Preparations for the 2025 Belgian National Day are well underway, with the country gearing up for a day of festivities on 21 July.
Various events are planned across the country, with the biggest spectacles set to take place in Brussels.
This year, 21 July falls on a Monday, and with National Day being a bank holiday, public services and most shops will close their doors. However, some institutions, as well as places of worship and museums, are open to visitors for free.
The traditional military and civilian parade will take place at the Place des Palais in the city centre. The day will end with a large free concert and a major fireworks display.
Last year, 100,000 people turned out to enjoy the celebrations, and around a million people watched the festivities on television.
What is Belgium celebrating?
Belgian National Day commemorates the swearing-in of the first king of the Belgians, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1831.
The country gained independence on 4 October 1830 after the Belgian Revolution – the armed uprising against King William I of Orange-Nassau (King of the Netherlands). When the National Congress decided to make Belgium a kingdom it also decided to celebrate the nation's birth.
Events and activities in Brussels
On the eve of the National Day (Sunday 20 July), a free classical music concert will be held at 20:00 in the Bozar. The same evening will see the traditional Bal National held at the Place de Jeu de Balle in the Marolles neighbourhood; this features free concerts and draws a large crowd.
Every year, several official ceremonies and events involve the royal family, who always start National Day by attending the traditional performance of the Catholic hymn of Te Deum in the capital's St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral.
Illustration picture shows people gathering for the Te Deum mass. Credit: Belga.
Activities for young and old in Brussels city centre
From 10:00 until 20:00 on Monday, there will be dozens of activities for young and old at the Parc de Bruxelles (next to the Royal Palace).
For the fourth year running, a 'National Sports Day' will be held in the park, with introductory and advanced workshops in a range of sports, from pétanque to martial arts. The bandstand in the heart of the park will become a stage for free concerts.
A wide range of stands will also run activities: the Prince Laurent Foundation is organising treasure hunts, tombolas and more. Elsewhere, you can enjoy a massage from the Association Belge des Praticiens en Massage Assis, or visit the stand of the Museum of Illusions, where you can try solving a giant puzzle.
Institutions, places of worship and museums will open to the public, including the Federal Parliament, the Court of Audit, the Church of Saint-Jacques-op-Koudenberg, the Korean Cultural Centre, Square Brussels, Eglise Notre Dame des Victoires and the Grande Synagogue.
After hosting the Bal National the night before, the Place de Jeu de Balle will be transformed into a Resto National – Brussels' biggest restaurant. Expect to find moules-frites on the menu.
Thousands of guests filled the iconic Place de Jeu de Balle in Marolles to enjoy some traditional Belgian treats. Credit: Belga
At Place Royale, the Defence Ministry will display its equipment and vehicles. They will hold live demonstrations as well as interactive activities, including a F-35 flight simulator, a cyber escape room and a 'Parcours Defence' competition for children.
The military and civilian parade
A National Day highlight is the military and civilian parade – for which rehearsals took place several days ago. This year’s parade is extra special, since 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgium.
The parade will start at 16:00 at the Place des Palais, and visitors are invited to watch the parade from the Rue Royale, starting from Boulevard du Jardin Botanique.
Due to construction work at the Schuman traffic circle, the parade will not be passing through the Rue de la Loi.
Hundreds of soldiers, including veterans, will take part in the parade, and motorised vehicles and military aircraft will be on display. Spectators will have the chance to see several generations of defence vehicles, including examples from the Second World War.
The civilian parade will include police, customs and civil security officers and firefighters.
Firefighters take part in the military and civilian parade on the Belgian National Day in 2023. Credit: Belga.
The 'Belgian Party'
In the evening, a 'Belgian Party' will be held at Cinquantenaire Park, with concerts, a drone show and fireworks. Food trucks and bars will serve a variety of refreshments.
The music will start at 18:00, with a variety of DJs taking to the stage.
At 21:00, there will be a concert featuring 15 Belgian musicians, including Helena, Axelle Red, Roméo Elvis, K3 and Lost Frequencies.
After a multimedia show featuring lasers and drones, the traditional fireworks display will take place at 23:00.
The concert and fireworks will be shown live on RTBF, VRT et BRF, as well as TV5 Monde.
Traffic will be disrupted throughout the day, and city authorities strongly recommend coming to Brussels by train or metro. Car parks on the edge of the city will be available, especially in Kraainem, Heysel, Delta and Roodebeek (metro).
