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If you have children in school, you’ll need to note down those school holiday dates as soon as possible so that you can plan activities and childcare arrangements ahead. In Belgium, school holidays typically cross over with public holidays (e.g., Christmas and Easter). There are also seasonal breaks, including several weeks off in the summer.
Planning ahead also means preparing financially for these holiday periods. Whether you’re organising a family trip abroad, arranging childcare, or enrolling your children in vacation camps, managing your finances efficiently is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel between countries or maintain ties to their home country, services like Wise can help manage multiple currencies and international payments without the hidden fees that banks can often charge.
Continue reading to learn more about:
The International School of Brussels
Looking for a leading international education in the Belgian capital? The International School of Brussels (ISB) provides an encouraging learning community for students from preschool to grade 12. The school offers a number of learning opportunities, including the IB Diploma program and US High School Diploma. See how the ISB could give your child the best start in life.
An overview of school holidays in Belgium
Belgium is split into three different language-speaking communities:
- Dutch-speaking Flanders
- French-speaking Wallonia
- German-speaking eastern Wallonia
The Dutch-speaking and German-speaking communities share the same school holidays; however, the French-speaking community has different dates.
Belgian schools typically have five holidays throughout the year, including during Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. There are also a few individual days off, such as Whit Monday and Armistice Day.
International schools in Belgium generally follow the same school holiday dates as other schools, although summer holidays in some international schools start and end one to two weeks earlier than the general holiday dates.
When are Belgium’s school holidays in 2024–2025?
All dates are subject to change.
| Holiday | Flanders dates | Wallonia dates | Eastern Wallonia dates |
| First day of school | 2 September 2024 | 26 August 2024 | 2 September 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 October – 1 November 2024 | 21 October – 1 November 2024 | 28 October – 2 November 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 23 December 2024 – 3 January 2025 | 23 December 2024 – 3 January 2025 | 23 December 2024 – 3 January 2025 |
| Dutch: Krokusvakantie French: Relaxation leave | 3–7 March 2025 | 24 February – 7 March 2025 | 3–7 March 2025 |
| Easter holidays | 7–21 April 2025 | 28 April – 9 May 2025 | 7–21 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 1 July – 31 August 2025 | 5 July – 22 August 2025 | 1 July – 31 August 2025 |
Other important dates in 2024–2025
The additional holiday dates for the 2024–2025 school year are:
| Holiday | Flanders dates | Wallonia dates | German-speaking Belgium dates |
| Day of the French-speaking community | n/a | 27 September | n/a |
| Armistice Day | 11 November 2024 | 11 November 2024 | 11 November 2024 |
| German-speaking Community Day | n/a | n/a | 15 November 2024 |
| Easter Monday | 21 April 2025 | 21 April 2025 | 21 April 2025 |
| Labor Day | 1 May 2025 | 1 May 2025 | 1 May 2025 |
| Ascension Day | 14–15 May 2025 | 14 May 2025 | 14 May 2025 |
| Whit Monday | 25 May 2025 | 25 May 2025 | 25 May 2025 |
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.
When are Belgium’s school holidays in 2025–2026?
All dates are subject to change.
| Holiday | Flanders dates | Wallonia dates | German-speaking Belgium dates |
| First day of school | 1 September 2025 | 25 August 2025 | 1 September 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 27 October – 2 November 2025 | 20 October – 2 November 2025 | 27 October – 1 November 2025 |
| Winter holidays | 22 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 22 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 22 December 2025 – 3 January 2026 |
| Dutch: Krokusvakantie French: Relaxation leave German: Carnival holidays | 16–22 February 2026 | 16 February – 1 March 2026 | 16–21 February 2026 |
| Easter/Spring holidays | 6–19 April 2026 | 27 April – 10 May 2026 | 6–18 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 1 July – 31 August 2026 | 4 July – 23 August 2026 | 1 July – 31 August 2026 |
Other important dates in 2025–2026
Depending on your area, some schools may be closed for local celebrations. For example, some schools will give children the day off for being part of a language community.
The additional holiday dates for the 2025–2026 school year are:
| Holiday | Flanders dates | Wallonia dates | German-speaking Belgium dates |
| Armistice Day | 11 November 2026 | 11 November 2026 | 11 November 2026 |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2025 | 6 April 2025 | 6 April 2025 |
| Labor Day | 1 May 2025 | 1 May 2025 | 1 May 2025 |
| Ascension Day | 14–15 May 2025 | 14 May 2025 | 14 May 2025 |
| Whit Monday | 25 May 2025 | 25 May 2025 | 25 May 2025 |
When are the public holidays in Belgium?
Some important public holidays and celebrations usually fall on school holidays, such as Labor Day in May and National Day in July.
You can learn more about these holidays (and dates) by reading our article on public holidays in Belgium.
Tips for expat parents in Belgium
Financial planning for school holidays
School holidays often mean additional expenses for families – from travel and accommodation to childcare and activities. For expat parents who may be traveling internationally or paying for services in different currencies, managing these expenses efficiently becomes even more important.
When planning trips abroad during school breaks:
- Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations
- Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad
- Plan ahead for international payments for activities or accommodations
Using the Wise account can help you manage your holiday finances. 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*.
*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.
Childcare during Belgian school holidays
If you are working during school holidays, you may need to make childcare arrangements. You have several options:
- Flanders – daycare for school children: You can choose between family daycare (gezinsopvang in Dutch), which is usually a maximum of eight children looked after at the home of a certified childminder, or group reception (groepsopvang in Dutch), which is a larger building with several childcare providers. Information can be found on the Kind & Gezin website.
- Wallonia – Holiday centers (Centres de Vacances): You can search for suitable activities and centers on the website for ONE. Another useful resource is La Ligue des Familles, a membership organization that offers a range of holiday activities and opportunities for children aged 3 and above.
Prices and availability for activities vary, so it’s advisable to make inquiries at the earliest opportunity and find out if any discounts are available. Ask your child’s school to see if any school-related provisions exist.
10 fun vacation camps in Belgium
Belgium has many fun and educational summer camps for children to learn and play during the school holidays, including:
Conclusion
Understanding the Belgian school holiday calendar is essential for expat families to plan effectively throughout the academic year. With differences between the language communities and a variety of holiday periods spread across the year, advance planning is key to balancing work commitments with childcare needs and family activities.
Whether you’re arranging local childcare, sending your children to vacation camps, or planning family trips abroad during these breaks, having the right financial tools in place can make the process smoother. For expat families in Belgium, Wise provides a solution for managing expenses across different currencies without the hidden fees that can be charged by banks.
