Historically distinct IANA time zone
Europe/Brussels
- Countries
- Belgium
- GPS reference
- 50.83° N, 4.33° E
- Data source
- IANA europe
BelgiumGeographic context
Where this clock belongs
The map marks the IANA reference location and associated country, not a time-zone boundary.
GPS reference: 50.83° N, 4.33° E. Associated countries: BE.
The Wikipedia link provides additional context; it is not evidence for a historical claim. Transition data comes from the IANA source file.
Notes from the time database
The story behind the clock
These source notes describe a period or rule. They do not, by themselves, establish a causal claim for a particular clock change.
Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands The exposition in the web page gives several contemporary sources from which one can conclude that the switch in Europe/Brussels on 1892-05-01 was from 00:17:30 to 00:00:00. This quote helps explain the late-1914 situation: In early November 1914, the Germans imposed the time zone used in central Europe and forced the inhabitants to set their watches and public clocks sixty minutes ahead. Many were reluctant to accept "German time" and continued to use "Belgian time" among themselves. Reflecting the spirit of resistance that arose in the population, a song made fun of this change.... The song ended: Putting your clock forward Will but hasten the happy hour When we kick out the Boches! See: Pluvinage G. Brussels on German time. Cahiers Bruxellois - Brusselse Cahiers. 2014;XLVI(1E):15-38. Entries from 1914 through 1917 are taken from "De tijd in België" < Entries from 1918 through 1991 are taken from: Annuaire de L'Observatoire Royal de Belgique, Avenue Circulaire, 3, B-1180 BRUXELLES, CLVIIe année, 1991 (Imprimerie HAYEZ, s.p.r.l., Rue Fin, 4, 1080 BRUXELLES, MCMXC), pp 8-9. Thanks to Pascal Delmoitie for the 1918/1991 references. The 1918 rules are listed for completeness; they apply to unoccupied Belgium. Assume Brussels switched to WET in 1918 when the armistice took effect.
Older C-Eur rules are for convenience in the tables. From 1977 on, C-Eur differs from EU only in that C-Eur uses standard time.
The following rules are for the European Union and for its predecessor organization, the European Communities. For brevity they are called "EU rules" elsewhere in this file.
Original IANA source file: europe.
A shared present
Same clock today, different past
These nearby zones follow the same current annual pattern, yet retain their own historical record.
France · 261 km from the reference location · Same annual clock since 1977
Germany · 470 km from the reference location · Same annual clock since 1981
Switzerland · 490 km from the reference location · Same annual clock since 1981Civil-time record
Recorded changes over time
From 1880 to 2027 · 165 recorded transitions
Recurring daylight-saving changes are grouped separately when JavaScript is available.
Notable changes
One-off changes and transitions outside the recurring seasonal rhythm.
- +00:17 · BMTStandard time applies
- +00:00 · WETStandard time applies
- +01:00 · CETStandard time applies
- +02:00 · CESTDaylight saving time begins
- +01:00 · CETStandard time applies
- +02:00 · CESTDaylight saving time begins
Browse every recorded transition
| Local time after transition | Offset after | Abbreviation | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880-01-01 00:00 | +00:17 | BMT | Standard time |
| 1892-05-01 00:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1914-11-08 01:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1916-05-01 01:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1916-10-01 00:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1917-04-16 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1917-09-17 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1918-04-15 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1918-09-16 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1918-11-11 11:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1919-03-02 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1919-10-04 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1920-02-15 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1920-10-23 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1921-03-15 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1921-10-25 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1922-03-26 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1922-10-07 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1923-04-22 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1923-10-06 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1924-03-30 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1924-10-04 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1925-04-05 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1925-10-03 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1926-04-18 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1926-10-02 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1927-04-10 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1927-10-01 23:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1928-04-15 00:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1928-10-07 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1929-04-21 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1929-10-06 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1930-04-13 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1930-10-05 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1931-04-19 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1931-10-04 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1932-04-03 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1932-10-02 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1933-03-26 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1933-10-08 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1934-04-08 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1934-10-07 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1935-03-31 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1935-10-06 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1936-04-19 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1936-10-04 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1937-04-04 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1937-10-03 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1938-03-27 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1938-10-02 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1939-04-16 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1939-11-19 02:00 | +00:00 | WET | Standard time |
| 1940-02-25 03:00 | +01:00 | WEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1940-05-20 04:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1942-11-02 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1943-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1943-10-04 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1944-04-03 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1944-09-17 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1945-04-02 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1945-09-16 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1946-05-19 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1946-10-07 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1977-04-03 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1977-09-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1978-04-02 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1978-10-01 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1979-04-01 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1979-09-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1980-04-06 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1980-09-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1981-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1981-09-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1982-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1982-09-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1983-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1983-09-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1984-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1984-09-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1985-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1985-09-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1986-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1986-09-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1987-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1987-09-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1988-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1988-09-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1989-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1989-09-24 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1990-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1990-09-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1991-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1991-09-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1992-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1992-09-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1993-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1993-09-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1994-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1994-09-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1995-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1995-09-24 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1996-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1996-10-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1997-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1997-10-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1998-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1998-10-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 1999-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 1999-10-31 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2000-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2000-10-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2001-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2001-10-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2002-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2002-10-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2003-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2003-10-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2004-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2004-10-31 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2005-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2005-10-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2006-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2006-10-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2007-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2007-10-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2008-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2008-10-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2009-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2009-10-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2010-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2010-10-31 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2011-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2011-10-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2012-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2012-10-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2013-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2013-10-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2014-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2014-10-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2015-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2015-10-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2016-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2016-10-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2017-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2017-10-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2018-03-25 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2018-10-28 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2019-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2019-10-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2020-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2020-10-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2021-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2021-10-31 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2022-03-27 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2022-10-30 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2023-03-26 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2023-10-29 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2024-03-31 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2024-10-27 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2025-03-30 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2025-10-26 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2026-03-29 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2026-10-25 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |
| 2027-03-28 03:00 | +02:00 | CEST | Daylight saving time |
| 2027-10-31 02:00 | +01:00 | CET | Standard time |