Summer holidays 2026

The summer holidays 2026 runs from 1 July to 31 August.

The summer break in East Belgium lasts nine weeks, from 1 July to 31 August. East Belgium thus follows the Flemish calendar and has a longer summer break than Wallonia-Brussels.

The region experiences its tourist peak during these months, with hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers flocking to the Ardennes. The national holiday on 21 July is celebrated in the region, though festivities are more modest than in the major cities.

The long summer gives families the time to enjoy the extensive nature and cross-border opportunities in the Eifel and Luxembourg.

The Ardennes are the heart of the East Belgian summer, with hikes, kayaking on the Ourthe, and mountain bike tours through the dense forests. The Belgian coast and the Eifel are popular day-trip destinations for outings.

Open-air pools and lakes such as Lake Butgenbach and Lake Robertville offer a refreshing dip on hot days. The Vennbahn provides a flat cycle path from Aachen to Luxembourg, ideal for families with children.

During the summer months, many municipalities organise open-air festivals, flea markets, and village fairs. The region also offers excellent opportunities for fishing, horse riding, and climbing in the numerous adventure parks.

Holiday camps, sports camps, and youth organisations offer continuous childcare throughout the nine weeks, with options in both German and French. The region benefits from tourism during the long summer break, with a significant rise in overnight visitors in July and August.

Many accommodations, from campsites to holiday farms, are fully booked months in advance during peak season. Public transport runs on the regular summer timetable, but a car is more practical for many destinations in the hilly landscape.

Families can also take advantage of the cross-border holiday camp offerings in nearby Germany.

East Belgium follows the Flemish system with nine weeks of summer holidays. Nearby Wallonia-Brussels has had only seven weeks of summer holidays since 2022-2023.

Cross-border families therefore need to plan carefully. This difference is particularly noticeable in municipalities such as Malmedy and Waimes, which border East Belgium and where neighbours can literally follow different holiday calendars.

The decision to follow the Flemish calendar was partly motivated by the desire to stay synchronised with the German school system in North Rhine-Westphalia, with which many cross-border contacts exist. The East Belgian parliament decides on this annually, in consultation with the education sector and parent associations.