Royal Flemish Opera

On 22 May 1936, two days before the extreme right's first ever electoral breakthrough, Antwerp socialist militants Albert Pot and Theophiel Grijp are murdered on Operaplein by a fascist. It is the impetus for the biggest general strike Belgium has ever known, and immediately the beginning of its modern social security. Indeed, the population was dismayed and infuriated by these events, and demonstrations further rolled into strikes. Realising that something had to be done, the government then introduced the congé payé or paid holiday. As a result, workers were given 6 days' holiday, allowing people to take trips to the coast, cities and the Ardennes.

Mediahuis België