King's Feast (Koningsfeest in Dutch, Fête du Roi in French, Festtag des Königs in German) is celebrated in Belgium on November 15, honoring the reigning monarch as a symbol of national unity across the country's diverse linguistic communities.
King's Feast was instituted in 1866 by King Leopold II, who designated November 15—the feast day of Saint Leopold in the liturgical calendar—as the official day to honor the Belgian monarchy and the royal house. In 1951, King Baudouin decided that the date would remain fixed on November 15, rather than shifting with each successive monarch's patron saint, establishing a permanent calendar tradition. The day is marked by a solemn Te Deum hymn service at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels attended by members of the Belgian Royal Family (traditionally excluding the King and Queen themselves, who do not attend to reflect that the celebration is organized by the nation in their honor), followed by an official ceremony in the Federal Parliament. Since 1990, November 15 has also been celebrated as the official Day of the German-speaking Community of Belgium (Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft).
