National holiday of Belgium
Belgian National Day (
Dutch: Nationale feestdag van België;
French: Fête nationale belge;
German: Belgischer Nationalfeiertag) is the
national holiday of
Belgium commemorated annually on
21 July. It is one of the country's
ten public holidays and marks the anniversary of the investiture of
Leopold I as the first
King of the Belgians in 1831.
History
In the aftermath of the
Napoleonic Wars, Belgium became part of the
United Netherlands. After a period of growing unrest, the
Belgian Revolution forced Dutch forces out of the country between August and October 1830. By November, the different revolutionary factions had coalesced around the idea of national independence and began drafting a
constitution for an independent Belgian state. It was decided that it would become a
constitutional and
popular monarchy, reflecting the
romantic nationalism popular at the time. Searching for a monarch, the revolutionaries decided on
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha who was a German aristocrat popular in the
United Kingdom. Leopold arrived in
Brussels in early July 1831 and, on 21 July, swore allegiance to the constitution, becoming the country's first monarch. 21 July 1831 is thus considered to mark the start of the modern Kingdom of Belgium.
[1]
Belgian National Day was originally celebrated on 27 September, the date of the expulsion of Dutch forces from Brussels during the Revolution's "September Days". In 1890, this was changed by law to 21 July to strengthen the association between the observance and the
monarchy and constitutional order.
[1] Since 1991, 27 September has become
the official observance of the
French Community of Belgium.
[2] In
World War I and
World War II, Belgium was occupied and public displays of patriotism were banned. As a result, celebrations of 21 July became a common form of
symbolic resistance.
[3]
Programme
Belgian National Day is celebrated across Belgium and in Belgian emigrant communities abroad on 21 July. It is a public holiday, being
one of ten observed nationally each year.
[2] Historically, National Day is marked by a televised speech by the King.
The main festivities occur in Brussels. They traditionally begin with a
Te Deum at the
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, attended by the King and other dignitaries. In the afternoon, the
Belgian Armed Forces and
police are reviewed by the King and parade around the
Rue de la Loi and the perimeter of the
Brussels Park in front of the
Royal Palace. Foreign contingents from Belgium's
European Union and
NATO allies have also participated. Refreshments and displays by Belgium's
public and
emergency services, armed forces, charities, and civic associations are set up for the public in the Park and nearby
Place Royale, Rue de la Régence and Place Poelart. There is also a
flypast by the
Belgian Air Force. In the evening, there is a
fireworks display. Since 2003, there has also been a concert known as the "National Ball" (bal nationale).
[4] In 2019, the festivities in Brussels were attended by an estimated 100,000 people.
[5]
Elsewhere in Belgium, celebrations often involve church services,
flea markets, and public concerts.
Belgian flags are commonly displayed in shops and private houses. Belgium's climate means that rain is common on National Day and is popularly referred to in French as the "National Downpour" (drache nationale).
[6]
Notable events
On National Day 2013,
King Philippe formally ascended to the throne following the abdication of his father
Albert II.
[7]
References
Further reading
External links
Media related to
Belgian National Day at Wikimedia Commons