality ingredients, proper beer pairings, and taking time to enjoy meals as social experiences rather than rushed necessities.
Conclusion
Belgium holidays offer a rich opportunity to experience the country’s culture and traditions. By planning ahead—knowing both national and local holiday dates, understanding transportation, and preparing financially—you can fully immerse yourself in these special celebrations.
For international visitors and expats, smart money management is a key part of holiday planning. Setting up a Wise account before traveling to Belgium can give you access to competitive currency exchange rates, and a debit card to spend like a local. This financial preparation allows you to focus on what really matters—enjoying Belgium’s vibrant holiday traditions and creating lasting memories.
