Heilig Bloedfeesten Hoogstraten
Week-long heritage festival with two historic Holy Blood processions, a centuries-old annual market, carnival, street race and festival.
Position Heilig Bloedfeesten as a unique European heritage tourism draw combining religious processions, historic markets, and carnival entertainment for cultural travelers and local engagement.
- Centuries-old Holy Blood procession tradition meets modern festival experience
- Historic market meets carnival: a week of cultural immersion in Hoogstraten
- Street racing, carnival games, and heritage—the complete festival experience
- Plan your pilgrimage: insider's guide to Europe's hidden heritage festival
The Heilig Bloedfeesten are one of the oldest continuously practised procession traditions in Belgium, recognized in the Flemish Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory. The week features two major processions, a fairground, a centuries-old market, the 41st edition of the street run, and the Heilig Bloedfestival. The impressive Heilig Bloedprocessie is a religious highlight that attracts many thousands of visitors annually. The Heilig Bloedfeesten are one of those rare Kempische weeks where heritage, carnival, sport, religion and enterprise coexist without conflict.
Sun 31 May (First Sunday after Pentecost)
09:30 High Mass (Sint-Katharinakerk); 11:00 Procession departs (north route via Vrijheid, Van Aertselaerplein, Moerstraat, Boxtelstraat, Tinnepotstraat)
Mon 1 Jun
Fairground open afternoon onwards; Physical registration for street run 18:00–20:00 at VisitHoogstraten (basement historic town hall)
Tue 2 Jun
School visits to church with music, song and silent moment (bi-annual); Fairground continues
Wed 3 Jun (Main day)
17:00 Market and fairground; 18:30 Street run (multiple categories); 20:00 Heilig Bloedfestival with live performances; 20:00–22:00 Light a Candle (Begijnhofkerk)
Thu 4 Jun
10:00 High Mass (Sint-Katharinakerk, Piuskoor); Shortened procession in church with Okra associations; Fairground continues
Fri 5–Sat 6 Jun
Fairground open afternoons, Saturday attractions often open until 02:00; Pinkster weekend (typically busiest overnight period)
Sun 7 Jun (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
09:30 High Mass; 11:00 Procession departs (south route via Gelmelstraat, Vrijheid, Heilig Bloedlaan to Woon- en Zorgcentrum Stede Akkers); Closing of the Heilig Bloedweek
- 650 procession participants in harmoniously dressed groups process through the Vrijheid singing, carrying heavy crosses, banners, a magnificent Mary figure, the golden shrine with the Holy Blood relic and the canopy above the monstrance
- Wednesday 3 June: Live music, food trucks, youth programme
- party into the early hours—traditionally one of the busiest evenings of the week
- free admission
- Market and carnival spread across the entire event site (at Vrijheid and Gravin Elisabethlaan) with carnival attractions, children's attractions, game stalls and typical carnival delicacies
- Street run with multiple categories: 500m children's run (grades 1–3) and 1,200m (grades 4–6), plus 5km or 10km jogging and a competitive 10km run with timing
- Light a Candle event in Begijnhofkerk: visitors light a candle with a personal intention
- the church is extra lit and open for silent contemplation
- The Sint-Katharinakerk tower climb: a traditional activity on Heilig Bloed Sundays, ascend 294 steps for panoramic views