Timeline of Belgian history

This is a timeline of Belgian history, showing important changes and events that shaped Belgium and the lands that came before it. To learn more about the background of these events, you can read the History of Belgium. You can also find information about the list of Belgian monarchs.

This timeline is always growing and may never be fully complete. Anyone can help by editing the page and adding missing items with details from reliable sources.

The timeline covers many centuries, starting from ancient times and continuing to today. It includes events from the 2nd century through the 21st century, giving a broad view of how Belgium developed over time.

1st century BC

The 1st century BC was a time of great change for the lands that would later become Belgium. Many groups of people lived in this area, and they often interacted with nearby empires and cultures. This period set the stage for future developments in the region.

Year	Event
57 BC	Roman General Julius Caesar invades and conquers the lands of the Belgae: Battle of the Sabis; Siege of the Atuatuci
56 BC	Julius Caesar campaigns unsuccessfully against the coastal tribes of the Morini and Menapii.^: 44
55 BC	Julius Caesar subdues the Morini.^: 45
54–53 BC	Ambiorix's revolt under Ambiorix and Cativolcus.
53–51 BC	Punitive campaigns subdue Nervii and Treveri; exterminate Eburoni.^: 44
50 BC	Julius Caesar completes writing Commentarii de Bello Gallico, his account of his campaigns in Gaul.^: 45
29 BC	Marcus Nonius Gallus suppresses revolt among Treveri.^: 48
27 BC	Augustus creates the province Gallia Belgica.^: 48
ca. 15 BC	Probable origins of the city of Tongeren.^: 49
12 BC	Augusta Treverorum becomes a city.^: 49
12 BC	Nero Claudius Drusus, commander in chief of Roman forces in Gallia Belgica, has a series of canals dug in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.^: 49
ca. 10 BC	Probable origins of the city of Aarlen.^: 50
9 BC	Nero Claudius Drusus dies after falling from his horse. Command of Rome's northern armies passes to Tiberius.^: 50
4 BC	Monument honouring Tiberius erected in Bagacum.^: 50

1st century

The 1st century was a time of great change for the lands that would later become Belgium. Many important events happened during this period, shaping the history of the region.

2nd century

3rd century

4th century

The 4th century was a time of big changes for the land that would later become Belgium. Many different groups of people moved through the area, and new leaders came to power. This period set the stage for the region's future.

Year	Event
343	Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, attends the Council of Serdica.
357	Land south of the Rhine delta ceded to Frankish foederati
359	Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, attends the Council of Ariminum.^: 7

5th century

Year	Event
431	Salian Franks take possession of Tournai.^: 7
c. 481	Childeric I buried in Tournai.

6th century

Year	Event
561	Sigebert I inherits the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia.

7th century

8th century

9th century

Year	Date	Event
819	13 April	Louis the Pious confirms the liberties granted to St Bavo's Abbey by Charlemagne (oldest extant original charter in a Belgian archive).
820		First recorded Viking raid on the Flemish coast.^: 38
825	30 September	The remains of St Hubert (died 727) installed in the monastery that would become the Abbey of Saint-Hubert.
843	August	Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire between the three sons of Louis the Pious: Lothair I, Louis the German and Charles the Bald, creating the kingdom of Middle Francia (including most of the Low Countries) for Lothair and assigning Flanders to Charles the Bald.
850		Norsemen raid Flanders.^: 38
855	September	Treaty of Prüm divides Middle Francia into the Kingdom of Lotharingia (including most of the Low Countries), the Kingdom of Provence and the Kingdom of Italy.
861		Norsemen raid Flanders.^: 38
864		Norsemen raid Flanders.^: 38
870	August	Treaty of Meerssen partitions Lotharingia (including most of the Low Countries) between East Francia (Germany) and West Francia (France).
879		Norsemen raid Taxandria.^: 38
880		Norsemen raid Tournaisis.^: 38
881		Norsemen plunder Cambrai and encamp near Maastricht, extorting tribute from Maastricht, Tongeren, Liège, Sint-Truiden, Malmedy, Stavelot, and Prüm.^: 38
891	September or October	Norse invaders defeated in Battle on the Dijle.^: 39
895		Holy Roman Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia appoints his illegitimate son Zwentibold as king of Lotharingia.^: 42-43
900	13 August	Zwentibold slain by Count Reginar I of Hainault; Lotharingia reincorporated into East Francia.

