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Culture · Brussels
On two early-summer nights, the Ommegang brings hundreds of participants in 16th-century costumes from the Sablon to Brussels’ Grand-Place, recreating the celebration held for Emperor Charles V in 1549.
In the photo: Brussels
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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Ommegang of Brussels — Brussels
Over two nights between late June and early July.
June/July
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Ommegang began in the 14th century as a religious procession in honor of Our Lady of the Sablon. In 1549 the city presented the procession to Emperor Charles V and his son, the future Philip II; that edition, described in detail by chroniclers, served as the basis for the reenactment created between 1928 and 1930. In 2019 the Ommegang of Brussels was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
The evening starts at the Sablon square, with the reception of Charles V at the Church of Our Lady of the Sablon and demonstrations by the old crossbowmen and archers’ guilds. Afterwards, the grand procession—with arquebusiers, fencers, horsemen, stilt walkers, giants and groups representing guilds and neighborhoods—parades through the central streets down to the Grand-Place.
On the illuminated Grand-Place, the groups perform before the emperor and the city magistrate, with flag throwing, a cavalcade of riders bearing the banners of Charles V’s lands, dances and music. The square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, serves as the setting for a nighttime spectacle that lasts part of the evening.
On festival days, the Sablon and the Royal Park usually host a Renaissance village with jousts, encampments and activities. For visitors to Brussels at this time, the Ommegang shows the city recalling the period when it was the emperor’s residence.
The reception of Charles V at the Sablon at the start of the evening. The procession passing through the central streets. The illuminated Grand-Place spectacle with flags, riders and giants.
The street procession can be watched free of charge; the performance inside the Grand-Place has grandstand seats for sale. To see the procession, position yourself along the route between the Sablon and the Grand-Place a little before it passes. The city centre is closed to traffic on Ommegang nights; go on foot or by metro.
Grand-Place grandstand seats sell out; buy as soon as dates are announced. Book accommodation in the centre if you plan to walk back at night. Check each year’s dates, which range between late June and early July.
In the city
Flavors of Belgium
Rectangular waffle, light and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, served dusted with confectioners' sugar. It is the first specialty presented by Brussels official tourism and appears in Flemish paintings related to celebrations.
Chocolate bonbon with a soft filling, such as ganache, praliné or cream. According to the inventory of intangible heritage of Brussels, the first modern praline was created in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus Jr. in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert; the protective box, the ballotin, appeared three years later.
June/July
May/JuneOn the weekend of the Holy Trinity, the Sunday after Pentecost, between May and June, depending on the date of Easter.
On Trinity weekend, Mons carries the relic of Saint Waltrude on a gilded carriage through the streets and stages the Lumeçon, Saint George’s fight with the dragon, on the Grand-Place.
May/JuneOn Ascension Day, a Thursday forty days after Easter, in May or early June.
On Ascension Day, the relic of the Holy Blood is carried out of the basilica on Burg Square and processes through Bruges’ medieval centre in a parade with biblical scenes, singing, music and horses, an intangible UNESCO heritage event.
June/JulyFor four days, from Thursday to Sunday, on the weekend that closes June or opens July.
Rock Werchter brings together rock, pop, indie and electronic music over four days at Festivalpark in Werchter, in the municipality of Rotselaar, near Leuven, at the start of summer.
Your questions
Over two nights between late June and early July, on dates set by the organizers for each edition.
The celebration offered by the city of Brussels to Emperor Charles V and his son Philip in 1549, recreated with participants in 16th-century costume.
The street procession can be seen without a ticket. The performance inside the Grand-Place has grandstand seats for sale.
Festivals and events in Belgium
JulyIn July, usually in the second half of the month, over several days depending on each edition's format.
The Francofolies de Spa take over the center of the spa town in July, with francophone music concerts on outdoor stages in the Parc de Sept Heures and in venues such as the Casino.
JulyFor ten days in July, including Belgium’s national holiday on July 21.
For ten days in July, the Gentse Feesten spread concerts, street theatre, puppetry and bars across the squares and quays of Ghent’s historic centre.
JulyOn the last two weekends of July.
An electronic music festival held across two weekends in July at De Schorre park in Boom, between Antwerp and Brussels, known for its theatrical stages and international audience.
February/MarchFrom Carnival Sunday to Shrove Tuesday, the three days before Ash Wednesday, in February or March depending on the date of Easter.
The Binche carnival, in the province of Hainaut, culminates on Shrove Tuesday with the Gilles, figures wearing wax masks and ostrich-feather hats who dance through the streets to the sound of drums and throw oranges to the crowd.
February/MarchFrom Saturday to midnight on Fat Tuesday, before the start of Lent, in February or March, depending on the date of Easter.
The Cwarmê is Malmedy’s carnival, in the Ardennes: four days when masked figures such as the Haguètes take to the streets, everything is spoken and sung in Walloon, up to the burning of the Haguète on the final night.
March/AprilOn Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter, in March or early April; from Saturday to Monday.
Three weeks before Easter, Stavelot celebrates Laetare with the Blancs Moussis, figures dressed in white with long red-nosed masks who go through the town throwing confetti at the crowd.