Dendermonde Sets Ros Beiaard Procession for June 2, 2030
The city of Dendermonde has officially announced that its legendary Ros Beiaard procession will take place on Sunday, June 2, 2030. The announcement was made Thursday evening via a laser projection on the tower of the city hall on the Grote Markt, during the apotheosis of the Katuit festival, according to VRT NWS.
The early announcement provides long-awaited certainty for organizers, local entrepreneurs, and the thousands of visitors who plan to attend this historic equestrian pageant, which takes place only once every decade.
A Tradition Centuries in the Making
The Ros Beiaard is a massive wooden horse figure that has symbolized Dendermonde since at least 1461, when it was first mentioned in city records. Standing 4.85 meters tall and weighing approximately 800 kilograms, the horse is carried through the streets by 12 bearers per team, with the Four Heemskinderen—four young brothers in full knight’s armor—riding on its back.
The procession’s origins trace back to medieval religious processions, with secular elements added from the 15th century onward. In 1986, the city council unanimously decided to hold the event every ten years starting from 1990, establishing the rhythm that continues today.
Why the Eight-Year Gap?
The 2030 edition marks an unusual eight-year interval rather than the traditional ten. The 2020 procession was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually held on May 29, 2022, with more than 80,000 spectators. The Ros Beiaard Committee decided to maintain the original ten-year cycle counting from 1990, meaning the next edition falls in 2030, as HLN reported.
Mayor Leen Dierick (CD&V) explained the significance of the early announcement: “Because the Ros Beiaard procession only takes place every 10 years and requires extensive preparations, it is important to announce the concrete date as early as possible. Now that the date is set, the preparation can continue.”
Extensive Preparations Ahead
The coming years will see intensive work behind the scenes. The scenario for the procession must still be written, new parade floats need to be built, and the Four Heemskinderen—who must meet strict selection criteria including being four consecutive brothers born in Dendermonde—have yet to be chosen.
The early announcement was made partly at the request of local entrepreneurs who need time to prepare. “They want to know in time when the event will take place so they can prepare,” Dierick said. “The city itself also needs to approach sponsors and take stricter legislation into account.”
The city has already launched an official countdown page, showing 1,374 days remaining as of August 28, 2026.
UNESCO-Recognized Heritage
The Ros Beiaard and the three historical guild giants—Indiaan, Mars, and Goliath—were recognized by UNESCO in 2005 as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity,” as part of a broader dossier on processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France. In 2008, UNESCO inscribed these traditions on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as documented on the Visit Dendermonde UNESCO page.
The Ros Beiaard is also part of the Canon of Flanders, recognizing its importance to Flemish cultural identity.
A Weekend of Celebration
The 2030 edition will be held during the Ascension weekend, a deliberate choice. The procession has grown into a four-day event, with a rehearsal on Thursday and a general rehearsal on Saturday before the main procession on Sunday. Schools are used for these rehearsals, making the Ascension weekend—when schools are closed—an ideal timing. “It is convenient that schools are free on those days,” Dierick noted.
A Legendary Story
The procession reenacts the medieval saga of the Four Heemskinderen, sons of Aymon, lord of Dendermonde, who fled from Charlemagne’s court after one of them beheaded the emperor’s son. The brothers rode the mighty horse Beiaard across Europe before the horse was ultimately drowned in the Schelde River with millstones around its neck, as recounted in the legend detailed by VRT NWS.
The highlight of each procession is the “fire fight” on the Grote Markt, where the horse dances and rears to the tune of the Ros Beiaard song while being held back by a platoon of gunpowder shooters. In normal circumstances, the event attracts approximately 100,000 spectators, with about 2,000 participants, 200 horses, and 20 parade floats.
What to Watch For
With the date now officially set, attention turns to the preparations that will unfold over the coming years. The selection of the Four Heemskinderen, the building of new parade floats, and the writing of the scenario will all be closely followed by the people of Dendermonde and heritage enthusiasts alike.
As the countdown continues, one thing is certain: on June 2, 2030, the legendary horse will once again leave its stable at the Hollandse Kazerne to make its triumphant round through the streets of Dendermonde.