Editing Maypole (section)

====Belgium====
[[File:Meyboom (14).jpg|thumb|The planting of the [[Meyboom]] in [[Brussels]], Belgium]]

In Belgium, the Maypole is called {{lang|nl|Meiboom}} or {{lang|nl|Meyboom}} in Dutch. [[Hasselt]] erects its {{lang|nl|Meiboom}} on 30 April. In [[Brussels]] and [[Leuven]], the {{lang|nl|Meyboom}} is traditionally erected on 9 August before 5 p.m.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Histoire|url=https://www.meyboom.be/histoire.html|access-date=2021-06-11|website=www.meyboom.be}}</ref>

The planting of the {{lang|nl|[[Meyboom]]}} in Brussels is reminiscent of a long-standing (folkloric) feud with Leuven, dating back to 1213. In that year, a brawl broke out between the two cities, which saw the former victorious. To commemorate this event, Brussels was granted, almost 100 years later, the eternal right by [[John II, Duke of Brabant]], to erect a {{lang|nl|Meyboom}}, but only if they managed to do this every year on 9 August before 5 p.m. Following a "theft" of the tree in 1974, Leuven has also claimed ownership of the only official Meyboom.<ref>{{cite news |work=Het Nieuwsblad |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blpla_20120807_001 |title=De Meyboom stunt van 1974 |language=nl |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141614/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blpla_20120807_001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ever since, the two cities have been involved in a friendly rivalry to decide who has the "real" Meyboom.<ref name=":1">''Meibomen in Brussel en Leuven probleemloos geplant'', ''Het Laatste Nieuws'', 9 August 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Het Nieuwsblad |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blpla_20120807_001 |title=De Meyboom stunt van 1974 |language=nl |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141614/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blpla_20120807_001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

It is also customary, mostly in the [[Dutch language|Dutch]]-speaking region of Belgium, to place a branch (also called a {{lang|nl|Meiboom}}) on the highest point of a building under construction.<ref>{{cite news |work=Het Laatste Nieuws |url=https://www.hln.be/regio/antwerpen/meiboom-op-dak-nieuw-provinciehuis~a42b875c/ |title=Meiboom op dak nieuw provinciehuis |language=nl |date=29 August 2017 |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> The erection of the branch is often cause for celebration by both the workmen and the neighbors.