Krakelingen & Tonnekensbrand
UNESCO-erkend eeuwenoud dubbelfeest met historische stoet, krakelingenworp op de Oudenberg en het lentevuur Tonnekensbrand.
Leverage UNESCO-recognized heritage status and centuries-old spring festival traditions to drive cultural tourism and local community engagement.
- Discover the UNESCO-certified double festival blending medieval tradition with spring celebration
- Historic procession meets spring fire ritual: Europe's oldest continuous festival experience
- Local legend comes alive: centuries of Krakelingen & Tonnekensbrand traditions explained
On Sunday 22 February 2026, Geraardsbergen celebrates the centuries-old double festival of Krakelingen and Tonnekensbrand with the theme "Geraardsbergen vereint zich" (Geraardsbergen unites itself). The festival celebrates twice on one day and was inscribed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2010. The theme tells the story of different types of associations in Geraardsbergen, organized for the first time with sub-themes grouping participants by religious, military, socio-economic, sports and cultural associations.
14:00
Programme booklet available; first 750 visitors receive a Krakelingen pin
15:00
Historic procession departs from Hunnegem church, featuring ~1000 participants depicting 25 centuries of Geraardsbergen history, organized around sub-themes (religious, military, socio-economic, sports, cultural associations)
~16:45
Krakelingenworp at Oudenberg summit: ~5000 krakelingen thrown to the crowd; one contains a ticket for a golden krakeling jewel designed by a local jeweler
19:30
Warm soup service and folk music and dance by group Nele on the Oudenberg
20:00
Tonnekensbrand (bonfire) lit to celebrate the arrival of spring; Walmkebrand fires lit in surrounding villages in response
- A historic procession departs at 3 p.m. from Hunnegem church to the intersection of Oude Steenweg/Vesten | Local officials throw thousands of krakelingen (ring-shaped breads) into the crowd, with one containing a ticket to win a golden krakeling jewel | At 7:30 p.m., warm soup, music and folk dancing by "Nele" are offered on the Oudenberg
- at 8 p.m., the Tonnekensbrand fire is lit to welcome spring | This year features an exceptional number of participants: 53 groups, more than ever before | The 2026 edition introduced a new symbolic ritual replacing the traditional fish-drinking: fish are symbolically retrieved from the pond and carried in a goblet to the city's highest point | Commentators stationed at 12 locations along the route provide historical context, recognizable by Visit Geraardsbergen flags