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Festivals in Belgium & The Netherlands: 2009

Jan 1 New Year's Day Belg. & Neth.
Feb Carnival (Mardi Gras) Belg. & Neth.
March 19-May 21 Spring Flower Show (huge gardens in bloom; www.keukenhof.nl) Keukenhof Gardens (near Lisse, Neth.)
April 12 Easter Sunday Belg. & Neth.
April 13 Easter Monday Belg. & Neth.
April 25 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 13-17 Art Amsterdam (formerly Kunst RAI contemporary art exhibition; www.kunstrai.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
May 21 Ascension Day (religious festival) Belg. & Neth.
May 31-June 1 Pentecost (Whitsun) and Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday; religious festivals) Belg. & Neth.
June Amsterdam Roots Festival, Oosterpark (ethnic food, music, world culture; www.amsterdamroots.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
June 4-28 Holland Arts Festival (concerts, theater, etc.; www.hollandfestival.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
June 19 Grachtenloop (run around canals; www.grachtenloop.nl) Haarlem, Neth.
June 30-July 2 Ommegang Pageant (historic costumed parade to Grand Place; www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/Ommegang.htm) Brussels, Belg.
July 11-13 North Sea Jazz Festival (www.northseajazz.nl) Rotterdam, Neth.
July 21 Independence Day (parades, fireworks) Belg.
Aug Carpet of Flowers (held only in even years; www.flowercarpet.be) Brussels, Belg.
Aug 15 Feast of the Assumption (religious festival) Belg.
Aug 15-23 Prinsengracht Canal Festival (music and other festivities; www.grachtenfestival.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
mid-Aug SAIL Amsterdam, held every five years, next Aug 19-23, 2010 (tall ships and other historic boats; www.sail.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
Sept Flower parade on canals (first week) Aalsmeer to Amsterdam, Neth.
mid-Sept Jordaan Festival (neighborhood street party; www.jordaanfestival.nl) Amsterdam, Neth.
Sept 28 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.
Early Dec-Jan 1 "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 2009. 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.