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Holiday

Christmas holidays 2030

Flanders

–

1331 days until

Estimated dates - verify with official sources before use.

FlandersWallonia-BrusselsEast Belgium
01

Christmas holidays

The christmas holidays 2030 runs from 22 December to 6 January.

The Christmas break lasts about two weeks, from just before Christmas until early January. It is one of the few periods when all three Belgian communities follow virtually the same dates.

The break includes two major public holidays: Christmas on 25 December and New Year's Day on 1 January. Saint Nicholas Day on 6 December falls just outside this period, but the Christmas season itself revolves around family gatherings and togetherness.

For many families, it is also a moment to wrap up the past year and look ahead.

02

Activities during the christmas holidays

Christmas markets are the main attraction, with Winter Wonders in Brussels and the Ghent Winter Festivities as the most popular destinations. Ice rinks appear in many cities, including the striking rink on the Groenplaats in Antwerp.

For snow fun, families head to the High Fens or Signal de Botrange. The Atomium and Mini-Europe in Brussels are also popular with families spending the holidays in the city.

Many theatres and cultural centres programme special shows and Christmas concerts. The end-of-year period is also ideal for visiting the light festivals held in cities such as Ghent and Bruges.

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Practical info about the christmas holidays

Many shops are open during the break, but on Christmas Day and New Year's Day almost everything is closed. Public transport runs on an adjusted schedule around the holidays, with less frequent buses and trains on 25 December and 1 January.

Childcare is available on a limited basis, as many organisations close between Christmas and New Year. Parents who need care should enquire early with their municipality.

The winter sales start on 3 January, making the final days of the break particularly lively in shopping centres.

04

Did you know this about the christmas holidays?

The Christmas break is one of the only school holiday periods where the three communities maintain nearly identical dates. This makes it the most "national" school holiday in the country.

Even after the 2022-2023 school reform in Wallonia-Brussels, the length of the Christmas break remained unchanged. The Christmas market tradition is relatively young: the first edition of Winter Wonders in Brussels dates back only to 2001.

Since then, it has grown into an event attracting more than two million visitors each year.

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Other school holidays in 2030

Carnival break

→
Carnival break 2030

Easter holidays

→
Easter holidays 2030

Summer holidays

→
Summer holidays 2030

Autumn half-term

→
Autumn half-term 2030
06

Frequently asked questions

When does the Christmas break start and end?
The Christmas break usually starts around 21-23 December and runs until the first Sunday of January, totalling about two weeks off. The exact dates may vary slightly per school year depending on how the weekdays fall. The break always includes Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January), both official public holidays. Check onderwijs.vlaanderen.be for the precise dates each school year.
Are there Christmas markets throughout the entire break?
Most Christmas markets close around 1 January, so they do not cover the entire break. Winter Wonders in Brussels sometimes runs a little longer, into early January. The Ghent Winter Festivities and the Antwerp Winter Bar each have their own opening periods. Check the dates of your preferred market in advance, especially if you plan to visit after New Year.
Are the dates the same for all communities?
Yes, the Christmas break is virtually identical in Flanders, Wallonia-Brussels, and East Belgium. It is therefore the most uniform school holiday in the country. Even after the 2022-2023 school reform in Wallonia-Brussels, the Christmas break remained unchanged. This makes the Christmas period particularly convenient for bilingual families, as everyone is off at the same time.
How long is the Christmas break in Flanders?
The Christmas break in Flanders covers about two weeks, typically from the last school weekend before Christmas through the first Sunday after New Year. That works out to sixteen or seventeen consecutive days off, with Christmas Day and New Year's Day as statutory holidays sitting in the middle of the period. After the summer holidays, it is the longest school break of the year. The length is almost identical in Flanders, Wallonia-Brussels and East Belgium, and was left unchanged by the 2022-2023 school reform.

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