Practical information
2024 edition
Date Thursday 9th May 2024
Time Start at 2.30 pm (Dijver)
The Procession of the Holy Blood takes place on Ascension Day every year. In 2024 this will be on Thursday 9th May and in 2025 this will be Thursday 29th May.
The procession will start in the Dijver at 2.30 pm. The passage of the procession will take about an hour and a half at any point along the route. Depending on the route location, the procession could pass by a little earlier or later. The procession will end at 5.30 pm.
Pictured: two carillons in one photo
The Procession of the Holy Blood is concluded by a mobile carillon sprinkling its festive sounds over the city. The carillon is pulled around throughout the city on a wagon, and is played live. In the procession, it accompanies the flag wavers in their Bruges colours.
The carillon is the typical instrument in the belfries of Flemish cities. This picture is unique because two carillons are brought together in one photo: the carillon of the Bruges belfry in the background, with the mobile carillon of the procession in front.
Route
Legend
Route
Stands
Benches
First aid station
- 1
Belfort
- 2
Basilica of the Holy Blood
- 3
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk
- 4
Sint-Salvatorskathedraal
Toilets
Information
Information
- Tourist Info 't Zand (Concertgebouw)
- Tourist Info Markt (Historium)
Visitors with disabilities
The Holy Blood Procession is an event for everyone. We value inclusion and accessibility. We help you experience this historic event to the fullest.
More information
No De Lijn buses will run on the procession route from 12.45pm and until the procession is over.
Services will run via a modified route. Between 08.00 and 12.45, services are the same as on shopping days in function of the Morgenprocessie.
More info can be found at delijn.be or call 070 220 220.
The centre shuttle follows a modified itinerary and only serves the following stops:
L. Coiseaukaai - Calvarie (direction station) - Langerei (direction station) - Jan van Eyck (direction station) - Biekorf - H. Brugmansstraat (instead of Kiss & Ride station). The timetable may vary.
If the Procession of the Holy Blood is officially cancelled (e.g. due to bad weather conditions), there are two options for ticket holders:
- either you choose to rebook your ticket free of charge to the next edition in 2025. You can do that until 15 March 2025.
- or you choose to have your ticket refunded. You do so until 15 March 2025 as well.
In&Uit itself will contact all ticket holders for rebooking or refund with the procedure to follow.
Traffic and passage of all vehicles, bicycles and animals is prohibited
- from 08.00 until after the Procession of the Holy Blood in Oude Burg, Nieuwstraat, Sint-Niklaasstraat, Oude Zomerstraat, Minderbroederstraat, Park, Pandreitje and Kartuizerinnenstraat.
- from 1 p.m. until after the procession passes in Wollestraat, Dijver, Gruuthusestraat, Guido Gezelleplein, Mariastraat, Simon Stevinplein, Steenstraat, Zuidzandstraat, Hauwerstraat, Maagdenstraat (between Klokstraat and Smedenstraat), Smedenstraat, 't Zand, Vrijdagmarkt, Noordzandstraat, Geldmuntstraat, Eiermarkt, Markt, Breidelstraat, Burg, Rozenhoedkaai and Braambergstraat.
in all streets leading to the circulation in a ten-metre radius around all previously mentioned streets and squares.
See all info on accessibility for people with special needs.
The Holy Blood Procession has been working with the heritage app since 2022. Through this app, you can follow the procession for free via audio description or with clips in Flemish sign language that are also subtitled. More information and download the app via erfgoedapp.be.
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, parking is prohibited in the following streets from 05:00 until after the procession: Minderbroedersstraat, Park and Pandreitje.
Parking is prohibited in the following streets from 07. 00 am until after the procession: Rozenhoedkaai, Wollestraat, Dijver, Gruuthusestraat, Guido Gezelleplein, Mariastraat, Simon Stevinplein, Steenstraat, Zuidzandstraat, Hauwerstraat, Maagdenstraat (between Hauwerstraat and Smedenstraat), Smedenstraat, 't Zand, Vrijdagmarkt, Noordzandstraat, Geldmuntstraat, Eiermarkt, Markt, Breidelstraat, Burg, Oude Burg, Nieuwstraat, Sint-Niklaasstraat, Oude Zomerstraat, Kartuizerinnenstraat, Schaarstraat (between Minderbroedersstraat and Violierstraat), Violierstraat (between Schaarstraat and house number 9) and Gevangenisstraat.
It is also forbidden to park within a ten-metre radius of these streets and squares, except in parking spaces designated by the City Council.
As an occupant of a building along the route of the Holy Blood Procession, you may place a maximum of two rows of chairs on the pavement in front of the building you occupy. You keep a passage of at least 90 cm clear on the footpaths.
Do not close off streets leading to the procession's circulation. Do not place any of chairs or benches there.
