Celebration of the Golden Spurs in Belgium in 2023

Celebration of the Golden Spurs in Belgium in 2023

  How long until Celebration of the Golden Spurs?
There are no upcoming dates for this event
  Dates of Celebration of the Golden Spurs in Belgium
2022 Jul 11
AntwerpenMon, Jul 11Regional Holiday
LimburgMon, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Oost-VlaanderenMon, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Vlaams-BrabantMon, Jul 11Regional Holiday
West-VlaanderenMon, Jul 11Regional Holiday
2021 Jul 11
AntwerpenSun, Jul 11Regional Holiday
LimburgSun, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Oost-VlaanderenSun, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Vlaams-BrabantSun, Jul 11Regional Holiday
West-VlaanderenSun, Jul 11Regional Holiday
2020 Jul 11
AntwerpenSat, Jul 11Regional Holiday
LimburgSat, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Oost-VlaanderenSat, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Vlaams-BrabantSat, Jul 11Regional Holiday
West-VlaanderenSat, Jul 11Regional Holiday
2019 Jul 11
AntwerpenThu, Jul 11Regional Holiday
LimburgThu, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Oost-VlaanderenThu, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Vlaams-BrabantThu, Jul 11Regional Holiday
West-VlaanderenThu, Jul 11Regional Holiday
2018 Jul 11
AntwerpenWed, Jul 11Regional Holiday
LimburgWed, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Oost-VlaanderenWed, Jul 11Regional Holiday
Vlaams-BrabantWed, Jul 11Regional Holiday
West-VlaanderenWed, Jul 11Regional Holiday
  Summary

In 1302 the French king Philip IV of France dispatched an army to punish the rebellious Flemish towns, led by Bruges.

When is the Celebration of the Golden Spurs?

This holiday is always celebrated on July 11th. It marks a significant victory by the Flemish over the French in a battle in 1302.

History of the Celebration of the Golden Spurs

In 1302 the French king Philip IV of France dispatched an army to punish the rebellious Flemish towns, led by Bruges.

Earlier that year Philip IV had annexed Flanders. The Flemish rebelled and attacked the French governor of Flanders.

The French army was composed of about 8,000 knights and infantry. The Flemish army consisted of a militia force of 9,000 infantrymen.

The two forces clashed on July 11th 1302 on a field just outside the Flemish city of Kortrijk. The French were totally defeated.

The commander of the French army, Robert II of Arlois was surrounded and killed on the battlefield. At least a thousand French knights were killed in the battle and number of the golden spurs collected from the field was so large as to gave the battle its name.

In the 19th century, the battle was romanticised by Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience in his book The Lion of Flanders and the Battle of the Golden Spurs became a symbol of the struggle for Flemish recognition in the French-dominated Belgian State.

On July 6th 1973, a law was passed that established the flag, anthem and the day of the Dutch Cultural Community.

How is the Celebration of the Golden Spurs celebrated?

Private employers are not required to award a day's holiday; however, the institutions of the Flemish Government and public employers observe this holiday.

Translate this page