4 days off for 1 day of leave
Long weekends 2026 in Belgium
Belgium has 11 public holidays in 2026, and 8 of them land on a weekday. Book 1 day of leave for 1 to 4 January and you are off for 4 days straight. The longest break with up to 10 days of leave: 10 days, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, for 4 days of leave.
- Bank holidays 2026
- 11
- on weekdays
- 8
- bridge days
- 3
- off for 4 days of annual leave
- 10 days
The 2026 calendar in Belgium
Belgium has 11 public holidays in 2026, taken from the official government list. 3 fall on a weekend.
Leave rules differ by employer and contract in Belgium, so the planner shows every budget from one to ten days. Among the 16 countries we cover outside our main markets, Belgium ranks number 9 for full days off this year.
Every public holiday in Belgium in 2026
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
Italy
BrusselsiPhoto: Horst J. Meuter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons- Thursday, 1 January: Nieuwjaar. New Year's Day follows the fireworks at midnight and is a quiet day of rest across the country. Take Friday, 2 January off and you have 4 days in a row, 1 to 4 January.
- Sunday, 5 April: Pasen. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection with church services, family meals and, in many places, egg hunts. Most shops close for the day. It falls on a Sunday, and Belgium's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
- Monday, 6 April: Paasmaandag. Easter Monday closes the long Easter weekend with family outings and, in Italy, Pasquetta picnics in the countryside. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 4 to 6 April.
- Friday, 1 May: Dag van de arbeid. Labour Day on 1 May honours workers with marches and gatherings, and it is often a first spring long weekend for short trips. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 3 May.
- Thursday, 14 May: Onze Lieve Heer hemel. Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, forty days after Easter. Many people take the Friday off for a classic bridge and a four day weekend. Take Friday, 15 May off and you have 4 days in a row, 14 to 17 May.
- Monday, 25 May: Pinkstermaandag. Whit Monday follows Pentecost Sunday and gives a spring long weekend, popular for short trips and outdoor events. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 23 to 25 May.
- Tuesday, 21 July: Nationale feestdag. Belgian National Day on 21 July marks King Leopold I's oath in 1831. Brussels celebrates with a military parade, a folk festival and fireworks. Take Monday, 20 July off and you have 4 days in a row, 18 to 21 July.
- Saturday, 15 August: Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaart. Assumption Day on 15 August falls at the height of summer, when many families are on holiday and beaches are at their busiest. It falls on a Saturday, and Belgium's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
- Sunday, 1 November: Allerheiligen. All Saints' Day is a day to remember the dead, with candles and flowers on family graves. It often creates an autumn long weekend. It falls on a Sunday, and Belgium's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
- Wednesday, 11 November: Wapenstilstand. Armistice Day on 11 November marks the end of the First World War, with ceremonies across Belgium, notably at the Menin Gate in Ypres. Take Monday, 9 November and Tuesday, 10 November off and you have 5 days in a row, 7 to 11 November.
- Friday, 25 December: Kerstdag. Christmas Day is a day for family meals and church, with nearly everything closed. Leave in the week after it gives a long winter break. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 27 December.
ItalyBrusselsiPhoto: Horst J. Meuter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons2026's top breaks for Belgium
Each break below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one public holiday, and needs no more than 10 days of leave. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
Around Nieuwjaar, 1 day of leave on Fri 2 January unlocks 4 days away, 1 to 4 January.
4 to 12 April: 4 days of leave (7 to 10 April) around Pasen and Paasmaandag give 9 days off, 2,3 days for every day used.
Around Onze Lieve Heer hemel, 1 day of leave on Fri 15 May unlocks 4 days away, 14 to 17 May.
Around Nationale feestdag, 1 day of leave on Mon 20 July unlocks 4 days away, 18 to 21 July.
7 to 11 November: 2 days of leave (9 November and 10 November) around Wapenstilstand give 5 days off, 2,5 days for every day used.
Around Kerstdag and Nieuwjaar, 4 days of leave on Mon 28 December, Tue 29 December, Wed 30 December and Thu 31 December unlock 10 days away, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
The best breaks 2026 in Belgium
Every row is a run of weekends, public holidays and days of leave. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Leave on | Bank holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 to Sun, Jan 4 | 4 days offfor 1 day of annual leave, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri, Jan 2 | Nieuwjaar | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Apr 4 to Sun, Apr 12 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Apr 7 · Wed, Apr 8 · Thu, Apr 9 · Fri, Apr 10 | Pasen, Paasmaandag | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Apr 25 to Sun, May 3 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Apr 27 · Tue, Apr 28 · Wed, Apr 29 · Thu, Apr 30 | Dag van de arbeid | none | Plan a trip |
| Thu, May 14 to Sun, May 17 | 4 days offfor 1 day of annual leave, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri, May 15 | Onze Lieve Heer hemel | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, May 23 to Sun, May 31 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, May 26 · Wed, May 27 · Thu, May 28 · Fri, May 29 | Pinkstermaandag | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jul 18 to Tue, Jul 21 | 4 days offfor 1 day of annual leave, 4 days off per day of leave | Mon, Jul 20 | Nationale feestdag | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Aug 8 to Sun, Aug 16 | 9 days offfor 5 days of annual leave, 1.8 days off per day of leave | Mon, Aug 10 · Tue, Aug 11 · Wed, Aug 12 · Thu, Aug 13 · Fri, Aug 14 | Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaart | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Oct 24 to Sun, Nov 1 | 9 days offfor 5 days of annual leave, 1.8 days off per day of leave | Mon, Oct 26 · Tue, Oct 27 · Wed, Oct 28 · Thu, Oct 29 · Fri, Oct 30 | Allerheiligen | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Nov 7 to Wed, Nov 11 | 5 days offfor 2 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Nov 9 · Tue, Nov 10 | Wapenstilstand | none | Plan a trip |
| Fri, Dec 25 to Sun, Jan 3 | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Dec 28 · Tue, Dec 29 · Wed, Dec 30 · Thu, Dec 31 | Kerstdag, Nieuwjaar | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2026.
