Public holidays
Public holidays in Belgium.
Ten legal public holidays a year, for every employee. Three of them depend on Easter and move every year. Below them, the days only some people have off.
Public holidays 2026
2 holidays fall on a weekend: anyone working Monday to Friday gets a replacement day for each.
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, January 1 | New Year's Day | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, April 6 | Easter Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Friday, May 1 | Labour Day | Legal public holiday |
| Thursday, May 14 | Ascension Day | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, May 25 | Whit Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Tuesday, July 21 | National Day | Legal public holiday |
| Saturday, August 15 | Assumption Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Sunday, November 1 | All Saints' Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Armistice Day | Legal public holiday |
| Friday, December 25 | Christmas Day | Legal public holiday |
Not off for everyone
| Date | Holiday | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, July 11 | Flemish Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the Flemish government; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Sunday, September 27 | French Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the French Community and French-speaking schools; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Monday, November 2 | All Souls' Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
| Sunday, November 15 | German-speaking Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the German-speaking Community; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Sunday, November 15 | King's Feast | Customary day offStaff of the federal government. |
| Saturday, December 26 | Boxing Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
Public holidays 2027
3 holidays fall on a weekend: anyone working Monday to Friday gets a replacement day for each.
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 1 | New Year's Day | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, March 29 | Easter Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Saturday, May 1 | Labour Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Thursday, May 6 | Ascension Day | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, May 17 | Whit Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Wednesday, July 21 | National Day | Legal public holiday |
| Sunday, August 15 | Assumption Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Monday, November 1 | All Saints' Day | Legal public holiday |
| Thursday, November 11 | Armistice Day | Legal public holiday |
| Saturday, December 25 | Christmas Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
Not off for everyone
| Date | Holiday | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, July 11 | Flemish Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the Flemish government; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Monday, September 27 | French Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the French Community and French-speaking schools; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Tuesday, November 2 | All Souls' Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
| Monday, November 15 | German-speaking Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the German-speaking Community; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Monday, November 15 | King's Feast | Customary day offStaff of the federal government. |
| Sunday, December 26 | Boxing Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
Public holidays 2028
2 holidays fall on a weekend: anyone working Monday to Friday gets a replacement day for each.
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 1 | New Year's Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Monday, April 17 | Easter Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, May 1 | Labour Day | Legal public holiday |
| Thursday, May 25 | Ascension Day | Legal public holiday |
| Monday, June 5 | Whit Monday | Legal public holiday |
| Friday, July 21 | National Day | Legal public holiday |
| Tuesday, August 15 | Assumption Day | Legal public holiday |
| Wednesday, November 1 | All Saints' Day | Legal public holiday |
| Saturday, November 11 | Armistice Day | Legal public holidayFalls on a weekend: replacement day |
| Monday, December 25 | Christmas Day | Legal public holiday |
Not off for everyone
| Date | Holiday | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, July 11 | Flemish Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the Flemish government; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Wednesday, September 27 | French Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the French Community and French-speaking schools; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Thursday, November 2 | All Souls' Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
| Wednesday, November 15 | German-speaking Community holiday | Community holidayStaff of the German-speaking Community; others only if their sector or employer gives it. |
| Wednesday, November 15 | King's Feast | Customary day offStaff of the federal government. |
| Tuesday, December 26 | Boxing Day | Customary day offSome sectors and public services. |
The rules in short
The law of 4 January 1974 and the royal decree of 18 April 1974 set the ten public holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension, Whit Monday, 21 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November and Christmas. On those days every employee is off with pay.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday or on a day you normally don't work, you get a replacement day. It is set in your sector, in your company or with your employer; if nothing is agreed, it is the next normal working day.
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Easter Monday is the day after, Ascension 39 days after Easter (always a Thursday), Whit Monday 50 days after Easter. Brugdag works it out for every year.
Sources, checked on October 3, 2026: FOD WASO, Feestdagen · SPF Emploi, Jours fériés
Which bridges are there for you?
Brugdag lays these holidays next to your working week.