Festivals in Belgium & The Netherlands: 2009
- Here's a list of the most important events in Belgium and the Netherlands for 2009. 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 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.