10th century

11th century

12th century

Year	Date	Event
1105		Baldric of Noyon, Bishop of Tournai, awards the right of presentment for Tielt to the chapter of St Salvator in Harelbeke.
1105		St Michael's church, Hekelgem becomes a dependency of Affligem Abbey.
1106	13 May	Godfrey I, Count of Louvain, invested as Duke of Lower Lotharingia in Worms Cathedral.
1107		The hermit Ligerius founds a community that would become Ten Duinen Abbey (the Abbey of Dunes).
1111	5 October	Death of Robert II, Count of Flanders; succession of Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders
1119	17 July	Death of Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders; succession of Charles I, Count of Flanders (Charles the Good)
1125		Godfrey I, Count of Louvain confirms the agreement of Ava of Waver and her sons with the priory of Forest, transferring ownership of an allod in Woluwe.
1127	2 March	Murder of Charles the Good, Count of Flanders
	30 March	William Clito claims countship of Flanders
1128	1 January	Albero I of Louvain, prince-bishop of Liège, dies; succeeded by Alexander of Jülich
	28 July	William Clito dies while laying siege to Aalst; Thierry of Alsace established his claim to the countship of Flanders
1129		Foundation of Park Abbey.
1139	25 January	Godfrey I, Count of Louvain, dies; succeeded by Godfrey II
1141	17 August to 22 September	Siege of Bouillon Castle by Albero, prince-bishop of Liège.
1142	13 June	Godfrey II, Count of Louvain dies; succeeded by Godfrey III
1146	24 June	Pope Eugene III confirms Wibald, Abbot of Stavelot and Malmedy, in possession of the goods of the abbey.
1147	after 11 May	Henry II of Leez, Bishop of Liège, confirms Affligem Abbey in possession of its property in the diocese of Liège.
		Arnout IV, Count of Aarschot, and Christian of Ghistelles, leaders of forces from the Low Countries on the Second Crusade, are diverted to the Siege of Lisbon
1159	1 October	Godfrey III, Count of Louvain, takes Grimbergen
1163	June	Henry the Blind, Count of Namur and of Luxembourg, being childless, names his sister Alice of Namur with her husband Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut, and their son Baldwin, as heirs of all his allodial possessions, "with sod and twig", retaining usufruct during his own lifetime.
1164	4 September	Henry II of Leez, prince-bishop of Liège, dies
1167		Rudolf of Zähringen becomes prince-bishop of Liège
1168	17 January	Death of Thierry, Count of Flanders; succession of Philip of Alsace as count of Flanders
		Godfrey, Duke of Lower Lotharingia, confirms the privileges of the borough of Tienen (oldest extant civic charter from the Duchy of Brabant)
1171	8 November	Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut, dies; succeeded by Baldwin V
1178		Gislebert of Mons becomes chancellor to Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut.
1183		Godfrey III, Count of Louvain, departs for Jerusalem
1184	1 April	Henry the Blind, Count of Namur and of Luxembourg, being childless, names his nephew, Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, already heir to all his allodial possessions, as heir equally to all his feudal possessions, "with sod and twig", retaining usufruct during his own lifetime.
1185	28 to 29 April	Saint Lambert's Cathedral, Liège, destroyed by fire.
1186	July	birth of Ermesinde, later countess of Luxembourg, only child of Henry the Blind. As a female heir she would inherit his allodial possessions, but not his feudal possessions.
1190	21 August	Godfrey III, Count of Louvain dies; succeeded by Henry I, Duke of Brabant
1191	1 August	Death of Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders; succession of his daughter Margaret I, Countess of Flanders, and her husband and co-ruler Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
	5 August	Rudolf of Zähringen, prince-bishop of Liège, dies
	8 September	Albert of Louvain elected prince-bishop of Liège
1192	24 November	Murder of Albert of Louvain, prince-bishop of Liège, by supporters of Emperor Henry VI
1193	19 May	Relics of Saint Alena enshrined in Forest Priory.
1194	20 August	Peace treaty between Henry I, Duke of Brabant and Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, ending twelve years of conflict between the Duchy of Brabant and the County of Hainaut.
	15 November	Death of Margaret I, Countess of Flanders; her husband Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut continues to rule as Baldwin VIII of Flanders
1195	17 December	Death of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut; succession of his son Baldwin VI as count of Flanders and Hainaut
1197		Henry I, Duke of Brabant, departs for Jerusalem.
1198		Baldwin VI, Count of Hainaut, donates all his possessions in the village of Horrues to the collegiate church of Soignies to endow a Lady chapel and a chantry.

