Guides · 2026

Long weekends in Belgium, 2026

Belgium has ten statutory public holidays, and 2026 places them kindly: two Friday holidays, two Monday holidays, an Ascension Thursday begging for a bridge day, and a Tuesday national day. Played well, a handful of leave days turns into weeks of time off.

4days off

New Year's Day

Thursday holiday — take the Friday as a bridge day and you're off until Monday.

Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan1 day of leave
3days off

Easter Monday

Falls on a Monday — an automatic three-day weekend.

Sat 4 Apr – Mon 6 Aprno leave needed
3days off

Labour Day

Falls on a Friday — an automatic three-day weekend.

Fri 1 May – Sun 3 Mayno leave needed
4days off

Ascension Day

Thursday holiday — take the Friday as a bridge day and you're off until Monday.

Thu 14 May – Sun 17 May1 day of leave
3days off

Whit Monday

Falls on a Monday — an automatic three-day weekend.

Sat 23 May – Mon 25 Mayno leave needed
4days off

Belgian National Day

Tuesday holiday — bridge the Monday for a four-day break.

Sat 18 Jul – Tue 21 Jul1 day of leave

Assumption of Mary

Falls on the weekend this year.

Sat 15 Aug

All Saints' Day

Falls on the weekend this year.

Sun 1 Nov
5days off

Armistice Day

Midweek holiday — bridge Monday and Tuesday (or take Thursday and Friday to run Wednesday–Sunday) for five days off.

Sat 7 Nov – Wed 11 Nov2 days of leave
3days off

Christmas Day

Falls on a Friday — an automatic three-day weekend.

Fri 25 Dec – Sun 27 Decno leave needed

Worth knowing

When a Belgian public holiday falls on a weekend (like Assumption on Saturday 15 August and All Saints on Sunday 1 November in 2026), employers must grant a replacement day — so those days aren't lost, they move.

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