Events in the year 1872 in Belgium.
Incumbents
Monarch: Leopold II
Head of government: Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt
Events
24 May – Convention with The Netherlands for building water defences on the Zwin signed in Bruges. 27 May – Provincial elections 11 June – Partial legislative elections of 1872 13 June – Postal convention with the Russian Empire signed in St Petersburg. 11 July – Convention with the German Empire regarding the Belgian State Railways taking over the railway lines between Spa and Gouvy and between Pepinster and Spa (formerly run by the French company Chemins de fer de l'Est) signed in Berlin. 31 July – Extradition treaty with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland signed in Brussels. 23 October – Extradition treaty with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg signed in The Hague. 26 October – Convention with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for rail connections between Belgium and Luxembourg. 15 November – Maredsous Abbey founded 10 December – Henri Guillaume resigns as Minister of War after failing to get the government to adopt a policy of personal military service. 25 December – Extradition treaty with the Russian Empire comes into effect.
Arts and architecture
15 May – Statue of Isabelle Brunelle, sculpted by Guillaume Geefs, unveiled in the garden of the Hospice d'Harscamp, Namur.
Publications
Émile de Laveleye, Essai sur les Formes de Gouvernement dans les Sociétés Modernes P. Rombouts and T. van Lerius, De liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp)
Births
23 February – Fernande de Cartier de Marchienne (died 1903) 30 May – Paul-Émile Janson, politician (died 1944) 8 June – Jan Frans De Boever, painter (died 1949) 9 July – Jacques Mesnil, art writer (died 1940) 30 July – Princess Clémentine of Belgium (died 1955) 19 August – Théophile de Donder, physicist (died 1957) 23 September – Marie Depage, nurse (died 1915) 22 November – Cécile Thévenet, opera singer (died 1956) 8 December – Jules Buyssens, landscape architect (died 1958) 28 December – Amandina of Schakkebroek, missionary martyr (died 1900)