Flag days in Belgium 2026 and 2027
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Dutch original. Where the two versions differ, the Dutch text is the original.
Belgium has two kinds of flag days. The royal decree of 5 July 1974 on flag flying on public buildings lists the days on which the Belgian and the European flag are flown on public buildings. In addition, each community and region has a feast day on which its own flag is flown. Below are all dates for 2026 and 2027, with the weekday and the flags the legal texts name for each day.
Flag days by year
The dates in the royal decree are fixed each year. Only the feast day of the Walloon Region moves: it is the third Sunday of September, 20 September in 2026 and 19 September in 2027. The day of the European elections is also a flag day, but there are no European elections in 2026 or 2027.
The flag days of the royal decree
Article 1 of the royal decree was last amended on 29 May 2015, after the death of Queen Fabiola. Since then 11 June is no longer a flag day, and the deceased members of the Royal Family are remembered together on 17 February. Circular VR 2015/37 of the Flemish Government gives the reason for each date:
| Date | Reason |
|---|---|
| 20 January | Birthday of Queen Mathilde |
| 17 February (half-mast) | Remembrance of the deceased members of the Royal Family |
| 7 April | Day in honour of the Belgian soldiers killed in peace and humanitarian operations since 1945 |
| 15 April | Birthday of King Philippe |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 5 May | Council of Europe Day |
| 8 May | VE Day |
| 9 May | Europe Day (European flag only) |
| 6 June | Birthday of King Albert II |
| 2 July | Wedding anniversary of King Albert II and Queen Paola |
| 21, 22 and 23 July | National holiday |
| 11 September | Birthday of Queen Paola |
| 24 October | United Nations Day |
| 11 November | Armistice Day |
| 15 November | King's Feast |
| 4 December | Wedding anniversary of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde |
On 8 May and 11 November the decree names only the Belgian flag, on 9 May and the day of the European elections only the European flag. On all other dates both flags are flown.
The feast days of the communities and regions
- 11 July, feast day of the Flemish Community: the Flemish flag is flown on public buildings in the Dutch-language area and on the buildings of Flemish institutions in Brussels (decree of 7 November 1990).
- Third Sunday of September, feast day of the Walloon Region: the Walloon flag is flown on public buildings in the Walloon Region (decree of 23 July 1998).
- 27 September, feast day of the French Community: the flag of the French Community is flown on public buildings in the French-language area and, in Brussels, on buildings housing institutions that belong exclusively to the French Community (decree of 3 July 1991).
- 15 November, feast day of the German-speaking Community, on the same day as the King's Feast: the flag of the German-speaking Community is flown on public buildings in the German-language area (decree of 1 October 1990).
- 8 May, feast day of the Brussels-Capital Region (ordinance of 13 March 2003), also called Iris Day.
The decrees of the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities and of the Walloon Region also provide that their flag is flown on the public or official buildings in their area on the same days as the national flag. On the federal flag days in Flanders, three flags therefore fly side by side: the Belgian, the Flemish and the European. Their order is explained in the guide on flag protocol.
Who flies the flag on flag days?
The flag days apply to public buildings: federal government buildings and the buildings of communities, regions, provinces and municipalities. Private individuals, associations and businesses can fly the flag voluntarily. Many Belgians fly the tricolour around 21 July, the national holiday, and during major sporting events. More on the national holiday and the public holidays is in the guide on flags on holidays.
For special events, such as the death of a member of the Royal Family, a state visit or a national disaster, the authorities issue separate instructions for flag flying. More on this is in the guides on half-mast and flags in mourning.
Frequently asked questions
On which days is the Belgian flag flown on public buildings?
Under the royal decree of 5 July 1974, as amended on 29 May 2015: 20 January, 17 February (at half-mast), 7 and 15 April, 1, 5 and 8 May, 6 June, 2, 21, 22 and 23 July, 11 September, 24 October, 11 and 15 November and 4 December.
When is only the European flag flown?
On 9 May, Europe Day, and on the day of the European elections, the royal decree names only the European flag. On 8 May and 11 November it names only the Belgian flag. On the other flag days both flags are flown.
Why is the flag at half-mast on 17 February?
On 17 February the deceased members of the Royal Family are remembered. King Albert I died on 17 February 1934. The royal decree sets the Belgian and the European flag at half-mast on that day.
Do private individuals have to fly the flag on flag days?
No. The royal decree and the decrees of the communities and regions apply to public buildings. Private individuals, associations and businesses can fly the flag on those days if they wish.
Is the Flemish flag also flown on the federal flag days?
Yes, on Flemish public buildings. The decree of 7 November 1990 and circular VR 2015/37 provide that the Flemish flag is flown on 11 July and on the same days and under the same conditions as the Belgian and the European flag.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Dutch:
- Koninklijk besluit van 5 juli 1974 betreffende de bevlagging van de openbare gebouwen – Justel (FPS Justice)
- Koninklijk besluit van 29 mei 2015 tot wijziging van het koninklijk besluit van 5 juli 1974 – Belgian Official Gazette
- Omzendbrief VR 2015/37 over de bevlagging van de openbare gebouwen – Flemish Government
- Decreet houdende vaststelling van het wapen, de vlag, het volkslied en de feestdag van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap – Codex Vlaanderen
- Décret du 3 juillet 1991 déterminant le jour de fête et les emblèmes propres à la Communauté française de Belgique – Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- Décret du 23 juillet 1998 déterminant le jour de fête et les emblèmes propres à la Région wallonne – Wallex (Public Service of Wallonia)
- Dekret vom 1. Oktober 1990 betreffend die Einführung des Festtages, des Wappens und der Fahne der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft – Ministry of the German-speaking Community
- Ordonnantie van 13 maart 2003 tot vaststelling van de feestdag van het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest – Justel (FPS Justice)
Related guides
- Flag rulesThe rules for flying flags in Belgium: the royal decree of 1974, the decrees of the communities and regions, and flag flying by private individuals.
- Flags on holidaysThe flag on 21 July, on the feast days of the communities and regions and on Belgium's ten public holidays, with the dates for 2026 and 2027.
- Half-mastHow a flag is flown at half-mast in Belgium according to the FPS Home Affairs, when this happens and the custom for a pole that is too short.
- Flag protocolThe order of precedence of flags in Belgium: Belgian, Flemish, European, provincial and municipal flags, the position of the poles and the order of anthems.