National day special

Bourgeoisie à la belge: Who are Belgium's aristocrats?

Who are Belgium's societal elite and do they play a defining role in uniting a fragmented country?

Monday 29 July 2024

National Day in photos: Military parade, free concert and fireworks

Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital to celebrate the country's National Day, an occasion marked by free activities, concerts and a big show.

Monday 22 July 2024

A coffee for the crown: The cost and worth of the Belgian Monarchy

In 2024, the Belgian Royals are set to cost the country around €43 million, almost €4 per person living in Belgium.

Sunday 21 July 2024

National Day: Belgian royals attend Te Deum in Brussels (photos)

Hundreds gathered to cheer on the sovereigns.

Sunday 21 July 2024

Revamping the Place Royale: How the historic square will be remade for the 21st century

Place Royale is the great survivor of Brussels. Its late-18th-century architecture appears to have emerged unscathed from its first quarter millennium of existence.

Sunday 21 July 2024

BELGIAN NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL

Living legends: The Belgians who excel on the world stage

For a relatively small country, Belgium punches above its weight across global arenas from sport to science, arts to diplomacy.

Sunday 21 July 2024

Bruxellois before Belgian: Celebrating our collective identity

"Around 35% of people in Brussels do not have Belgian nationality. But that doesn't make them any less Belgian. And certainly not less Bruxellois."

Sunday 21 July 2024

How protests and rebellion created a nation in 1830

It is a long-standing romantic idea that the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium was directly triggered by an opera on 25 August in 1830.

Saturday 20 July 2024

'I forgot it was happening': How do Belgians feel about National Day?

"I love Belgium, but National day is like Valentine's Day: I don't need one special day to show my love."

Saturday 20 July 2024

National Day: How does Belgium celebrate on 21 July and what happens in Brussels?

Brussels will come alive for National Day, with events, activities, public meals, a military parade and a free concert and fireworks show.

Saturday 20 July 2024

Stromae among 28 Belgians to receive royal titles on Sunday

The Belgian singer and rapper is credited with putting Brussels on the musical map.

Friday 19 July 2024

Was Leuven founded by Vikings? Between myth and legend

Although Leuven was accorded city rights first by the construction of a stone wall in the 12th century, it may owe its origin as a town to the fortified camp that the Vikings established there.

Friday 19 July 2024

Vive la Belgique? Leve België? Why there is plenty to celebrate after all

“You might find the Belgian model very complicated. But these arrangements have worked well so far.”

Friday 19 July 2024

From refugee to Belgian: The long road to nationality and belonging

"I've lived in Belgium for longer than in my country of origin, and I think I'd find it hard to live anywhere else now."

Friday 19 July 2024

Street closures and parades: Traffic and transport changes on Belgium's National Day

The police have warned people to avoid travelling to and around the capital by car as it will be closing off streets and tunnels for the event.

Friday 19 July 2024

BELGIAN NATIONAL WEEK SPECIAL

Dining à la Belge: Where to find the best Belgian dishes in Brussels

From refined traditional dishes, to veggie-friendly interpretations, to a large portion of fries with mayonnaise, here are the bastions of Belgian cuisine.

Thursday 18 July 2024

BELGIAN NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL

How Belgian are you? Take our National Day quiz to find out

Becoming Belgian is one thing; being Belgian is much more difficult. Is there such thing as a "real Belgian" and can you measure Belgian-ness?

Thursday 18 July 2024

When a Brussels anarchist attempted to assassinate the British Prince

The forgotten story of a 15-year-old anarchist from Saint-Gilles who tried to take the life of the future British King at Brussels-North station in 1900.

Thursday 18 July 2024

BELGIAN NATIONAL WEEK SPECIAL

Godfrey of Bouillon: A mythical hero in Belgian nation-building

When the Belgian kingdom was established in 1830, Godfrey was resurrected as a unifying force in a kingdom divided by language and class.

Wednesday 17 July 2024

The origins of the original Brussels dialect: Keeping a dying language alive

The dialect, which is still spoken, albeit by a shrinking group of city inhabitants, is marked by the pronunciation of vowel sounds.

Wednesday 17 July 2024