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Ommegang van Lier

Vijfjaarlijkse Sint-Gummarus-ommegang door Lier, op twee zondagen; tot 2025 uitgesteld naar 2026.

25
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Promote local heritage tourism and cultural experiences around the five-yearly Sint-Gummarus procession in Lier, Belgium (rescheduled to 2026).

Relevance 25low intent
  • Countdown to 2026: Discover Lier's 500-year tradition of religious processions
  • Behind-the-scenes of Belgium's most elaborate Sint-Gummarus celebration
  • Plan your pilgrimage: What to expect at the Ommegang van Lier
Programme

The Ommegang van Lier is a tradition spanning centuries that originated as a procession around the relics of patron saint Sint-Gummarus. Held every five years in the city of Lier in Antwerp province , it is rooted since the fourteenth century as a kermis day tradition and recognized since 2019 as Flemish intangible cultural heritage. Formerly a religious procession, it is now primarily a historical event with thousands of extras, strong giant carriers, horses, shepherds with their sheep, musical groups, archers' guilds, and a float with the wonders of the city's patron St. Gummarus.

Part 1

Saturday 10 September 2026

Part 2

Bell-person championship, 11:00–15:00, city centre

Part 3

Thursday 22 September 2026

Part 4

Auction of 40 unique Ommegang flags created by the Beeldacademie, 20:00, Jezuitenkerk church

Part 5

Sunday 27 September 2026

Part 6

First Ommegang procession, departure 14:30, through Lier city centre

Part 7

Saturday 8 October 2026

Part 8

Scientific colloquium on Giant Culture in the Low Countries

Part 9

Sunday 4 October 2026

Part 10

Second Ommegang procession, departure 14:30, culminating on Grote Markt with closing song performance

  • Historical giant float with old Lier giants, accompanied by mythical creatures the Camel (1513), the Elephant (1466) and the Ros Beiaard (1417)
  • Multiple floats including the Leeuw met maagdenberg (1513), the Hellewagen (1475), the Schip van 's Lands Welvaren (1840), and around twenty hobby horses (1513)
  • First segment showcases city history and present day through colourful and musical evocation of old and new crafts, old theatrical groups and new theatre associations, old guilds and new law enforcers
  • Second segment celebrates the historic 1496 marriage of Philip the Handsome and Joanna of Castile in Lier through four scenes with Spanish and Dutch soldiers, clergy, bridesmaids, flowers and celebration
  • Close encounters: visitors can stand "nose to nose" with a member of the giant family and meet special characters Schone Flup and Zot Jeanneke
  • For the first time in history, a long-hidden legendary creature of Lier will make its public debut in the procession