13th century

14th century

Year	Date	Event
1302	11 July	Battle of the Golden Spurs: Flemish forces defeat knights of Philip IV of France near Kortrijk
1303	9 July	Aldermen of the city of Namur authorize formation of a butchers' guild with militia obligations, requiring members to arm themselves, follow their own banner, and bury their own dead.
1312	27 September	The Charter of Kortenberg finalised at Kortenberg Abbey, establishing fundamental rights for the inhabitants of the Duchy of Brabant such as no punishment without due process. Council of four knights and ten representatives of the boroughs established (beginnings of representative institutions in the duchy).
	27 October	John II, Duke of Brabant, dies; succeeded by John III
1313	24 August	Henry of Luxembourg died in Buonconvento while besieging Siena, reputedly of poison put in the chalice during mass.
1317	11 April	Works begins on a new cloth hall in Leuven, which is now University Hall.
1322	24 June	Joanna of Brabant born.
1323	June	Rebellion of the commoners in maritime Flanders, sparked by Louis I, Count of Flanders, ceding Sluis to John I, Marquis of Namur.
1327	30 August	Pope John XXII provides a dispensation for the marriage of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III of England. The marriage itself took place by proxy in Valenciennes in October.
1328	24 January	Marriage of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III of England celebrated in York Minster.
1328	23 August	Battle of Cassel: Philip VI of France defeats Flemish rebels led by Nicolaas Zannekin.
1339	3 December	Treaty of mutual support between John III, Duke of Brabant and Louis I, Count of Flanders, and the cities subject to them, providing for offensive and defensive alliance and free trade between their territories.
1340	24 June	Battle of Sluys
1345	24 July	Jacob van Artevelde killed in Ghent.
1355	8 March	The boroughs of the Duchy of Brabant and the Duchy of Limburg undertake to remain united under a single prince after the death of John III, Duke of Brabant, not allowing the territory to be divided among his heirs.
	5 December	John III, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by Joanna
1356	3 January	Joyous Entry of 1356: Joanna, Duchess of Brabant and her husband Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg sign the great charter of liberties of the Duchy of Brabant.
1370		Extirpation of small Jewish population of Brabant after accusations of profaning eucharistic hosts.
1379		Ghent Revolt led by Philip van Artevelde begins
1382	3 May	Battle of Beverhoutsveld – men of Ghent take Bruges and gain control over most of the county of Flanders
	27 November	Men of Ghent defeated in Battle of Roosebeke; Philip van Artevelde slain
1383	25 May	Battle of Dunkirk
	8 June to 8 August	Siege of Ypres
1384	30 January	Louis II, Count of Flanders, last count of the House of Dampierre, dies; succeeded by his daughter Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, whose husband Philip the Bold ruled on her behalf: beginning of period of Burgundian rule in the Low Countries
1385	18 December	Peace of Tournai ends the Ghent Revolt
1386	15 February	Philip the Bold founds the Lille Chamber of Accounts to audit the accounts of his functionaries in the county of Flanders.
1387	2 November	Oldest record of the incorporation of the Brussels guild of painters, goldbeaters and glassmakers.
1389		John of Bavaria elected Prince-Bishop of Liège (resigned 1418).
1390	28 September	Joanna, Duchess of Brabant secretly relinquishes possession of the Duchy of Brabant to her niece, Margaret of Male, and offspring thereof.
1392	1 November	John of Bavaria, bishop-elect of Liège, writes to Philip the Bold to intercede for merchants from Liège arrested by the officers of Rethel.

15th century

The 15th century was a time of important changes for the lands that would become Belgium. Many regions came under the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy, who helped shape the culture and politics of the area. This period saw the growth of towns and trade, laying the groundwork for Belgium's future.

