Today is the National Holiday of Belgium. On 21 July 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians. But I want to look at something else.
Triggered by an Instagram reel by member of the municipal council Niel Staes (Groen), let me present to you the flags which are flown on Antwerp‘s City Hall in the summer months.
It’s not clear to everyone which flags are chosen or eligible. For one, there’s no space for the 193 member states of the United Nations, but the UN flag does get a pole.
So, which flags are on display?
Category 1: from city to union
The most prominent spot, just above the main entrance of city hall is reserved for the official protocol: Belgium, Flanders, the European Union, the Province of Antwerp and the City of Antwerp.
Belgium is in the epicentre. Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) may not be the biggest fan of the Belgian flag, but he respects the protocol. On the left you have the flag of Flanders, on the right the EU flag. More left the chequered provincial flag and more the right the city flag. Not to be confused with the ‘Beaming A’, the corporate logo of the city government.
Category 2: the districts of Antwerp
Antwerp is administratively dived in nine districts. One storey above you see from left to right: Berchem, Borgerhout, Hoboken, Wilrijk, Deurne, Merksem, Ekeren, Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo, Antwerp.
There’s a spot reserved for Borsbeek, which will become the tenth district of Antwerp.
Category 3: European Union
On the first storey, left and right from the centre, you’ll see the flags of the melber states of European Union in the order in which they joined. Probably to compensate for for Brexit, the United Kingdom has been replaced by the United Nations.
From left to right: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the UN, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Austria, Sweden, Cyprus and Estonia.
One storey up, its a bit less clear. I think, from left to right: Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czechia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. 26 out of 27. Next to Croatia, other country flags start. Having no extra clues, it’s too hard to be sure. Tunisia or Turkey (Türkiye). Followed by what seems to be Morocco.
Category 4: consulates
Which countries can have their flags flown? Countries with a consulate-general in Antwerp, then countries with an honorary consulate in the city of Antwerp, then countries with an honorary consulate in the province of Antwerp and then countries with an honorary consulate in Flanders.
Don’t forget to look at the side façade on Suikerrui for more flags.
So now you know.
The relocation of a key technical building in 2025 has cleared the final obstacle for the creation of Antwerp’s new Spoorpark (Railway Park), which is…
On the Havana site in the north of Antwerp, the City of Antwerp is constructing a new logistics centre. In the future, this large energy-neutral…
The City of Antwerp has reached a new milestone in its plans to redevelop the Meir and the surrounding streets Leysstraat, Jezusstraat and Twaalfmaandenstraat. The…
Renovation works at the long-abandoned NMBS / SNCB Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station will start at the beginning of the spring half-term holiday on Monday 16 February,…
The premetro tunnel connecting Antwerp’s left and right banks will close for almost a year for extensive renovation works, starting on 4 May 2026 and…
metro tunnel connecting Antwerp’s left and right banks will close for almost a year for extensive renovation works, starting on 4 May 2026 and lasting until at least mid-March 2027. During this period, no trams will run between the Park-and-Ride Melsele on Linkeroever (Left Bank) and the Astrid and
Archaeologists in Antwerp have uncovered significant remains of the 17th-century Fort Piémentel, alongside an exceptionally rare large-scale wooden structure dating back to the 15th century,…
On 2 March 2026, the City of Antwerp and the District of Antwerp authorities presented and approved the final design for the redevelopment of the…
On 2 March 2026, the City of Antwerp and the District of Antwerp authorities presented and approved the final design for the redevelopment of the…
The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp has reviewed an extensive feasibility study concerning the Stuivenberg site in Antwerp-North. The ambition…
The city administration of Antwerp is studying how the Operaplein could be made greener. The initiative comes at the request of Alderman for Green Spaces…
Archaeological research is currently being carried out in the South neighbourhood of Antwerp ahead of the redevelopment of Verschansingstraat and Pourbusstraat. During the excavations, remains…
Archaeological research is currently being carried out in the South neighbourhood of Antwerp ahead of the redevelopment of Verschansingstraat and Pourbusstraat. During the excavations, remains…
The long-awaited renovation of the Sint-Andries site in central Antwerp is now underway, marking the start of a transformative project set to redefine the area…
The City of Antwerp and water utility water-link have officially begun the redevelopment of the Wapper, the elongated square between the Meir and Schuttershofstraat. By…
The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp has approved the final design for Ringpark Groene Vesten, a project that will connect…
The diamond sector in Antwerp is showing the first signs of recovery after several difficult years. Following a period in which the value of diamonds…
The City of Antwerp is taking further steps to sustainably strengthen its urban greenery, with an update to the existing Tree Plan (Bomenplan). This includes…
Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station no longer meets the standards of a modern transport hub, and NMBS / SNCB is now examining the possibility of demolishing the…
Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station no longer meets the standards of a modern transport hub, and NMBS / SNCB is now examining the possibility of demolishing the…
For the first time in more than four decades, trains are once again stopping on Antwerp’s Left Bank. The reopening of Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station on…
For the first time in more than four decades, trains are once again stopping on Antwerp’s Left Bank. The reopening of Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station on…
Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station has reopened today as a temporary solution to ease disruption caused by the upcoming renovation of the Antwerp premetro tunnel. The works,…
Linkeroever Railway Station has reopened today as a temporary solution to ease disruption caused by the upcoming renovation of the Antwerp premetro tunnel. The works,…