2003 in Belgium

Events from the year 2003 in Belgium

Incumbents

 * Monarch: Albert II
 * Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt

Events

 * February
 * 1 February – Lucas Van Looy consecrated as bishop of Ghent
 * 15 February – 70,000 people march through the streets of Brussels as part of the global anti-war protest.


 * April
 * 12 April – Wedding of Prince Laurent and Claire Coombs


 * May
 * 15 May – Art deco cinema De Roma in Borgerhout reopens as a cultural centre and performance venue
 * 18 May – Belgian federal election, 2003


 * June
 * 1 June – Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Belgium


 * July
 * 12 July – Verhofstadt II Government sworn in


 * September
 * 7 September – Guy Harpigny consecrated as bishop of Tournai


 * October
 * 1 October – Merger between 3 universities leads to the establishment of the University of Antwerp.

Births

 * 23 April – Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, fifth child of Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este and Princess Astrid of Belgium
 * 20 August – Prince Gabriel of Belgium, second child of Philippe of Belgium (then Duke of Brabant) and Mathilde of Belgium

Deaths

 * January
 * 8 January - Franz Drappier comic book writer
 * 11 January - Bob Maertens soccer player
 * 22 January - Georges Mommerency politician
 * 29 January - Louis Baret singer and comedian


 * February
 * 4 February
 * Pierre Carteus soccer player
 * André Noyelle cyclist
 * 6 February - Mark Braet poet and politician
 * 9 February - René Uyttendaele mayor
 * 26 February
 * Christian Goethals race-car driver
 * Michel Van Maele mayor


 * March
 * 11 March - Jacques Yerna politician
 * 31 March - Theo Mertens trumpet player


 * April
 * 3 April - Karel Boumans comic book writer
 * 17 April - Jeff Schell molecular biologist
 * 20 April - Henri Lemaître papal diplomat


 * May
 * 15 May
 * Rik Van Steenbergen cyclist
 * Marcel Thielemans singer and trombone player
 * 22 May - Albert Mettens soccer player


 * June
 * 1 June - André Lootens mayor
 * 26 June - Gerard Gaudaen wood carver


 * July
 * 18 July - Daniël Van Avermaet TV presenter


 * August
 * 1 August - Guy Thys soccer manager
 * 5 August - Maurice Mollin cyclist


 * September
 * 4 September - Lola Bobesco violinist
 * 8 September - August Vanistendael union leader and politician
 * 22 September
 * Maxime Brunfaut architect
 * Armand Pien weather man and TV presenter


 * October
 * 29 October - Albert Cool mayor
 * 30 October - Antoon Roosens philosopher


 * November
 * 11 November - Paul Janssen, founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica


 * December
 * 8 December - Charly Talbot politician
 * 11 December - Ann Petersen actress