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Festivals in Belgium & The Netherlands: 2010

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.