Luxembourg National Day
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- 963Count Siegfried builds a castle on the Bock promontory — Luxembourg founded
- 1867Treaty of London — Luxembourg declared perpetually neutral and fortifications demolished
- 1890Luxembourg separated from the Netherlands — Grand Duke Adolphe takes the throne
Why Luxembourg celebrates 23 June
Luxembourg celebrates its National Day on 23 June — the official birthday of the reigning Grand Duke, currently Henri. The holiday has been observed on this date since 1961 when Grand Duchess Charlotte held the celebration on 23 June. When Henri became Grand Duke in 2000, his actual birthday is in April, but 23 June was retained as the national holiday.
Luxembourg is one of the founding members of the European Union and hosts key EU institutions. Despite being the world's only remaining Grand Duchy and one of Europe's smallest countries, Luxembourg is its wealthiest per capita nation. Its strategic position between France, Germany and Belgium has shaped centuries of political history.
National Day begins with a torchlight procession and a concert on the Place d'Armes the evening before. On 23 June itself, a Te Deum service is held at Notre-Dame Cathedral, followed by a military parade on the Boulevard Royal attended by the Grand Ducal family. Fireworks over the Alzette valley cap the celebrations in the evening.
- 202623 June 2026 · Tuesday
- 202723 June 2027 · Wednesday
- 202823 June 2028 · Friday
The Luxembourg flag has three equal horizontal bands of red, white and light blue. The colours derive from the medieval coat of arms of the House of Luxembourg. The flag is almost identical to the Dutch flag but uses a lighter, skyward blue. The light blue distinguishes Luxembourg from the Netherlands.
Luxembourg's cuisine reflects its position between France and Germany — hearty Germanic dishes refined with French technique, alongside the unique Moselle Valley wine tradition.
What to eat
Judd mat GaardebounenSmoked collar of pork with broad beans — Luxembourg's most traditional national dish.
BouneschluppGreen bean soup with potatoes, bacon and cream — a warming Luxembourg classic.
PaschtéitPuff pastry shell filled with a cream of veal and mushrooms — served at formal dinners.
RieslingspaschtéitRiesling wine and pork terrine baked in pastry — a festive cold cut.
QuetschentaartDamson plum tart — thin pastry filled with plums from Luxembourg's orchards, eaten in autumn.
GromperekichelcherPotato fritters with spring onions — sold at fairs, markets and the National Day celebrations.What to drink
Crémant de LuxembourgSparkling wine from Moselle vineyards — Luxembourg's finest export, comparable to Champagne.
Moselle RieslingDry, mineral white wine from the Moselle Valley — among Europe's most underrated wines.
Bofferding beerLuxembourg's most popular local lager — brewed since 1764 in the capital.Luxembourg culture
Luxembourg is officially trilingual — Luxembourgish, French and German are all official languages. The country's cultural identity is small but distinct, shaped by its ancient history as a European crossroads.
Chemin de la CornicheCalled "the most beautiful balcony in Europe" — a promenade above Luxembourg City's Alzette valley.
Casemates of the BockCold War-era tunnel system beneath Luxembourg City — part of the UNESCO-listed Old Town fortifications.
Vianden CastleRestored medieval castle above the Our river — one of the finest Gothic castles in western Europe.
Mullerthal TrailLuxembourg's "Little Switzerland" — sandstone rock formations and forest trails in the eastern highlands.