Brussels: In a unique tradition of many European municipalities, on 10 March 2026, they officially hoist the Tibetan National flag but there are also others who hoist it permanently throughout the year.
On the 67th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day, expressing their solidarity with Tibetans, many municipalities raised the Tibetan flag.
The Offices of Tibet, Brussels, make special efforts to focus on the flag raising in the countries falling under its jurisdiction. Every alternate year, in the run up to March 10 commemoration, the Office sends hundreds of letters and Tibetan National flags to municipalities hoisting flags/sponsoring Tibetan towns in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In Belgium, 54 municipalities joined the global commemoration by raising the Tibetan national flag in front of their town halls. Local officials, Tibetan community members, and supporters gather for small ceremonies where possible to remember the historic events of March 10, 1959, when Tibetans in Lhasa rose up in protest against the invasion of Tibet by the PRC.
Similar gestures of solidarity were also seen in France, where 671 municipalities participate in the annual initiative. The flag-raising ceremonies served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Tibetans inside Tibet, including restrictions on religious freedom, language, and cultural expression. Local representatives and Tibet supporters reaffirmed their commitment to promoting human rights and peaceful dialogue.
In Luxembourg, 40 municipalities likewise join the commemoration by hoisting the Tibetan flag at municipal buildings. Such gestures carry deep symbolic meaning for Tibetans living in exile and those inside Tibet who cannot freely display their national flag, banned since the late 1950s.
For the Tibetan people these acts of solidarity by municipalities in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg send a clear message that the international community continues to stand with the Tibetan people in their pursuit of justice, freedom, and the preservation of their culture.
