Dutch-language and French-language schools have different school holiday calendars. The Francophone system has confirmed pupils' days off for the 2025-2026 school year. However, families in the Flemish system cannot plan ahead yet.
Belgian education has always been fragmented due to the two separate school systems. This was exacerbated when French-speaking schools introduced a reform in 2022, resulting in different school starting dates and varying holiday periods.
In French-speaking schools, the summer holidays are two weeks shorter, while the spring and autumn holidays have been extended by one week. Dutch-speaking school holidays have remained the same (eight weeks in summer). The new school holidays dates have received criticism from parents and companies, as it complicates staff schedules and annual leave.
The school holidays are also announced at varying times. The French Community revealed the 2025-2026 holiday calendar for its schools last week, while the Dutch-language system is yet to confirm.
When will pupils be on holiday?
The autumn holidays in French-speaking schools in Wallonia and Brussels will run from Monday 20 October to Sunday 2 November 2025. The Christmas holidays will run from Monday 22 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
The spring holiday (known as 'Carnival' or 'Crocus') will run from Monday 16 February to Sunday 1 March 2026. The Easter holidays will begin on Monday 27 April and end on Sunday 10 May 2026, almost a month after Easter Monday (6 April).
Several local media reported last week that there would be one-week overlap between the two holiday systems during the Carnival holidays (the week beginning 16 February) – a source of relief to households facing practical issues with the differing systems.
In contrast, the Flemish Community has not yet published its holiday dates. When approached by The Brussels Times to confirm the one-week overlap, the cabinet of Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) responded that the holidays for 2025-2026 have not yet been officially set.
"As a reminder, it is 2024," the spokesperson said. While parents of pupils in French-speaking schools can therefore start planning their holidays well in advance, those in Dutch-speaking schools are left waiting.
