Maaseik Carnival and the Internasjonale Hawfvastestoet

Carnival in Maaseik is run by Het Heilig Wammes, a society founded in 1865 that holds firmly to its dialect traditions. The season officially opens on the evening of Saturday 6 February at the town hall. On Monday street carnival takes over the whole town, and on Tuesday evening the Grote Mezeiker Kloonjestoet, a clown parade, sets off from the Hepperpoort. A month later, on mid-Lent Sunday, Maaseik hosts its big international Hawfvastestoet, preceded by an advertising parade. On that day the centre is closed to traffic from noon and there is an entrance charge for the parade.