Belgium Tourism

National Day, flag, anthem and motto

Belgium is an ancient and yet still young nation. Belgians were first mentioned about 2,000 years ago (by Julius Caesar in his book on the Gallic Wars). Nevertheless, Belgium was for centuries part of a larger state structure.

The independant State of Belgium was born on October 4, 1830.

National Day is celebrated on July 21. Its commemorates the day on which Leopold I took the constitutional oath as the first King of Belgium, on July 21st 1831.

National Day: July 21

Anthem: the "Brabançonne" (the text only exists in French and Dutch)

Flag: three vertical stripes: black, yellow and red

Motto: "L'Union fait la force - Eendracht maakt macht" (Strength lies in unity) Heraldic emblem: the Belgian Lion (Leo Belgicus), a yellow lion with red claws and tongue against a black background


Feast Days

May 8
Feast Day of the Brussels-Capital Region

July 11
Feast Day of the Flemish Community. It celebrates the anniversary of "the battle of the golden spurs" (1302), in which the count of Flanders, with the borough militia, were victorious over the king of France outside Courtrai.

Third Sunday of September
Feast Day of the Walloon Region.

September 27
Feast Day of the French Community. It commemorates the victory of the patriots over the Dutch army in the Park of Brussels in 1830.

November 15
Feast Day of the German-speaking Community. It is also the Day of the King.

Flags

Brussels-Capital Region: a yellow iris against a blue background.

Flemish Community: a black lion with red claws and tongue against a yellow background.

French Community: a red cockerel against a yellow background. It is also the emblem of the Walloon Region.

German-speaking Community: a red lion surrounded by nine blue cinquefoils against a white background.

Anthem

Flemish Community: the "Vlaamse Leeuw" (Flemish Lion).

Walloon Region: the "Chant des Wallons".

No official anthem for the other Communities and Regions.

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Belgium Tourism