# Chronology of the liberation of Belgian cities and towns during World War II

This is a chronological overview of the dates at which the liberation by the Allies in World War II took place of a number of Belgian cities and towns.

## Table

| Date | Location | Notes |
| 2 September 1944 | La Glanerie [fr] | First settlement to be liberated. An American motorcyclist arrived in the village after unknowingly crossing the Belgian border, and later returned with his battalion to liberate the village. |
| 2 September 1944 | Mons | Battle of the Mons pocket |
| 2 September 1944 | Tournai | |
| 3 September 1944 | Halle | |
| 3 September 1944 | Aalst | |
| 3 September 1944 | Geraardsbergen | |
| 3 September 1944 | Zottegem | |
| 3 September 1944 | Brussels | Belgium's largest city and de jure capital. The allied liberation of this city allowed the Belgian government in exile to return to the country on 8 September. |
| 3 September 1944 | Ronse | |
| 3 September 1944 | Ath | |
| 3 September 1944 | La Louvière | |
| 3 September 1944 | Ronse | |
| 3 September 1944 | Aalst | |
| 3 September 1944 | Ninove | |
| 3 September 1944 | Liedekerke | |
| 3 September 1944 | Herne | |
| 3 September 1944 | Gooik | |
| 3 September 1944 | Asse | |
| 3 September 1944 | Leest | |
| 3 September 1944 | Grimbergen | |
| 4 September 1944 | Waterloo | |
| 4 September 1944 | Buggenhout | |
| 4 September 1944 | Oosterzele | |
| 4 September 1944 | Wetteren | |
| 4 September 1944 | Ename | |
| 4 September 1944 | Antwerp | |
| 4 September 1944 | Edegem | |
| 4 September 1944 | Sint-Katelijne-Waver | |
| 4 September 1944 | Leuven | Battle of Leuven (1944) [nl] |
| 4 September 1944 | Mouscron | |
| 4 September 1944 | Mechelen | |
| 4 September 1944 | Lier | |
| 4 September 1944 | Kortrijk | |
| 4 September 1944 | Breendonk | |
| 4 September 1944 | Avelgem | |
| 4 September 1944 | Beervelde | |
| 4 September 1944 | Zeveneken | |
| 4 September 1944 | Lochristi | |
| 4 September 1944 | Kapelle-op-den-Bos | |
| 4 September 1944 | Ternat | |
| 4 September 1944 | Willebroek | |
| 4 September 1944 | Mariakerke | |
| 4 September 1944 | Dendermonde | |
| 4 September 1944 | Nijlen | |
| 4 September 1944 | Boom | |
| 4 September 1944 | Bertem | |
| 4 September 1944 | Affligem | |
| 5 September 1944 | Waregem | |
| 5 September 1944 | Oudenaarde | |
| 5 September 1944 | Haacht | |
| 5 September 1944 | Heist-op-den-Berg | |
| 5 September 1944 | Aarschot | |
| 5 September 1944 | Kortenaken | |
| 5 September 1944 | Eppegem | |
| 5 September 1944 | Zemst | |
| 5 September 1944 | Tervuren | |
| 5 September 1944 | Walshoutem | |
| 6 September 1944 | Eindhout [nl] | |
| 6 September 1944 | Bilzen | |
| 6 September 1944 | Vorst [nl] | |
| 6 September 1944 | Veerle [nl] | |
| 6 September 1944 | Zaffelare | |
| 6 September 1944 | Ingelmunster | |
| 6 September 1944 | Ghent | |
| 6 September 1944 | Namur | |
| 6 September 1944 | Charleroi | |
| 6 September 1944 | Herselt | |
| 6 September 1944 | Meldert [nl] | |
| 6 September 1944 | Beauvechain | |
| 6 September 1944 | Diest | |
| 6 September 1944 | Beringen | |
| 6 September 1944 | Geetbets | |
| 6 September 1944 | Schulen | |
| 6 September 1944 | Berbroek [nl] | |
| 6 September 1944 | Alken | |
| 6-9 September 1944 | Deinze | |
| 7 September 1944 | Bovelingen [nl] | |
| 7 September 1944 | Donk [nl] | |
| 7 September 1944 | Herk-de-Stad | |
| 7 September 1944 | Schakkebroek [nl] | |
| 7 September 1944 | Gavere | |
| 7 September 1944 | Hasselt | |
| 7 September 1944 | Ypres | |
