- 1447: death of Saint Colette, founder of the order of Colettine Poor Clares
- 1925: Belgium annexes Eupen, Malmedy, and Sankt Vith
- 1949: birth of Melchior Wathelet, Minister-President of the Walloon Region between 1985 and 1988
- 1957: birth of Roland Liboton, cyclo-cross racer, four times World Champion
- 1987: The British ferry M/S Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes in about 90 seconds after leaving the harbour of Zeebrugge, Belgium en route to Dover, England across the English Channel, killing 193
