21st July, Belgian National Day
Birth of a Small Kingdom Named Belgium
Next July 21st, Belgium will celebrate its 181st birthday - at least all Belgians hope so since the country is currently living a strange era.
Our nice small country was founded in 1830. In this time, Belgians fought against Dutch domination and required that Belgium would be separated from the Netherlands. Great Foreign Powers accepted and officially recognized the new country. Belgian Constitution was elaborated the very next year.
Once the country founded, Belgian had to elect a king as they wanted to live in a kingdom.
Photo: Belgian Coat of Arms
Where Does Belgium's Capital Lie?
Belgium Brussels by vintage_cafe
Symbols of Belgium
The first Belgian symbol is obviously our constitutional king. Nowadays, our King is Albert II, his wife is Paola and they have three children, Philip, Astrid and Laurent.
The second symbol of Belgium is the national Flag that features three different colors:
Black: represents our coal mines
Yellow: represents gold from our former colonies in Africa
Red: represents blood of those who sacrified themselves for freedom
A third symbol of our country is the national anthem; which is the Brabançonne.
The fourth symbol is our motto: Strength Through Unity (which might have lost its meaning those last years and particularly after June 13th, 2010).
The fifth Belgian symbol is the Lion; which you can find on most flags that represent our provinces. However, the Lion that is shown on our flag is the one of the province of Brabant.
Belgian Particularities and Communities
Belgium is currently divided in three regions:
- Brussels (which is capital of the country as well as European capital),
- Wallonia,
- Flanders.
Belgium has three different and official languages (as shown in the image to the right):
- French is spoken in Brussels and Wallonia (red and blue zone)
- Dutch is officially spoken in Brussels and Flanders, however, most Flemings don't speak Dutch and Dutchmen don't understand Flemings (green and blue zone)
- German is spoken in Eastern Districts (rounded zone)
Belgians must know at least French and Dutch as most job positions require to know both most important national languages. However, you'll notice that most Walloons don't (want to) speak Dutch as the tongue is quite hard to learn and doesn't sound agreeably to the ear.
Belgian Politics
Belgian politics is quite complicated as we have to deal with three different regions; each one having their own competencies; which implies three parliaments plus a federal government.
Therefore, there are:
- Walloon Parliament - which is the regional Walloon government
- Flanders Parliament - which is the regional Flemish government
- Brussels Region - which is the regional Brussels government
Federal Government; which is the one that leads the whole country.
Belgium has many different politic parties but after June 13th 2010, two major parties were elected:
- NV-a ; which is a separatist party elected by most Flemings and that wants to split Belgium and have Flanders becoming independent, leaving the country along with Brussels,
- PS ; which is a socialist party (more and more capitalist), elected by most Walloons (still wonder why) and that will surely do bad to our country.
As you can see, politics in Belgium is really complicated and it is extremely difficult to explain how the country works and where the country is going.
The pier Ostend Belgium by vintage_world
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Belgian National Day
So, what is Belgian National Day all about?
It's all about the celebration of our independence after centuries of Austrian, Spanish and Dutch domination.
It is also the celebration of the swearing-in of our first king, Leopold I. National Day was officially fixed on July 21st back in 1890.
Special Activities of the Day
Starting at 10 AM, there are Te Deum Masses in most cathedrals and Churches of the country.
Then, the royal family and the government attends a military parade being able to last several hours. The military parade takes place on the Palate Place (Brussels Park and Royal Palate --> King Albert's office).
All day long, activities and parties are organized althrough the country, whether for children or adults. Museums are opened to the public free of charge. In the evening, fireworks are pulled on the Palace Place as well as in many other areas of our country.
The very next day, the royal family leaves the palace of Laeken and goest on holiday (mostly in Spain and France); leaving, therefore, the castle opened to the public.
Photo: King Albert II of Belgium
The above video is not in English, I'm sorry for this, but I added the video to feature King Albert II's traditional speech on July 21st.
Book a Flight to Belgium
If you want to attend the July 21st festivities, you're welcome to Belgium. Just make sure you book a flight and hotel on time.
Belgium Sightseeing Links
The Tourism Promotion Office "Wallonia-Brussels" aims to present the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region to their own people and the 'rest of the world'. The OPT is in fact the body that compiles and stores official information, regulated by the laws that govern these matters in Belgium.
This website is goldmine for anyone who would like to visit Belgium.
The Official Guide To Visit Flanders and Brussels.
