Hakendover Paardenprocessie
Traditional Easter Monday horse procession in Hakendover, recognised intangible heritage where riders gallop across the fields.
Promote Hakendover's UNESCO-recognized Easter Monday horse procession as an authentic cultural tourism experience for heritage and equestrian enthusiasts.
- Discover Belgium's hidden Easter tradition: galloping horses and centuries of heritage
- Plan your pilgrimage to Hakendover's legendary Paardenprocessie
- Intangible cultural heritage in motion—experience the Easter Monday spectacle
The Hakendover Paardenprocessie is a centuries-old Easter Monday tradition that has become Belgium's third-largest religious procession. This international event draws 20,000–25,000 visitors annually to the small village (1,500 residents) in Tienen, Vlaams-Brabant. It combines religious pilgrimage, living historical theatre, and a spectacular horse galop, enacting the 7th-century founding legend of the Church of the Divine Saviour. Officially recognized as intangible cultural heritage since 2022, the processie attracts pilgrims and day-trippers from Flanders, Walloon Brabant, and the Netherlands (since 1890).
Part 1
10:00 AM
- Eucharistic Mass at 10:00 AM, followed by the procession departure at 11:00 AM
- Living Retabel: over 100 figurants perform the 690 AD church-founding legend in period costumes with traditional statuary
- The spectacular horse galop on Tiense Berg, where hundreds of riders gallop three circuits around the assembled crowds—described as a breathtaking spectacle
- International participation: Dutch brotherhoods from Breda, Tilburg, and Meierij have attended since 1890
- Guest groups performing: Koninklijke Fanfare Sint-Isidorus, Sint-Sebastiaansgilde, Harmonie 'Ons Verlangen', and Dutch guilds
- Full support infrastructure: organized parking, traffic-free zones, public transport links from Tienen station, accessible facilities, and extensive security protocols
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