A ceremony took place on Monday morning at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Brussels to honour Belgian soldiers who have died in defence operations, including UN peacekeeping operations, since 1945.
The annual commemoration is held on 7 April, marking the date in 1994 when ten Belgian soldiers were killed in Rwanda. Their names, along with those of other fallen soldiers from missions in Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, Korea, the former Yugoslavia, and the Red Sea, were read aloud.
Representatives from the Senate (Valérie De Bue), the Chamber of Representatives (Frédéric Daerden), and the city of Brussels attended the ceremony. A royal representative lit the eternal flame, and the Belgian national anthem, the Brabançonne, was played.
Veterans and about twenty family members of fallen soldiers laid flowers at the grave.
Ceremony in memory of Belgian soldiers who have died in the service of peace since 1945 at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Brussels, on Monday 07 April 2025. Credit: Belga / Marten Weynaants
'Thank you for your service'
In a press release for Veterans Day, Defence Minister Theo Francken announced his office is working on legislation to strengthen veterans’ rights.
The draft includes provisions for free public transport for those who can show at least 365 days of operational service and reimbursement for healthcare costs linked to their service.
Francken also advocates for a US-style "thank you for your service" culture, suggesting priorities for veterans, such as boarding planes.
The minister announced steps to reduce long waiting times for recognising war and terrorism victims.
"It’s unacceptable for victims of the Brussels and Zaventem attacks to wait years for their cases to be processed. Defence military personnel will be seconded to the Ministry of Pensions to address the backlog."
