Easter holidays 2025
East Belgium
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Easter holidays
The easter holidays 2025 runs from 19 April to 4 May.
The Easter break in East Belgium lasts two weeks. The dates often follow the calendar of Wallonia-Brussels and, since the school reform, tend to fall in the second half of April.
The High Ardennes landscape comes alive during this period with blooming daffodils and wild bluebells. For families in the region, it is an ideal time to explore the surroundings on foot or by bike.
The spring break also marks the start of the tourist season in East Belgium, an important source of income for the local economy.
Activities during the easter holidays
The Ardennes offer ideal conditions for spring hikes and cycling along the Vennbahn or through the Warche valley. Easter egg hunts are organised in many municipalities, often combined with a brunch or family festival.
Day trips to Liege, Bruges, or the nearby Eifel are popular for a day of culture or nature. The Naturzentrum Ternell on the edge of the High Fens offers guided walks and nature education for children.
The Butgenbach dam and Lake Robertville invite the first water activities of the season. In the Eifel, just across the German border, the Maare (crater lakes) offer spectacular hiking opportunities.
Practical info about the easter holidays
Holiday camps and sports camps offer childcare throughout both weeks, with a varied range from nature and forest camps to sports camps. The spring break is a popular travel period; early booking of holiday accommodation is recommended, especially for popular gites in the Ardennes.
Easter Monday is an official public holiday when shops and public services are closed. Cross-border public transport to Aachen and the Eifel is available but limited; a car is more practical for many destinations.
Families wanting to reach the coast from East Belgium are best off travelling outside weekends.
Did you know this about the easter holidays?
East Belgium often follows the calendar of Wallonia-Brussels for the Easter break rather than the Flemish one. This means the holidays often do not coincide with those in Flanders.
This is notable because for other holiday periods, such as the autumn break, East Belgium tends to follow the Flemish calendar instead. The choice depends on pragmatic considerations and decisions by the parliament of East Belgium.
In the border area around Kelmis and Lontzen, there are families with children in both the German-speaking and Francophone school systems, for whom the matching dates are an advantage.