16th century

Year	Date	Event
1501	18 July	Birth of Isabella of Austria, daughter of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna of Castile, future Queen of Christian II of Denmark.
1509	25 June	Pope Julius II grants indulgence for those contributing to the rebuilding of the collegiate church of Dinant, equal to the indulgence for a pilgrimage to Rome.
1511	2 April	Érard de La Marck, Prince-Bishop of Liège, orders publication of Julius II's bull granting an indulgence for those contributing to the rebuilding of the collegiate church of Dinant.
1521	8 May	Charles V issues decree for the Habsburg Netherlands prohibiting Lutheran preaching, teaching, printing or disputation, largely parallel to the Edict of Worms that he was to sign for the Empire as a whole on 26 May but providing more repressive powers to secular authorities.
1523	1 July	Johann Esch and Heinrich Voes burned at the stake in Brussels for their adherence to Lutheran doctrines.
	8 September	Pope Adrian VI draws up a last will and testament to dispose of his possessions in the Habsburg Netherlands, among other bequests founding a papal college for students of Theology at the University of Leuven.
1526	14 January	Peace of Madrid temporarily ends the war between Charles V and Francis I of France, with France briefly relinquishing all claim to the County of Flanders, County of Artois, Tournai and the Tournaisis, and the Duchy of Burgundy.
1531	26 September	Mary of Hungary appointed regent over the Habsburg Netherlands.
	1 October	Charles V establishes the three "collateral councils": the Council of State, Privy Council, and Council of Finances.
1532	11 September	Charles V issues decree establishing protocols and procedure of the reorganized Council of Luxembourg.
1540	4 October	New edict requiring printers and booksellers to provide local magistrates with inventories of their stock.
1546	9 May	University of Leuven issues the first index of prohibited books.
1542	August	French forces plunder Arlon.
	1 September	Francis I of France appoints Claude, Duke of Guise as governor of the Duchy of Luxembourg.
1544		Peace of Crépy ends the war between Charles V and Francis I of France, returning status quo of 1538: Duchy of Luxembourg restored to the Habsburg Netherlands.
1549	12 September	Edict regulating the organization of markets throughout the Habsburg Netherlands.
1559	12 April	King Philip establishes the Royal Library of the Low Countries.
1566	5 April	Compromise of Nobles petition Margaret of Parma to suspend the laws on heresy.
	31 July	Philip II of Spain authorises Margaret of Parma to abolish the inquisition in the Habsburg Netherlands.
	August to September	Iconoclastic Fury: churches and monasteries vandalised and plundered in many parts of the Habsburg Netherlands.
1567	15 March	Attempted Calvinist coup in Antwerp.
	June	Margaret of Parma reinstitutes suspended edicts against heresy.
1568	18 May	Duke of Alva banishes thirty inhabitants of the city of Antwerp and their spouses, with forfeiture of property, for supporting or disseminating Calvinism – including the pensionary of the city, Jacques van Wesenbeke, and the head of the Calvinist consistory in Antwerp, the Portuguese merchant Marcus Perez.
	5 June	Lamoral, Count of Egmont, and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn, executed in Brussels.
	20 October	Battle of Jodoigne
1569	17 May	Maximilien Morillon founds the first diocesan seminary in Mechelen.
1570	30 May	Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum published in Antwerp.
	5 July	First of the criminal ordinances of 1570 issued, codifying and streamlining criminal procedure throughout the Habsburg Netherlands, followed on 9 July by further ordinances on imprisonment and on confessions and witness testimony.
1572	3 July	Gerard van Groesbeeck, Prince-Bishop of Liège, promulgates a new codification of the legal procedures in the principality's courts.
1574	6 June	Don Luis de Requesens, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, issues general pardon to rebels willing to return to loyalty.
1575	16 June	Philip II of Spain decrees that the change of year is to be counted from 1 January throughout the Habsburg Netherlands, rather than from Christmas (25 December), the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) or Easter day, as was the custom in various parts.
1576	4 November	Sack of Antwerp by Spanish mutineers from the Army of Flanders.
	8 November	Pacification of Ghent: alliance of the provinces of the Habsburg Netherlands to drive mutineers from the Army of Flanders from the country and promote a peace treaty with the rebellious provinces Holland and Zeeland.
1577	1 May	John of Austria makes his formal entry into Brussels as Governor General of the Low Countries.
1578	1 October	Governor General John of Austria dies near Namur.
1579	6 January	Union of Arras concluded.
	17 May	Treaty of Arras signed between the Union of Arras and Philip II of Spain.
1596	11 February	Archduke Albert arrives in Brussels to begin his administration as Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands.
	24 April	Archduke Albert takes Calais.
	18 August	Archduke Albert takes Hulst.
1597	11 March	Army of Flanders takes Amiens.
	10 September	Philip II of Spain decides to bequeath his lands in the Low Countries and Burgundy to his daughter, Isabella Clara Eugenia.
1598	2 May	Peace of Vervins signed.
	6 May	Philip II of Spain signs the Act of Cession bequeathing the Habsburg Netherlands to his daughter, the Infanta Isabella.
	13 September	Philip II of Spain dies.
	14 September	Archduke Albert departs from Brussels to marry the Infanta Isabella.
1599	9 February	Edict prohibiting all trade with the enemy issued.
	18 April	Archduke Albert marries Infanta Isabella.
	20 August	Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella arrive in the Low Countries.
	28 August	Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella make their Joyous Entry into Brussels.
1600	5 February	Battle of Lekkerbeetje in the countryside outside 's-Hertogenbosch
	28 April	Estates General meet in Brussels.
	2 July	Battle of Nieuwpoort between the armies of Maurice of Nassau and the Archduke Albert.

