Tabaksstoet Wervik
Driejaarlijkse folklorestoet die de tabaksgeschiedenis van Wervik in beeld brengt met praalwagens en groepen door het centrum.
Leverage a tri-annual heritage parade celebrating Wervik's tobacco history to drive local tourism and cultural event attendance.
- Behind-the-scenes parade float design and tobacco history storytelling
- Local heritage tourism guide: plan your visit to Tabaksstoet Wervik
- Community spotlight: how Wervik residents celebrate their industrial past
The Tabaksstoet, also known as Stoet Jehan van d'Helle, processes festively through the streets of Wervik and French sister municipality Wervicq-Sud on Ascension Day. This folkloric procession originated in the 1950s. Originally, it depicted scenes referencing American tobacco plantations, Columbus's ship bringing tobacco seeds to Europe, smokers at cafés, customs officers and smuggling, accompanied by tobacco giants, a tobacco fairy and her ladies of honour. The cross-border procession now alternates starting at the Steenakker or the National Tobacco Museum, ending at Place de l'Europe in Wervicq-Sud. On 14 May the Tabaksstoet processes through Wervik Participants are guided by tobacco giants, a bellman, tobacco fairy and ladies of honour The event includes confetti and sweets, a traditional animal blessing in Wervicq-Sud and numerous musical performances The parade features more than 30 floats and participating organisations In Wervicq-Sud the celebration continues with a fairground, performances and other activities Celebrates Wervik's deeply rooted tobacco heritage (over 98% of Belgian tobacco is grown in the region)