National symbols of Belgium are thesymbols used to represent theKingdom of Belgium. Article 193 of theBelgian Constitution is dedicated to specifying the national flag, colours, coat of arms, and motto. It says the following: "The Belgian nation takes red, yellow and black as colours, and as state coat of arms the Belgian lion with the mottoUnity makes strength."[1]
Thenational holiday ofBelgium,Belgian National Day, is commemorated annually on 21 July,[2][3] but even though it is official, it is usually not considered a national symbol. TheFlemish holiday is celebrated on 11 July,[3][4] theWalloon holiday is celebrated on the third Sunday in September,[3][5] theFrench-speaking Community's holiday is celebrated on 27 September, theGerman-speaking Community's holiday is celebrated on 5 November[3][6] and the Brussels holiday is celebrated on 8 May.[3]
| Flag | Heraldry | Motto | Anthem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of Belgium
| Coat of arms of Belgium
| Unity Makes Strength Dutch:Eendracht Maakt Macht French:L'Union Fait La Force German:Einigkeit Macht Stark | Brabançonne |
| Brussels-Capital Region | Flemish Community | Flemish Region | French-speaking Community | Walloon Region | German-speaking Community | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag | Flag of the Brussels-Capital Region
| Flag of Flanders
| Flag of Wallonia
| Flag of the German-speaking Community | ||
| Heraldry | None | Coat of arms of Flanders
| Coat of arms of Wallonia
| Flag of the German-speaking Community
| ||
| Anthem | None | De Vlaamse Leeuw | Le Chant des Wallons | None | ||
| Floral emblem | Yellow iris
| Poppy
| Gaillardia
| Gentiana
| ||
| Motto | None | None | French:Wallon toujours[7] | None | ||
| Animal | None | Lion
| Rooster
| None | ||
| Patron Saint | St. Michael
| St. Ludgardis
| None | None | ||
Thelion, especially theLeo Belgicus (Latin for "Belgian Lion") has been used as a heraldic animal to represent the Benelux for centuries. Aheraldic lion can be seen on the Belgian coat of arms and can be seen as the countriesde factonational animal.Moules-frites is often considered the unofficial national dish of Belgium.[8][9][10] Thered poppy (papaver rhoeas) is often considered the national unofficial national flower of Belgium.[11][12][13] Other symbols of Belgium might includeManneken Pis, theAtomium,Belgian waffles, andBelgian fries, which were invented in Belgium.
