Events in the year 2024 in Belgium.
Incumbents Monarch – Philippe Prime Minister – Alexander De Croo
Events January 1 January – 2024 Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins.
February 1 February – The Monument to John Cockerill is vandalised during farmers' protests in Brussels. 13 February – The European Court of Human Rights upholds Flemish and Wallonian bans on the ritual slaughter of animals that have not been stunned.
March 12 March – Far-right political activist and former Vlaams Belang politician Dries Van Langenhove is jailed for one year for Holocaust denial and incitement to violence. 18 March – A police officer is killed and two others are injured in a shooting during a house search in Charleroi investigating illegal trade in arms, drugs, and stolen vehicles; the suspect is shot and critically injured by police. 21 March – Pope Francis laicizes the Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe due to abuse. 25 March – Humo magazine and Apache website, both based in Belgium, reveal that politician Filip Dewinter worked as a "senior political advisor" for China for years.
April 12 April – Belgian prosecutors open an investigation into Russian interference in the 2024 European Parliament election. 16 April – Brussels police shut down the right-wing National Conservatism Conference attended by Nigel Farage and expected to host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
June 9 June – 2024 Belgian federal election: Prime Minister Alexander De Croo's governing coalition loses its majority, leading to his resignation. The New Flemish Alliance wins the highest percentage of votes, followed by Vlaams Belang and the Reformist Movement. 2024 Belgian regional elections 19 June – The European Commission reprimands Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia for breaking budget rules. Brussels declines to host a UEFA Nations League match between Belgium and Israel over security concerns.
July
23 July – The European Union deprives Hungary of its ability to host the next set of foreign and defense ministry meetings as a "symbolic signal" against Viktor Orbán's uncoordinated meetings in Russia and China, moving the ministry meetings from Budapest to Brussels. 26 July – Seven people are arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity in raids on 14 locations nationwide.
September 26–29 September – Pope Francis conducts a three-day visit to Belgium. 27 September – Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Philippe publicly criticise Pope Francis during their welcome addresses for him over sexual abuses committed by the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium.
October 13 October: 2024 Belgian local elections 29 October – A court in Brussels convicts 120 people on drugs charges and sentences them to up to 17 years imprisonment in the biggest drugs-related trial in the country.
December 1 December – A law allowing sex workers to enter into formal employment contracts and avail of standard labour benefits such as standardised working hours, health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions comes into effect. 2 December – An appeals court in Brussels finds the Belgian state liable for crimes against humanity in a lawsuit filed five mix-raced children who were abducted from their mothers in Belgian colonies in Africa and orders restitution of 50,000 euros to each victim.
Holidays
1 January - New Year's Day 1 April - Easter Monday 1 May - International Workers' Day 9 May - Ascension Day 20 May - Whit Monday 21 July – Belgian National Day 15 August - Assumption Day 1 November - All Saints' Day 11 November - Armistice Day 25 December - Christmas Day
Art and entertainment List of Belgian European Film Award winners and nominees List of Belgian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
Deaths
1 January – Camila Batmanghelidjh, 61, Iranian-Belgian charity executive, founder of Kids Company 7 January – Bohdan Shershun, 42, Ukrainian footballer 8 January – Frans Janssens, 78, footballer 16 January – Lise Thiry, 102, scientist and politician 20 January – Herbert Glejser, 86, economist 23 January – Jan Bogaert, 66, road racing cyclist 30 January – Orazio Schena, 82, Italian footballer 5 February – Walter van den Broeck, 82, writer and playwright 15 February – Nicolas Bergeron, 48, French mathematician 16 February – Jan Sørensen, 68, footballer 24 February – Benoît van Innis, 63, artist 14 March – Léon Semmeling, 84, footballer 21 March – Pierre Cordier, 91, artist 26 March – André Van Herpe, 90, footballer 28 March – Guy Goffette, 76, poet 1 April – Phil Delire, 69, music producer 8 April – Jaak Gabriëls, 80, politician 12 April – Edward Lipiński, 93, Polish-Belgian Biblical scholar and Orientalist 20 April – Jean-Marie Aerts, 72, guitarist and producer, member of TC Matic 3 May – Paul-Henry Gendebien, 84, economist and politician 6 May – Christiane Stefanski, 74, singer 15 May – Patrick Moenaert, 75, politician 14 June – Christiane Mercelis, 92, tennis player 15 June – Freddy Willockx, 76, politician 30 June – Gilbert Desmet, 93, cyclist 9 July – Josse Goffin, 85, artist and graphic novelist 12 July – Ellis Brandon, 101, veteran 20 July – Robert Rinchard, 93, race walker 17 September – Magda De Galan, 77, politician 28 September – Jacques Teugels, 78, footballer 13 October – Dominiq Fournal, 68, plastic artist, painter, and photographer 17 October – Emile Daems, 86, road racing cyclist 17 October – Isabelle de Borchgrave, 78, artist and sculptor 23 October – Hugo Weckx, 89, lawyer and politician 13 November – Paul Staes, 78, politician 28 November – Roeland Raes, 90, politician 10 December – Lode Wils, 95, historian and academic 10 December – Josy Arens, 72, politician 17 December – Rik Van Looy, 90, cyclist 19 December – Miet Smet, 81, politician 28 December – Émile Lejeune, 86, footballer
See also 2024 in the European Union 2024 in Europe
References
External links Online calendar