World War One ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. In Belgium November 11 is an official national holiday and the official "symbol of remembrance" is the daisy. Nothing at all to do with the so-called "Poppy Day".
Since its original conception it's still the "Remembrance Day" to remember, and be greateful for, the end of a really hellish time. The German occupation caused a lot of hardship to Belgium. The German military administration dismantled factories, seized industrial machinery, raw materials, and agricultural produce, leading to severe economic collapse and high unemployment.
Moreover, 500,000 Belgians were displaced and the majority stayed that till the end of the war, and over 100,000 were deported to Germany for forced labour. Widespread food shortages threatened mass starvation, which was only partially mitigated by international organizations. Herbert Hoover led the Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB) that supplied on its own already millions of tons of food to civilians in German-occupied Belgium.
The future American president negotiated safe passage for relief ships through the British naval blockade and secured promises from the German military not to requisition the food. The CRB operated a fleet of hundreds of ships under a neutral flag financed by private donations, government subsidies, and international fundraising. The massive success of this relief program earned Hoover worldwide renown and admiration.
Ceremonies on November 11 like those at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Brussels also serve as a tribute to Belgian and allied service members who lost their lives in subsequent conflicts, missions, and peace-keeping operations. They frequently incorporate broader themes of reconciliation, global disarmament, and opposition to war (such as musical performances or poetry readings calling for peace) rather than strictly military glory.
