Today (11 July), the Flemish Community is celebrating its annual holiday on Brussels' Grand Place and various locations in Flanders with free performances, shows and other activities.
The traditional 11 July celebrations will take place at 11:00 in the Brussels City Hall on the Grand Place, with speeches by chair Liesbeth Homans and Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon.
The Flemish Parliament itself is also organising a number of activities on 11 July. From 10:00 to 17:00, everyone (including non-Flemish people) is welcome to visit the art collection of the Parliament. Traditionally, various political parties also use the Flemish Day to organise a meeting.
What is Flanders celebrating?
The 11 July celebrations commemorate the victory of the Count of Flanders over the King of France outside Kortrijk in 1302, known as the 'Battle of the Golden Spurs' (the Guldensporenslag in Dutch). On the holiday and the days leading up to it, various cities and municipalities fly their Flemish flags and organise a number of celebrations, folk festivals and performances.
On the day itself, the Flemish government presents awards to deserving Flemish people. Symbolism takes centre stage during the holiday, with the Flemish lion and Flanders' coat of arms on display and the anthem resounding across the region.
In the past, the traditional 11 July celebrations were central to the regional holiday but in recent years the Flemish holiday has grown into a large-scale popular festival. In 2022, over 1,000 local street and neighbourhood initiatives took place on the Flemish holiday, often (partly) subsidised by the Flemish government.
The Flemish media are also always out in full force, with Flemish-funded VRT co-organising a big party in Antwerp's Grote Markt (main square).
In Brussels (both the capital city of Belgium and Flanders), the day serves as an occasion for music and dance: this year is the 11th time that Flemish Community celebrates in Brussels on 11 July under the name 'Vlaanderen feest, Brussel danst' ("Flanders celebrates, Brussels dances").
"We will dance and party again in our capital on 11 July. The ideal time for all Flemish people and their friends to get to know Brussels better," said Flemish Minister for Brussels Benjamin Dalle. "Come for a walk, sing, dance or just enjoy the wonderful atmosphere on and around the Grand Place. Brussels will be buzzing like never before."
Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon delivers a speech at celebrations on the eve of the Flemish regional holiday, 10 July 2023 in Kortrijk. Credit: Belga / James Arthur Gekiere
On the main stage on the Grand Place, musical act Kapitein Winokio will entertain the youngest children from 17:30 and warm up the stage for the full symphonic orchestra of the Brussels Philharmonic, which will perform from 20:30 alongside well-known Flemish artists such as Willy Sommers, Ronny Mosuse and Bent Van Looy.
As in previous years, 'Brussels Danst' also includes the Brussels Danst Dance Battles. This year however, they will not take place on Place de la Monnaie, but from 11:00 more than 100 candidates will compete in the Beursschouwburg for a place in the dance arena of the AB. The final will take place there at 16:00.
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Those more interested in dancing themselves should go to the Grand Place from 18:45, where HARDE SMART <3 BRUSSELS will play a set. The DJ collective will play forgotten Dutch gems and for the occasion make sure most of their tracks have a Brussels link.
Many other activities related to the Flemish holiday will also be organised, such as guided cycling and walking tours departing from the Grand Place.
At the Muntpunt library, authors Hans Vandecandelaere and Lucas Catherine will give lectures on the diversity in Brussels and the link between Art Nouveau and the country's colonial past. The Brussels Operetta Theater will play at 14:00 and at 17:00 in the Bijstandkerk/Église Notre-Dame de Bon Secours.
Additionally, the Flemish holiday is not only celebrated in the city centre: the community centres of Auderghem, Uccle, Anderlecht, Evere and Neder-Over-Heembeek also have a number of festivities on the programme. An overview can be found here.