17th century

18th century

Year	Date	Event
1704	20 June	Edict in the name of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, reorganises office of notary in the Habsburg Netherlands.
1711	30 September	Art school established in Brussels, later to become the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Brussels.
1713	29 January	Second Barrier Treaty confirms the closing of the Scheldt.
1714	6 March	Treaty of Rastatt signed: hostilities between France and Austria arising from War of the Spanish Succession cease; Spanish Netherlands become Austrian Netherlands.
1715		Start of Flemish China trade.
1719	5 February to 3 August	The Saint-Joseph sails from Ostend to Canton.
	19 September	Frans Anneessens, dean of the masons' guild, beheaded in Brussels for resisting innovations in city government detrimental to the power of the guilds of Brussels.
1720	3 June	The Saint-Joseph reaches its home port of Ostend after a voyage to Canton, bringing a cargo of tea, porcelain, silk, and Chinese roots.
1722	19 December	Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor grants a charter to the Ostend Company to trade with the Indies.
1723	22 April	Work starts on Henri-Joseph Rega's new wing on the University Hall (Leuven).
	11–12 August	Shares in the Ostend Company issued on Antwerp Exchange.
1725	14 March	Henri-Joseph Rega's new wing on the University Hall (Leuven), taken into use.
1727	18 July	Ostend Company petitions for the harbour of Ostend to be deepened.
1734	16 February	Ostend Company officially ceases trading in accordance with the Treaty of Vienna (1731).
1737	16 February	Ostend Company officially wound up.
1738		Henri-Joseph Rega establishes Leuven's botanical garden.
1744		Henri-Joseph Rega establishes Leuven University's anatomical theatre.
1745	11 May	Battle of Fontenoy
	9 July	Battle of Melle
	15 July	Fall of Ghent
	August	Siege of Ostend
1746	January to February	Siege of Brussels
	11 October	Battle of Rocoux
1748	24 April	Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle convenes in Aachen to negotiate an end to the War of the Austrian Succession
	18 October	Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ends the War of the Austrian Succession
1771	7 January	Privy Council grants necessary permits for artillery general Joseph de Ferraris to chart Mechelen and Brabant.
1775		François-Charles de Velbrück establishes an academy of fine arts in Liège
1778	6 August	Government edict regulating registration of baptisms, weddings and funerals: parish priests ordered to ensure that registrations of baptisms include the child's date of birth and the parents' places of birth; of weddings include the full names, status, place of birth and place of residence of the parties; of funerals include the date and time of death; and that a copy of each year's new entries in the parish register be deposited with the provincial authorities every January.
1779	5 April	François-Charles de Velbrück founds the Société littéraire de Liège.
1780	29 November	Death of Maria Theresa.
1782	1 August	Council of Luxembourg becomes a "sovereign" court: its legal decisions can no longer be appealed to the Great Council of Mechelen.
1787	1 January	Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, decrees the abolition of the Council of Brabant and the institution of new law courts for the Duchy of Brabant, to take effect from 1 May 1787.
	20 April	Council of Brabant declares its abolition unconstitutional.
	21 September	Joseph II's interim minister plenipotentiary, Sir Joseph Murray, 3rd Baronet, postpones the abolition of the Council of Brabant.
1788	22 January	Council of Brabant refuses to issue a new decree by Joseph II's minister plenipotentiary, Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff.
1789	26 August	Republic of Liège proclaimed.
	October	Army of émigré volunteers invades the Austrian Netherlands. Manifesto of the People of Brabant published. Government forces defeated in Battle of Turnhout (1789).
1790	4 January	Manifesto of the Province of Flanders: States of Flanders repudiate loyalty to the count of Flanders and the House of Austria and declare the old County of Flanders an independent sovereign state
	11 January	United States of Belgium proclaimed.
	22 September	Battle of Falmagne: short-lived restoration of Austrian rule in the Low Countries
1791	13 February	Austrian military intervention restores César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck as prince-bishop of Liège
1792	16 November	Battle of Jemappes: French gain control of Belgium and Liège.
	23 December	The men of the village of Hekelgem assemble and declare that they wish to remain Catholic and continue to live as a free people under the institutions of the Duchy of Brabant, rather than accept French rule.
1793	18 March	Battle of Neerwinden: short-lived restoration of Austrian rule in the Low Countries.
	12–13 September	Battle of Menin between French and Dutch forces
	15 September	First Battle of Courtrai between French and Austrian forces
1794	26 June	Battle of Fleurus: decisive French victory in the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars.
	17–18 September	Battle of Sprimont: final Austrian defeat in the Low Countries
1795	1 October	Former Austrian Netherlands and Prince-Bishopric of Liège unilaterally annexed to the French First Republic.
	6 November	Decree of 14 Brumaire, Year IV brings into force in Belgium the Le Chapelier Law 1791 abolishing craft guilds and prohibiting membership of trade unions.
1796	17 June	Decree of 29 Prairial, Year IV establishes civil registration of births, marriages and deaths throughout what is now Belgium.
	August	Moveables and archives of the guilds of Brussels sold at public auction on the Grand-Place.
1797		Suppression of religious life begins in earnest.
	28 June	École Centrale for the Department of the Scheldt inaugurated in Ghent.
	18 October	By the Treaty of Campo Formio the Austrian monarchy accepts the French annexation of the former Austrian Netherlands.
1798	October to December	Peasants' War (Boerenkrijg) in Flanders and Brabant; peasant army defeated near Hasselt on 5 December.
1799	21 June	Execution of Pieter Corbeels, one of the leaders of the Peasant Army, in Tournai.