1 day of annual leave
4 days
January 1 to January 4
Nieuwjaar
2 days of annual leave
5 days
November 7 to November 11
Wapenstilstand
3 days of annual leave
6 days
May 9 to May 14
Onze Lieve Heer hemel
4 days of annual leave
10 days
December 25 to January 3
Kerstdag, Nieuwjaar
8 days of annual leave
16 days
December 19 to January 3
Kerstdag, Nieuwjaar
10 days of annual leave
18 days
May 14 to May 31
Onze Lieve Heer hemel, Pinkstermaandag
2026 calendar for Belgium
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
How far each day of leave goes in 2026
With 1 day of leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 1 to 4 January. Three days stretch to 6 days off (9 to 14 May). Five days, a typical week, become 10 days off around Kerstdag and Nieuwjaar, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 14 to 31 May. For nine days or more away you need 4 days of leave.
Season by season in Belgium
Winter: Nieuwjaar on 1 January and Kerstdag on 25 December. The pick of the season is 1 to 4 January with 1 day of leave for 4 days off.
Spring: Pasen on 5 April, Paasmaandag on 6 April, Dag van de arbeid on 1 May, Onze Lieve Heer hemel on 14 May and Pinkstermaandag on 25 May. The pick of the season is 14 to 17 May with 1 day of leave for 4 days off.
Summer: Nationale feestdag on 21 July and Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaart on 15 August. The pick of the season is 18 to 21 July with 1 day of leave for 4 days off.
Autumn: Allerheiligen on 1 November and Wapenstilstand on 11 November. The pick of the season is 7 to 11 November with 2 days of leave for 5 days off.
How Belgium stacks up
South Korea has the most with 18 public holidays in 2026, Mexico the fewest with 7. Belgium sits in between with 11.
Mexico
South KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIts best break, 1 to 4 January, returns 4,0 days off per day of leave. 3 countries get a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra public holiday next to a weekend.
MexicoSouth KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Long Weekend Planner 2026 for Belgium as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in BE on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Public holidays 2026 in Belgium
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | Nieuwjaar | nationwide |
| April 5 | Sunday | Pasen | nationwide |
| April 6 | Monday | Paasmaandag | nationwide |
| May 1 | Friday | Dag van de arbeid | nationwide |
| May 14 | Thursday | Onze Lieve Heer hemel | nationwide |
| May 25 | Monday | Pinkstermaandag | nationwide |
| July 21 | Tuesday | Nationale feestdag | nationwide |
| August 15 | Saturday | Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaart | nationwide |
| November 1 | Sunday | Allerheiligen | nationwide |
| November 11 | Wednesday | Wapenstilstand | nationwide |
| December 25 | Friday | Kerstdag | nationwide |
Where to go on a long weekend from Belgium
Belgians use long weekends for the Ardennes in autumn, the coast at Knokke and De Haan in summer, and Bruges and Ghent in any season. Paris, Amsterdam and the Moselle valley are close by for a short break.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
BrugesiPhoto: Jean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia CommonsYour strongest breaks this year fall in January, April and May, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in Belgium has the same days off.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBrugesiPhoto: Jean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia CommonsBelgium in other years
2027 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for Belgium, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another country's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full public holidays as free days and works out where your days of leave turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of Belgium or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Long Weekend Planner 2026 in BE: frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Belgium have in 2026?
11 public holidays: Nieuwjaar on 1 January, Pasen on 5 April, Paasmaandag on 6 April, Dag van de arbeid on 1 May, Onze Lieve Heer hemel on 14 May, Pinkstermaandag on 25 May, Nationale feestdag on 21 July, Onze Lieve Vrouw hemelvaart on 15 August, Allerheiligen on 1 November, Wapenstilstand on 11 November and Kerstdag on 25 December. 8 fall on a weekday.
What is the best long weekend in Belgium in 2026?
1 to 4 January: 1 day of leave gives 4 days off around Nieuwjaar.
How many days of leave do I need for nine days off in 2026?
4 days of leave: take 28 to 31 December off and you are off 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Belgium in 2026?
No. Good Friday is not on Belgium's official list for 2026, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Belgium in 2026?
No. Christmas Eve is not on Belgium's official list for 2026, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2026 in the other countries
How the Long Weekend Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in BE, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of annual leave. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School holidays: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