| 7 September 1944 | Wavre | |
| 7 September 1944 | Huy | |
| 7 September 1944 | Tienen | |
| 7 September 1944 | Glabbeek | |
| 7 September 1944 | Verviers | |
| 7 September 1944 | Mopertingen | |
| 7 September 1944 | Kortessem | |
| 8 September 1944 | Liège | |
| 8 September 1944 | Ooigem | |
| 8 September 1944 | Roeselare | |
| 8 September 1944 | Hooglede | |
| 8 September 1944 | Tielt | |
| 8 September 1944 | Ruiselede | |
| 8 September 1944 | Aalter | |
| 8 September 1944 | Jodoigne | |
| 8 September 1944 | Wingene | |
| 8 September 1944 | Oostkamp | |
| 8 September 1944 | Sint-Truiden | |
| 8 September 1944 | Tongeren | |
| 8 September 1944 | As | |
| 8 September 1944 | Wihogne [nl] | |
| 8-9 September 1944 | Assenede | |
| 9 September 1944 | Lokeren | |
| 9 September 1944 | Viersel [nl] | |
| 9 September 1944 | Punt [nl] | On this day, the allies launched an offensive to breach the Albert Canal in this area, successfully capturing bridgeheads at Punt and north of Stelen [nl]. |
| 10 September 1944 | Arlon | |
| 10 September 1944 | Riemst | |
| 10 September 1944 | Poiel | On this day, the allies advanced to unite their bridgeheads at Punt and north of Stelen before proceeding north. In doing so, they liberated these four settlements. The Germans recaptured Geel on the following day. |
| 10 September 1944 | Doornboom | On this day, the allies advanced to unite their bridgeheads at Punt and north of Stelen before proceeding north. In doing so, they liberated these four settlements. The Germans recaptured Geel on the following day. |
| 10 September 1944 | Wilders | On this day, the allies advanced to unite their bridgeheads at Punt and north of Stelen before proceeding north. In doing so, they liberated these four settlements. The Germans recaptured Geel on the following day. |
| 10 September 1944 | Geel | On this day, the allies advanced to unite their bridgeheads at Punt and north of Stelen before proceeding north. In doing so, they liberated these four settlements. The Germans recaptured Geel on the following day. |
| 11 September 1944 | Houthalen-Helchteren | |
| 11 September 1944 | Leopoldsburg | |
| 11 September 1944 | Lommel | |
| 11 September 1944 | Peer | |
| 11 September 1944 | Visé | |
| 11 September 1944 | Aubel | |
| 11 or 12 September 1944 | Voeren | With the capture of this municipality by the American 30th Infantry Division, the allies had reached the Belgium–Netherlands border and crossed into the Netherlands. Hence, neighbouring Mesch became the first Dutch village to be liberated on 12 September. |
| 12 September 1944 | Malmedy | First liberation of this city; was later recaptured by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. See also: Malmedy massacre |
| 12 September 1944 | Bruges | |
| 12 September 1944 | Eisden | |
| 12 September 1944 | Adegem | |
| 12 September 1944 | Oedelem | |
| 12 September 1944 | Beernem | |
| 12 September 1944 | Knesselare | |
| 12 September 1944 | Sijsele | |
| 12 September 1944 | Hechtel-Eksel | |
| 12 September 1944 | Kelmis | |
| 13 September 1944 | Geel | Second liberation of this city; was recaptured by German forces two days prior. See Battle of Geel |
| 13 September 1944 | Zittaart [nl] | In the night of 12 to 13 September, German forces withdrew from their defensive positions along this section of the Albert Canal, allowing the allies to bloodlessly capture this settlement the next morning. |
| 13 September 1944 | Winterslag [nl] | |
| 13 September 1944 | Mol | |
