While King's Day in the Netherlands is known across Europe as a major orange-coloured event, the day's Belgian counterpart goes by nearly unnoticed every year. What makes it so different?
King's Day (Fête du Roi in French, Koningsdag in Dutch) is celebrated annually on 15 November in honour of the King. However, as tradition dictates that the King "does not celebrate himself," King Philippe is never present at the celebrations.
"Him not being present at the celebrations is a major reason why King's Day is lost on so many Belgians. The fact that he is absent because of tradition does not make it less strange for people, especially internationals," royalty expert Wim Dehandschutter told The Brussels Times.
"In the Netherlands, the King comes to King's Day – which makes sense. But this is not true for Belgium. It is a bit like inviting everyone to your birthday party but then saying that you yourself will not be there," he added.
No large crowds
Another major difference is that King's Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands and people therefore have a day off work. While Belgian residents get a day off on the national holiday on 21 July, this is not the case for most people on King's Day. "If you are not a federal civil servant, the day often just passes you by because there is nothing to indicate that it is special."
Additionally, feelings about their Royal family are completely different in Belgium and the Netherlands, Dehandschutter said. "While many Belgians do not necessarily have anything against the royals, they are not super popular either."
On Friday morning, the royal family (without the King, the Queen or their four children) were present at the St. Michael & St. Gudula Cathedral in the centre of Brussels for the traditional Te Deum mass. While several dozen people usually wait outside to see them or give them a present, it is in no way comparable to the crowds in the Netherlands.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Philippe of Belgium. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Unlike in the Netherlands, the day does not mark the King's birthday, Dehandschutter explained. "Philippe's birthday is 15 April. 15 November is what is popularly known as the Day of the Dynasty, but the official name has long been King's Day."
The date of King's Day has changed several times since the constitutional monarchy was established in Belgium in 1831. However, it was definitively set on 15 November when King Leopold III ascended the throne in 1934, as it was the feast day of both Saint Léopold and Saint Albert.
These are very important names in the royal family: "Belgium has had three kings named Léopold and two named Albert. So it actually works out very nicely."
