Belgium

Independence Day, July 21. Commemorates the anniversary of separation from the Netherlands in 1831, and the formal establishment of the kingdom with the crowning of Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg, who agreed to support the constitution drawn up by the National Congress.
Dynasty Day, November 15. "Fête de la Dynastie". Honors the king's patron saint's day.
Cat Festival, second Sunday in May (May 9, 2004). According to legend, in 962 A.D. Baudoin III, the Count of Flanders, ordered the people of Ypres to throw two or three live cats from the tower of his castle. This was an act of renouncing pagan superstitions in which the cat featured largely, often as a symbol of fertility. This centuries old festival was banned in the eighteenth century by Joseph II, and again after the French occupation, but in 1817 it was again observed by having a single citizen, wearing a red jacket, white cap, and ribbons, throw down a live cat from the castle, which often survived the drop. During World War I it was observed by a concert of bells, and in 1938 the festival was reinstated at the current date, with live cats replaced with toy stuffed ones. A Cat Parade was added in 1955, and includes floats and costumes based on feline mythology through the ages.

Public holidays   New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Independence Day (Jul 21-22), Assumption, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Armistice Day (Nov 11), King's Birthday (Nov 15), and Christmas (Dec 25-26).