When are the school holidays in Belgium in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026? Why and how do the dates of the holiday periods for Belgian schoolchildren differ? In this publication, ALYO.Info will provide the exact dates of the summer, autumn, Christmas, spring and Easter holidays in all language communities of Belgium in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The structure of the school system in Belgium
The territory of Belgium is divided into regions and language communities. There are only three of them: Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels-Capital Region. For clarity, we have marked them on the map:
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. The kingdom also has three language communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. The borders and territories of the regions and language communities do not always coincide. The Brussels-Capital Region belongs to both the Flemish and French communities. And the German community is part of the Walloon Region.
The school year schedule depends on which linguistic community your school belongs to. Most school holidays are the same, but have different names. For example, the school holidays in February in Flanders are called “Spring Break”. And in the French Community, they are officially called “Carnival Break”. Below we provide the dates of school holidays in Belgium for all communities.
Why is the school year schedule different and what are the consequences?
Historically, the Kingdom of Belgium did not have a centralized education system. Each language community chose its own direction. The country was initially highly decentralized, which affected the education sector.
In addition, the proximity to other countries had a great influence. The Flemish Community gravitates towards the Netherlands, the French Community towards France, the German-speaking Community towards Germany. Such differences have a negative impact on processes within the country.
For example, almost the entire population of the German-speaking Community speaks German. Since there are no universities on its territory, young people are forced to go to study in Flanders, the French Community or Germany. Having received a specialty, they often settle outside their homeland. Now this is especially easy – since Belgium is part of the European Union, the borders are open for its residents.
Differences in the school schedule are a challenge for families whose children study in different language communities. The decentralized nature of the education system makes it more difficult for students to communicate with each other. The same goes for teachers.
School holidays in Belgium 2024-2025
In this section you will find the official dates of school holidays 2024-2025 for children in Belgium. We will also list public holidays and additional free days when schools are closed for students and teachers.
Flemish Community
- Summer holidays 2024 – from July 1 (Monday) to August 31 (Saturday).
- The first day of the 2024-2025 school year is September 2 (Monday), 2024.
- Autumn holidays 2024 – from October 28 (Monday) to November 3 (Sunday).
- Christmas holidays – from December 23, 2024 (Monday) to January 5, 2025 (Sunday).
- Spring break 2025 – from March 3 (Monday) to March 9 (Sunday).
- Easter holidays 2025 – from April 7 (Monday) to April 21 (Sunday).
- Summer holidays 2025 – from July 1 (Tuesday) to August 31 (Sunday).
Days off from classes on holidays:
- November 11, 2023 (Monday) – Armistice Day 1918.
- May 1, 2024 (Thursday) – Labor Day.
- May 29 and 30, 2024 (Thursday) – Ascension of Christ.
- June 9, 2024 (Monday) – Trinity.
Important! Students receiving correspondence art education have a day off only on May 29. For those receiving correspondence art education and adult education, May 31 and June 1 (Saturday and Sunday) may be school days.
French Community
- Summer holidays 2024 – from July 6 (Saturday) to August 25 (Sunday).
- The first day of the 2024-2025 school year is August 26 (Monday), 2024.
- All Saints’ Day 2024 holidays are from October 21 (Monday) to November 3 (Sunday).
- Christmas holidays (winter holidays) – from December 23, 2024 (Monday) to January 5, 2025 (Sunday).
- Carnival holidays 2025 – from February 24 (Monday) to March 9 (Sunday).
- Spring break 2025 – from April 28 (Monday) to May 11 (Friday).
- Summer holidays 2025 – from July 5 (Saturday).
Days off from classes on holidays:
- September 27, 2024 (Friday) – French Community Day.
- November 11, 2024 (Monday) – Armistice Day 1918.
- April 21, 2025 (Monday) – Easter Monday.
- May 29, 2025 (Thursday) – Ascension of Christ.
- June 9, 2025 (Monday) – Trinity.
German speaking community
Important! In the German-speaking Community of Belgium, there are no classes on Saturday in all schools except the Music Academy. On Sunday, all educational institutions are closed for teachers and students.
- Summer holidays 2024 – from June 29 (Saturday) 2024 to September 1 (Sunday) 2024.
- First day of school is September 2 (Monday) 2024.
- All Saints’ Day Holiday – from Monday 28 October 2024 to Saturday 2 November 2024.
- Christmas holidays 2024-2025 – from December 23 (Monday) 2024 to January 4 (Saturday) 2025.
- Carnival holidays 2025 – from March 3 (Monday) 2025 to March 8 (Saturday) 2025.
- Easter holidays 2025 – from April 21 (Monday) 2025 to May 3 (Saturday) 2025.
- Summer holidays 2025 – July 1 (Tuesday) 2025.
Days off from classes on holidays:
- Armistice Day – November 11 (Monday) 2024.
- Day of the German-Speaking Community – November 15 (Friday) 2024.
- Labor Day – May 1 (Thursday) 2025.
- Ascension of Christ – May 29 (Thursday) 2025.
- Spiritual Monday – June 9 (Monday) 2025.
School holidays in Belgium 2025-2026
In this section we have published school holidays in Belgium 2025-2026. We also provide lists of non-school days, timed to coincide with state and local holidays.
Flemish Community
- Summer holidays 2024 – from July 1 (Tuesday) 2025 to August 31 (Sunday) 2025.
- All Saints’ Day Holiday – from Monday 27 October 2025 to Sunday 2 November 2025.
- Christmas holidays 2024-2025 – from December 22 (Monday) 2025 to January 4 (Sunday) 2026.
- Spring Break 2025 – from February 16 (Monday) 2026 to February 22 (Sunday) 2026.
- Easter holidays 2025 – from April 6 (Monday) 2026 to April 19 (Sunday) 2026.
- Ascension of Christ Holiday – from May 14 (Thursday) 2026 to May 15 (Friday) 2026.
- Summer holidays 2025 – from July 1 (Wednesday) 2026 to August 31 (Monday) 2026.
Important! For correspondence art education, May 15 is a regular school day. Those receiving correspondence education or adult education may have classes on Saturday or Sunday, May 16 and 17, 2026.
Days off from classes on holidays:
- Armistice Day is November 11 (Tuesday) 2025.
- Labor Day – May 1 (Friday) 2026.
- Pentecost – May 25 (Monday) 2026.
French Community
At the time of writing, the school holiday schedule for 2025-2026 in the French Community of Belgium has not been confirmed. We are monitoring developments and will keep you updated.
German speaking community
The start and end dates of school holidays in the German-speaking Community of Belgium are set one school year in advance. For example, the schedule for 2023-2024 was set in December 2022.
We will follow the publications of the Ministry of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. As soon as information about the schedule of the 2024-2025 school year and school holidays appears, we will publish it.
In this publication, ALYO.Info told about school holidays in Belgium 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. They gave exact dates of vacation periods and days off from classes on public holidays in the Flemish, French and German-speaking communities. Be sure to share this publication with your friends!