19th century

20th century

21st century

Year	Date	Event
2001	25 October	Elisabeth, duchess of Brabant is born in Anderlecht.
	6 November	Belgian national airline Sabena declared bankrupt
2002	1 January	Euro enters into circulation to replace the Belgian franc
	November	Frank De Winne is the second Belgian in space
		Strépy-Thieu boat lift is completed
2003	18 May	Belgian federal election, 2003 leads to formation of Verhofstadt II Government (sworn in 12 July)
2004	1–22 March	Trial of serial killer and child molester Marc Dutroux, sentenced to life imprisonment
2005		Celebration of 175 years of Belgian independence and 25 years of federalism
2006	8 October	2006 Belgian local elections
2007	10 June	Belgian federal election, 2007
2008	20 March	Leterme I Government sworn in
	30 December	Van Rompuy Government sworn in following Yves Leterme's resignation as Prime Minister
2009	4 January	Johan Bonny consecrated as bishop of Antwerp
	11 October	Father Damien canonised by Pope Benedict XVI
	December	Herman Van Rompuy becomes the first President of the European Council
2010	27 February	André-Joseph Léonard succeeds Godfried Danneels as archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels
	22 April	Fall of Leterme II Government
	23 April	Pope Benedict XVI accepts the resignation of child molester Roger Vangheluwe as bishop of Bruges
	13 June	Belgian federal election, 2010 leads to formation of Di Rupo Government 541 days later
2011	October	Sixth Belgian state reform finalised
	6 December	Di Rupo Government sworn in 541 days after the Belgian federal election, 2010
2012	24 October	Closure of Ford Genk announced, to be completed in 2014 with loss of over 4,000 jobs.
2013	21 July	Philippe becomes 7th king of the Belgians
2014	24 May	Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting kills four
	25 May	Belgian federal election, 2014
2015	6 November	Jozef De Kesel succeeds André-Joseph Léonard as archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels
	21 to 25 November	Brussels lockdown
2016	22 March	2016 Brussels bombings
	20 December	Publifin scandal breaks in Le Vif/L'Express
2017	31 May	Samusocial scandal breaks in Brussels parliament
2018	9 December	Michel I Government splits, to be succeeded by Michel II Government, after division over endorsement of the Global Compact for Migration
2019	26 May	2019 Belgian federal election
2020	4 February	Public confirmation of first patient tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
2021	4 to 5 May	DDOS attack on Belnet disrupts accessibility of websites using the .be domain, including those of the Belgian government, parliament, police, educational and research institutions, health care, and public broadcasters, forcing the postponement of parliamentary hearings relating to the persecution of Uyghurs in China.
2022	8 June	King Philippe of Belgium condemns the racism of Belgium's colonial history in Congo.
2023	18 December	Largest criminal trial in Belgian history begins in Brussels.
2024	9 June	2024 Belgian federal election