The Zinneke Parade is a biennial parade held in the city of Brussels. A different theme is chosen for each parade. The parade was established with the aim of connecting the many different cultures, communities and districts within Brussels. The festival builds collaborations between residents, organisations, collectives, schools and artists from different neighbourhoods of Brussels and beyond. It is a social and artistic project where people develop their creativity and explore imagination with others. Residents work together with professional artists to create the ideas and prepare the projects which eventually make up the parade.

Mail / Postal address: Chaussée de Vilvorde 31, 1120 Bruxelles
E-mail: info@zinneke.org

Participants in the 2010 Zinneke Parade in Brussels
Photograph by David Edgar

Tomorrowland is held in Belgium as an outdoor dancing event organized every year in the town of Boom since 2005.The 2012 edition took place on Friday, July 27, Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29. The line-up consisted of 400 DJs, such as Skrillex, Avicii, Skazi, David Guetta, Nervo, Hardwell, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Carl Cox, The Bloody Beetroots, Paul van Dyk, Martin Solveig, Chuckie (DJ), Fatboy Slim and Pendulum, playing on 15 stages per day. Because of the enormous success of Tomorrowland and the fact that it is a Belgian festival, ID&T decided to give Belgians an exclusive chance with a presale (80,000 of the 180,000 tickets) on Saturday, March 24. In less than one day, all of the tickets sold out and at some moments there were 2,000,000 people on the online waiting list. The worldwide sale started Saturday, April 7 at 11am. Within less than 2 hours, the other 100,000 tickets sold out. The event became the most international one as yet, attracting over 72 nationalities. More than 35,000 people used the camping option at the so called "Dreamville".

Tomorrowland Mainstage 2010

Dour Festival is an annual music festival in the municipality of Dour, Belgium. Dour seems ideally placed at the crossroads of all the European festivals. It is in close proximity to France and is easily accessible from the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and England. Since its creation in 1989, the festival has grown to an attendance of about 144,000 in 2008 (over 4 days). Today festival format consists of 4 days, 6 stages and 200 bands and DJ's. The festival's acts come from a wide range of genres, such as: electro, rock, Drum and Bass, pop, R&B, Reggae, house, punk, hardcore, Metal, hip-hop, indie, techno and more. Music is played for 17 hours each day, from 12pm until 5am. In January 2010, Dour Festival won the prize for the best medium-sized festival at the European Festival Awards.

Mail / Postal address: Tromsø International Film Festival, PO Box 285, 9253 Tromsø
E-mail: martha@tiff.no

Dour Festival 2011
Photograph by Matthieu Borrego

The Gentse Feesten is a music and theatre festival in the city of Ghent, Belgium. The first Gentse Feesten was held in 1843. The festival starts on the Saturday before July 21 (Belgium's national holiday) and lasts ten days. About 2 million visitors attend the festival every year, making it one of the biggest cultural and popular festivals in Europe. Traditionally the shows at the festival have been free, but in the later years a number of side festivals have chosen the period of the Gentse Feesten to organize separate events. Traditionally the shows at the festival have been free, but in the later years a number of side festivals have chosen the period of the Gentse Feesten to organize separate events.

E-mail: gentinfo@gent.be

Overview of the "Pole Pole" section
Gentse Feesten 2004

The carnival of Binche is an event that takes place each year in the Belgian town of Binche. It has been recognized as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2003. This folkloric event, coming from a long oral tradition, is a real rite that gives the participants the feeling to be unique. Street performances and public displays traditionally occur on the Sundays approaching Ash Wednesday, consisting of prescribed musical acts, dancing, and marching. The centrepiece of the carnival's proceedings are clown-like performers known as Gilles. The Gilles are characterised by their vibrant dress, wax masks and wooden footwear.

Mail / Postal address: Office du Tourisme de Binche, Grand-Place, 7130 Binche
E-mail: tourisme@binche.be

Rock Werchter is a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, near Leuven, since 1973. It is one of the biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe. The festival park is located alongside the Haachtsesteenweg in Werchter (Belgium). Werchter is a centrally situated village and therefore easy to reach. Not too far from Brussels (30 km) and close to Leuven (15 km). Your festival ticket includes a free ticket for the train and the bus shuttle service to Rock Werchter. In 1998, the festival presented 23 acts. In 2008 there were 60. The bands presented at Rock Werchter are traditionally a balanced mix of large well known artists, popular crowd-pleasing acts and local Belgian coming acts. Belgian band dEUS in 2008 was the first local band to close the Main Stage on the last day since several years. The days usually start around noon, except for the first day, which starts around 4pm and ends around 1am.

Mail / Postal address: Live Nation Festivals NV, Stephenson Plaza, Blarenberglaan 3A, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
E-mail: info@rockwerchter.be

Rock Werchter 2006
Inside the Pyramid Marquee

Pukkelpop is an annual music festival which takes place near the city of Hasselt, Belgium in mid-to-late August. Each year Pukkelpop attracts thousands of vistors from Flanders and far beyond to the Kiewit site near Hasselt. Today Pukkelpop has become one of the biggest alternative open-air festivals in Belgium. Today Pukkelpop has become one of the biggest alternative open-air festivals in Belgium. Each year in August about 200 acts play on one of the 8 Pukkelpop stages during the three-day festival (from Thursday to Saturday). The campsite is opened on Wednesday, the day before the festival. Festival visitors can reach Pukkelpop via the E313 motorway or use public transport to Hasselt or Kiewit.

Mail / Postal address: 3970 Leopoldsburg, Diestersteenweg 152.
Festival Address: Kempische Steenweg, 3500 Kiewit / Hasselt, Belgium
E-mail: info@pukkelpop.be