Celebration of the Golden Spurs – July 11, 2026

Expected Celebration of the Golden Spurs Deals

For Celebration of the Golden Spurs, the focus shifts from commercial deals to cultural recognition and community engagement. Local businesses, cultural centers, and historical societies in Flanders often host special events, historical reenactments, and educational programs. Look for special exhibits at museums like the Groeningemuseum in Bruges or the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) in Antwerp. Restaurants might offer traditional Flemish cuisine, while local artisan markets could feature regional crafts. The Flemish government itself supports various initiatives to mark the day. We will update this page with confirmed live events and community celebrations as July 11 approaches.

History of Celebration of the Golden Spurs

The Battle of the Golden Spurs was a confrontation between French and Flemish forces during the Franco-Flemish War. The war began in 1297 after King Philip IV of France tried to tighten French control over the County of Flanders, even though the latter was de facto independent from France. In 1297, the French invaded the town of Courtrai, or Kortrijk, which lies on the bank of the Lys river in modern-day Belgium, along with most of Flanders.

After the Flemish grew tired of French control and revolted in several cities across Flanders, the two armies met outside Courtrai on July 11. The French cavalry consisted of about 2,500 knights and squires, whilst its supporting infantry was 5,500 strong. On the other hand, Flemish forces were made up of 9,000 infantrymen. The French cavalry found themselves unable to defeat the well-trained pike-formation of the Flemish. What followed was a haphazard and panicked retreat of the French nobility. The Flemish claimed over 500 spurs from French horsemen, which ultimately gave the battle its name.

Charles the IV later avenged the Flemish defeat of the French in 1382 by sacking the town. The town was captured by the French in 1793, occupied by the Germans during the Great War, and bore severe damage during the Second World War. Belgium became a sovereign state following its separation from the Netherlands in 1830, and now encompasses all of Flanders, along with its two other regions of Wallonia and Brussels. Three cultural and linguistic communities of Belgium were established in 1970 to represent these three regions.