Festivals in Belgium & The Netherlands: 2012
- Here's a list of the most important events in Belgium and the Netherlands for 2012. For more information about these and other events, please visit www.holland.com, www.amsterdam.info/events, www.visitbelgium.com, www.brusselsinternational.be, and www.whatsonwhen.com.
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates on the festival or local TI's website.
- Related travel information in Belgium & The Netherlands.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Belgium & Netherlands |
| Feb | Carnival (Mardi Gras) | Belgium & Netherlands |
| March 22–May 20 | Spring Flower Show (huge gardens in bloom) | Keukenhof Gardens (near Lisse, Netherlands) |
| April 5-Oct 7 | Floriade 2012 (World Horticultural Expo, held every 10 years) | Venlo, Netherlands |
| April 20-22 | Bloemencorso (25-mile flower parade) | Noordwijk to Haarlem, Neth. |
| April 8-9 | Easter Sunday and Monday | Belgium & Netherlands |
| April 30 | Queen's Day (street fairs, parades, fireworks) | Netherlands |
| May 1 | Labor Day (some closures) | Belgium & Netherlands |
| May 4 | Remembrance of World War II Dead (Dodenherdenking) | Netherlands |
| May 5 | Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) | Netherlands |
| May 17 | Ascension Day (closures) | Belgium & Netherlands |
| May 17 | Procession of the Holy Blood (religious procession) | Bruges, Belgium |
| May 27-28 | Pentecost and Whit Monday (closures) | Belgium & Netherlands |
| June | The Hague Festival (Three weeks of music) | The Hague, Netherlands |
| June 1-28 | Holland Arts Festival (concerts, theater, music ) | Amsterdam |
| June 15 | Grachtenloop (run around canals) | Haarlem, Netherlands |
| June 22-26 | Amsterdam Roots Festival (ethnic food, music, world culture) | Oosterpark, Amsterdam |
| July 3 & 5 | Ommegang Pageant (historic costumed parade to Grand Place) | Brussels |
| July 6-8 | North Sea Jazz Festival | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| July 21 | Independence Day (parades, fireworks) | Belgium |
| Aug | Reiefeesten (open-air spectacle on canals held every three years, next in 2014) | Bruges |
| Early-mid-Aug | Pluk de Nacht (outdoor film festival) | Amsterdam |
| Aug 3-5 | Gay Pride Weekend | Amsterdam |
| Aug 10-19 | Prinsengracht Canal Festival (music and other festivities) | Amsterdam |
| Aug 15-19 | Carpet of Flowers (held only in even years, next one in 2012) | Brussels |
| Aug 15 | Feast of the Assumption (closures) | Belgium |
| Late Aug | Haarlem Jazz | Haarlem, Netherlands |
| Sept (first week) | Flower parade on canals | Aalsmeer to Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Sept 20-23 | Art Amsterdam (contemporary art exhibition) | Amsterdam |
| Sept 21-23 | Jordaan Festival (neighborhood street party) | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Sept 25-26 | Yom Kippur (some closures) | Netherlands |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Belgium |
| Nov 11 | Armistice Day (banks closed) | Belgium |
| Mid-Nov | Sinterklaas ("Santa Claus") Procession | Amsterdam |
| Late Nov–early Jan | "Winter Wonders" Christmas Market | Brussels |
| Dec 5 | St. Nicholas' Eve (Sinterklaasavond; presents for children) | Belgium & Netherlands |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | Belgium & Netherlands |
| Dec 26 | "Second Day" of Christmas (Tweede Kerstdag) | Netherlands |
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Europe.