| 13 September 1944 | Dudzele | |
| 13 September 1944 | Berlare | |
| 14 September 1944 | Ten Aard [nl] | The allies breached the Bocholt–Herentals Canal in this area, but failed to break out of the bridgehead at this village and withdrew south in the night of 20–21 September. The Germans retreated from this village the following day, leaving the destroyed village a no-man's land. |
| 14 September 1944 | Stekene | |
| 14 September 1944 | Beveren | |
| 14 September 1944 | Hamme | |
| 14 September 1944 | Gruitrode | |
| 14 September 1944 | Genk | |
| 14 September 1944 | Lanaken | |
| 15 September 1944 | Eeklo | |
| 15 September 1944 | Sint-Niklaas | |
| 15 September 1944 | Balgerhoeke [nl] | |
| 15 September 1944 | Sleidinge | |
| 15 September 1944 | Herentals | |
| 16 September 1944 | Wachtebeke | |
| 16 September 1944 | Moerbeke | |
| 16 September 1944 | Kaprijke | |
| 16 September 1944 | Kasteel De Maat (51°14′14″N 5°11′08″E﻿ / ﻿51.23732°N 5.18548°E﻿ / 51.23732; 5.18548) | On 23 September, the allies breached the canal near this place. |
| 17 September 1944 | Bocholt | |
| 17 September 1944 | Kaulille | |
| 19-21 September 1944 | Bree | |
| 20 September 1944 | Hamont-Achel | |
| 22 September 1944 | Schilde | |
| 23 September 1944 | Malle | |
| 24 September 1944 | Dessel | |
| 24 September 1944 | Arendonk | |
| 24 September 1944 | Turnhout | |
| 24 September 1944 | Retie | |
| 24 September 1944 | Gierle | |
| 25 September 1944 | Kinrooi | |
| 25 September 1944 | Maaseik | |
| 29 September 1944 | Merksplas | |
| 29 September 1944 | Sint-Lenaarts | |
| 1 October 1944 | Brecht | |
| 2 October 1944 | Damme | |
| 2-4 October 1944 | Schoten | The allies breached the Albert Canal in this area. |
| 3 October 1944 | Merksem | When the allies entered Antwerp on 4 September, the inhabitants of this district expected the allies to relieve the German occupation in a matter of hours and plundered the locality. However, allied advance halted at the Albert Canal, leaving the district under German occupation for the rest of September. Only after the canal was breached at Schoten on 2 October could this district be liberated. |
| 3 October 1944 | Brasschaat | |
| 3 October 1944 | Ravels | |
| 3 October 1944 | Poppel | |
| 4 October 1944 | Kapellen | |
| 4 October 1944 | Hoevenen | |
| 7 October 1944 | Putte | |
| 7-22 October 1944 | Kalmthout | Advance in this settlement was very gradual due to heavy German resistance. |
| 16 October 1944 | Watervliet | |
| 20 October 1944 | Wuustwezel | First liberation of this settlement; was recaptured by German forces the next day. |
| 22 October 1944 | Wuustwezel | Second liberation of this settlement. |
| 22 October 1944 | Nieuwmoer [nl] | |
| 22 October 1944 | Essen-Hoek [nl] | |
| 22 October 1944 | Essen | |
| 23 October 1944 | Hoogstraten | |
| 1 November 1944 | Westkapelle | |
| 2 November 1944 | Heist-aan-Zee | |
| 2 November 1944 | Ramskapelle [nl] | |
| 3 November 1944 | Knokke | The capture of these two settlements concluded Operation Switchback. |
| 3 November 1944 | Zeebrugge | The capture of these two settlements concluded Operation Switchback. |
| 8 January 1945 | Malmedy | Second liberation of this city; was earlier recaptured by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. |
| 23 January 1945 | St. Vith | Second liberation of this city; was earlier recaptured by German forces on 16–21 December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. |
| 4 February 1945 | Krewinkel | Last settlement to be liberated. |