The first ‘BeLux’ Games of Lithuanians living in Belgium and Luxemburg took place in 2006. Lithuanian diplomats Rytis Martikonis, Erikas Petrikas, Linas Linkevičius and Kęstutis Jankauskas who resided in Brussels at the time initiated them. The games took place at NATO sport center with four sports: basketball, badminton, tennis and ping-pong.
Since then the event became annual, with growing number of participants, sports and sponsors. In 2012 Lithuanians from the Netherlands joint the VIIth Games changing also the name to ‘BeNeLux’. After a few years, the Games expanded geographically. In 2015, at the Xth Games, the Regatta competition took place in the Netherlands. In 2016, the XIth Games were the most numerous - the number of participants reached 650.
In 2017, for the first time, the games left NATO territory and moved to a charming Belgian town Duffel where in 1993 a Lithuanian-Flemish friendship association was established by local families lead by incredible Francine and Rene Verbeke. The association helps a lot to organize the Games. In 2018 to highlight the centenary of independence of all three Baltic States, Latvian and Estonian communities in Belgium were invited to the XIIIth Games.
The event became especially popular among children and became not only a sport but also a celebration of friendship, tolerance, family and healthy lifestyle where about 1/3 of the participants are kids under 13 years old. During the Games, participants can refresh themselves with Lithuanian drinks, taste and buy Lithuanian food, and perhaps to savor Latvian ice cream :). In the recent years, approximately 300 people participated at the Games in Duffel.
Today, men and women, boys and girls were competing in 15 different sports organized in two countries. Most of the sports took place in Belgium (Duffel): basketball, tennis, badminton, table tennis (ping-pong), checkers, chess, track and field (running, long/high jump, shot put), swimming, football, volleyball and family-relays. Regatta competitions are organized in the Netherlands.
The event is jointly organized by the Lithuanian communities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
During pandemic 2020-2021 the Games were cancelled. In 2022 the Games returned back to Duffel.
In 2023 the Games spread to all 3 countries: the main competitions took place in Belgium, Duffel; regatta in the Netherlands and etnosport tournaments in Luxembourg. Depending on the circumstances, the organizers try to offer competitions in all three countries.