Festivals in Belgium & The Netherlands: 2010
- Here's a list of the most important events in Belgium and the Netherlands for 2010. 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 | Belg. & Neth. |
| Feb | Carnival (Mardi Gras) | Belg. & Neth. |
| March 18-May 16 | Spring Flower Show (huge gardens in bloom; www.keukenhof.nl) | Keukenhof Gardens (near Lisse, Neth.) |
| April 4 | Easter Sunday | Belg. & Neth. |
| April 5 | Easter Monday | Belg. & Neth. |
| April 24 | Bloemencorso (25-mile flower parade; www.bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl) | Noordwijk to Haarlem, Neth. |
| April 30 | Queen's Day (street fairs, parades, fireworks) | Neth. |
| May 1 | Labor Day (some closures) | Belg. & Neth. |
| May 1 | Procession of the Holy Blood (religious procession) | Bruges, Belg. |
| May 4 | Remembrance of World War II Dead (Dodenherdenking) | Neth. |
| May 5 | Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) | Neth. |
| May 13 | Ascension Day (religious festival) | Belg. & Neth. |
| May 23-24 | Pentecost (Whitsun) and Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday; religious festivals) | Belg. & Neth. |
| May 26-30 | Art Amsterdam (contemporary art exhibition; www.artamsterdam.nl/home_uk.htm) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| June | Amsterdam Roots Festival, Oosterpark (ethnic food, music, world culture; www.amsterdamroots.nl) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| June 1-27 | Holland Arts Festival (concerts, theater, etc.; www.hollandfestival.nl) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| June 18 | Grachtenloop (run around canals; www.grachtenloop.nl) | Haarlem, Neth. |
| June 29 and July 1 | Ommegang Pageant (historic costumed parade to Grand Place; www.ommegang.be) | Brussels, Belg. |
| July 9-11 | North Sea Jazz Festival (www.northseajazz.nl) | Rotterdam, Neth. |
| July 21 | Independence Day (parades, fireworks) | Belg. |
| Aug 13-15 | Carpet of Flowers (held only in even years; www.flowercarpet.be) | Brussels, Belg. |
| Aug 14-22 | Prinsengracht Canal Festival (music and other festivities; www.grachtenfestival.nl) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Aug 15 | Feast of the Assumption (religious festival) | Belg. |
| Aug 19-23 | SAIL Amsterdam, held every five years, next in 2010 (tall ships and other historic boats; www.sail.nl) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Sept | Flower parade on canals (first week) | Aalsmeer to Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Sept 17-19 | Jordaan Festival (neighborhood street party; www.jordaanfestival.nl) | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Sept 18 | Yom Kippur (Jewish holiday, some closures) | Netherlands |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Belg. |
| Nov 11 | Armistice Day (banks closed) | Belg. |
| Mid-Nov | Sinterklaas ("Santa Claus") Procession | Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Late Nov-early Jan | "Winter Wonders" European Christmas Market (www.plaisirsdhiver.be) | Brussels, Belg. |
| Dec 5 | St. Nicholas' Eve (Sinterklaasavond; presents for children) | Belg. & Neth. |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | Belg. & Neth. |
| Dec 26 | "Second Day" of Christmas (Tweede Kerstdag) | Neth. |
Updated in 2010. 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.