Holiday planning
Long Weekends in Belgium 2026
Belgium has 8 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 4 days around Good Friday & Easter Sunday & Easter Monday (Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr). Take Thursday off and turn the Good Friday & Easter Sunday & Easter Monday break into a 5-day run.
8
Long weekends
5
Longest break (days)
8
Bridge day opportunities
Official reference: Belgium.be — Jours fériés · How we verify this data
All long weekends in Belgium 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan | New Year's Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 2 Jan) | 4d |
| Thu 2 Apr – Mon 6 Apr | Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday | 4 | Thursday(Thu 2 Apr) | 5d |
| Thu 30 Apr – Sun 3 May | Labor Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 30 Apr) | 4d |
| Wed 13 May – Sun 17 May | Ascension Day, Day after Ascension Day | 4 | Wednesday(Wed 13 May) | 5d |
| Fri 22 May – Mon 25 May | Whit Monday | 3 | Friday(Fri 22 May) | 4d |
| Sat 18 Jul – Tue 21 Jul | Belgian National Day | 1 | Monday(Mon 20 Jul) | 4d |
| Sat 7 Nov – Wed 11 Nov | Armistice Day | 1 | Monday + Tuesday(Mon 9 Nov, Tue 10 Nov) | 5d |
| Thu 24 Dec – Sun 27 Dec | Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 24 Dec) | 4d |
Best long weekends in Belgium 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
April
Good Friday & Easter Sunday & Easter Monday
Thu 2 Apr – Mon 6 Apr
5
days
May
Ascension Day & Day after Ascension Day
Wed 13 May – Sun 17 May
5
days
November
Armistice Day
Sat 7 Nov – Wed 11 Nov
5
days
January
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan
4
days
How to use bridge days in Belgium
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In Belgium 2026, there are 8 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Good Friday & Easter Sunday & Easter Monday: take Thursday off to turn a 4-day break into 5 consecutive days using only 1 day of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Continue exploring
More for Belgium 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in Belgium 2026
Full list of 14 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in Belgium 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in Belgium 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
Region guide
Public holidays across Europe
Compare holiday calendars for neighbouring countries in the region.
Calculator
Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Belgium have in 2026?
Belgium has 8 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in Belgium in 2026?
The longest break is 5 days from Thursday, 2 April 2026 to Monday, 6 April 2026, centred around Good Friday and Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (taking Thursday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in Belgium 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Good Friday & Easter Sunday & Easter Monday (Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr). Take Thursday as annual leave to get a 5-day break using only 1 day of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in Belgium?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.