THE BELGIUM GIFT CALENDAR
A thank-you for your team, Saint Nicholas with the family or a local tradition close to home. Explore Belgian occasions and find a gift that tells your story.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
For work, family and friends. Some dates are shared across Belgium, while others belong to a region or community. Each occasion explains the difference.
22 occasions in 2026
Belgium
A fresh start with wishes for family, friends and business contacts. In Flanders, children also read out New Year letters.
1 January. Children’s New Year letters are mainly a Flemish tradition.
Belgium
A moment to tell your partner or someone close what they mean to you.
14 February; a tradition shared by many countries.
Aalst & Binche
Two cities with distinct carnival traditions, shaped by local groups, costumes and customs.
The three days before Ash Wednesday. Other Belgian carnivals may take place on different dates.
Antwerp & surroundings
Some Antwerp families celebrate fathers on Saint Joseph’s Day. Follow the recipient’s own family tradition.
19 March in parts of Antwerp and its surroundings; elsewhere, usually the second Sunday in June.
Belgium
A spring occasion to get together with family or colleagues.
Easter Sunday and Monday. Easter Monday is a statutory public holiday.
Belgium
Some people in Belgium give lily of the valley to friends and loved ones on 1 May as a wish for happiness.
1 May, also Labour Day. The flower-giving tradition varies between families.
Brussels-Capital Region
Brussels-Capital Region celebrates its regional day on 8 May, with the iris as its emblem.
8 May is the official regional day. Iris Festival activities may take place on other dates.
Belgium
A chance to thank your mother or someone who fills that role in your life. Antwerp also has an August tradition.
Usually the second Sunday in May. Follow the recipient’s own tradition.
Belgium
Most of Belgium celebrates fathers on this Sunday. Some Antwerp families observe 19 March instead.
The second Sunday in June in most of Belgium; the Netherlands uses a different date.
Flanders
In Flanders, this day recognises people who care for someone close. A thoughtful thank-you starts with listening to the person.
23 June in Flanders; this differs from the Dutch date.
Flanders
The Flemish Community celebrates on 11 July. Local cultural events follow their own programmes.
11 July. A community celebration does not automatically mean a day off for everyone.
Belgium
21 July marks the oath taken by Leopold I in 1831 and is Belgium’s National Day.
Every year on 21 July.
Antwerp & surroundings
Antwerp and its surroundings have their own Mother’s Day tradition on 15 August, alongside the May celebration.
15 August in Antwerp and its surroundings. This date is also the statutory Assumption Day holiday.
Wallonia
The Walloon Region celebrates in September. Each city brings its own character to the Fêtes de Wallonie.
The third Sunday in September. Local celebrations may take place on different dates.
French-speaking Community
On 27 September, the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles celebrates its community, with culture and opportunities to meet.
27 September. This is a different celebration from Wallonia Day.
Parts of Flanders
In parts of Flanders, including the Aalst area and parts of West Flanders, Saint Martin brings treats or gifts to children.
11 November; local activities may take place on another day. Separate from the Armistice commemoration.
Belgium
A day to remember the end of the First World War and honour the victims of war.
Every year on 11 November.
German-speaking Community
The German-speaking Community has its own celebration on 15 November, bringing people together around local culture.
Every year on 15 November. It shares the date of the King’s Feast but is a separate community celebration.
Belgium
Belgium observes the King’s Feast on 15 November. It is different from King’s Day in the Netherlands in April.
Every year on 15 November; not a general statutory public holiday for everyone.
Belgium
A moment to recognise volunteers in an association, neighbourhood or organisation.
5 December, the international date also observed in Belgium. The Netherlands also has a national day on 7 December.
Belgium
In Belgium, 6 December is the familiar Saint Nicholas occasion for children. A small gift for colleagues can also suit this time of year.
6 December in Belgium. Arrivals, school visits and workplace celebrations may take place earlier.
Belgium
A moment to show appreciation to family, friends, colleagues or business contacts.
25 December is a statutory public holiday. 26 December is not a general statutory public holiday in Belgium.
Choose another month or view all occasions. You can also tell us about a moment of your own.
ALL YEAR ROUND
A birth, a communion or a fresh chapter. Small moments and big milestones deserve a personal touch.
Welcome a new baby with thought for both the child and the parents. Sugar-coated almonds feature in many Belgian birth celebrations. A personal baby gift or a small treat for the parents.
Choose a personal giftDifferent celebrations, each with its own meaning. Choose a gift that suits the child and the family’s chosen tradition. A personalised keepsake or a small thank-you for guests, with a name and date.
Choose a personal giftA diploma, a completed course or a passed exam is a chance to recognise the effort behind the result. A keepsake or something useful for further study, travel or a first job.
Choose a personal giftA chance to acknowledge someone’s working life and mark a new chapter personally. A farewell gift with colleagues’ messages, chosen around the recipient’s plans.
Choose a personal giftTell us who the gift is for, how many you need and when you want to give it. Your proposal sets out the contents, personalisation, costs and delivery date.
This selection covers Belgian celebrations, regional traditions and familiar gift occasions. Dates apply to 2026 and 2027. Not every date is a statutory public holiday, and not every tradition is celebrated everywhere. Local activities may take place on another day.
Dates checked on 10 October 2026 against the sources below. Gift ideas are ZEMYA’s own suggestions; a mention does not imply a partnership with an organiser.
