You can find all the practical information about the 14th edition of the Pageant of the Golden Tree here. Is something still unclear? Please don’t hesitate to check our FAQ.
The Pageant of the Golden Tree will take place on the 25th of August in the city centre of Bruges. The Pageant starts at 2:30 p.m. at ’t Zand. There are both free and paid spots from which you can enjoy the pageant.
Paid tickets for the stands at the Market Square are unfortunately sold out. But don't worry, because you can follow the Pageant of the Golden tree completely free of charge at most places along the route. Free benches will even be placed at several locations. Make sure you are in the city on time, that way you can be sure of a good spot.
The route of the 14th edition covers 2.7 km and passes by the most charming spots in Bruges.
The Pageant will start at 2:30 p.m., and takes about an hour to proceed past each point, so take into account that it will pass through earlier or later in the afternoon depending on where you are situated along the route.
Route
’t Zand – Zuidzandstraat – Sint-Salvatorskathedraal – Heilige-Geeststraat – Guido Gezelleplein – Dijver – Wollestraat – Markt – Vlamingstraat – Jakob Van Ooststraat – Kuipersstraat – Eiermarkt – Geldmuntstraat – Noordzandstraat – Smedenstraat
The Pageant of the Golden Tree is held in central Bruges, with the main route travelling between ’t Zand and the Markt.
We kindly request that you come by public transport or bicycle insofar as it is possible.
By bus
Those travelling to the city centre by bus should arrive a few hours in advance. Please bear in mind that buses will not be allowed to pass through the Pageant’s route and the city centre will be closed to traffic during the Pageant. All info from De Lijn in Bruges can be found on their website. There are free shuttles from the station to the Bruges city centre, untill 12:30 PM.
By car
If you still plan on coming by car, we recommend parking at one of the car parks along the periphery of the city, where you can park your car for free without any time restrictions. More info on the car parks can be found on the Visit Bruges' website.
You will not be able to enter or exit any of the city centre car parks located along the route at any time during the Pageant, so it’s best to come to Bruges in the morning.
On foot (from the station)
It takes about 12 minutes to walk from Bruges station to ’t Zand. You can walk along the Koning Albert I-Park or via the Oostmeers. The entire route is easily accessible from there.
By bicycle (from the station)
We advise cyclists to park their bikes in the underground bicycle parking on ’t Zand. Movilo mobile bicycle storage systems will also be available on the Burg.
The Pageant of the Golden Tree is a true folk festival that everyone should be able to enjoy. Therefore, we will provide several pathways to promote accessibility.
Digital accessibility
Did you know that several Bruges libraries have Digi-points? The digi-assistants here will help you navigate your way through your online experience, whether you’re a visitor or if you want to participate. This way, you can always stay up to date with everything related to the Pageant of the Golden Tree, even if you don’t have your own computer, don’t have permanent internet access, or simply find navigating the worldwide web a bit too daunting. They’re ready to lend a hand! Please visit the following link to find out where you can go for help.
Seating areas for people with disabilities
We believe it’s important that everyone is able to enjoy the Pageant of the Golden Tree, which is why we’ve provided three seating areas along the route for people with disabilities.
The first zone is a part of the paid seats in the stands at Bruges’ Market Square. The first row here will be kept free for wheelchair users and the second row for their personal companion. You can also enjoy the Pageant for free from the accessible seating area on ’t Zand (FULLY BOOKED) or at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady). Are you coming with a large group? Let us know in advance and we will make sure you have a place among the party crowd.
Find out exactly where the seating areas are located on the map.
P.S.: If you can show that you have a European Disability Card or a blue parking card, then you may bring one companion to sit with you for free in the paid seats.
FULLY BOOKED | Care zone on ‘t Zand
A designated care zone will be set up at ‘t Zand for people with disabilities. There will be plenty of on-site assistance to make your visit to the Pageant as pleasant as possible. For example, you can be picked up at a drop zone or bus stop to be escorted to your spot from there. In addition, there is an accessible toilet and you can obtain audio description upon request. Finally, there is an area for (electric) wheelchairs and we provide chairs, not benches.
You can reserve the wheelchair seating and chairs - on presentation of EDC or the blue parking card - at Lokaal Sociaal Beleid Stad Brugge via 050 47 54 78 or via sociaalbeleid@brugge.be.
Please note: these conditions only apply to the care zone at ‘t Zand. Reservations for the seating area are on a first come first served basis. The accessible seats on the other stands can only be reserved via In&Uit and the info office on the Markt.
Getting to Bruges accessibly
Those following the Pageant from the accessible seating area at ’t Zand can get there under the guidance of our stewards and thus avoid the busy city centre. They will wait for you at the drop-off point at Bruges station. The other accessible seating areas along the route can only be reached on your own initiative.
You can also enjoy the Pageant of the Golden Tree from home (only in Dutch)
Would you rather soak up the ambience of the Pageant of the Golden Tree from the comfort of your own living room? It’s possible thanks to Focus WTV. Curl up on your couch and follow the live broadcast with commentary by historian Lisa Demets, translated simultaneously into sign language! This way, everyone can enjoy this wonderful folk festival. Grab some snacks and a drink, then sit back and relax as the Pageant starts at 3:30 p.m. live on your screen.
The route of the Pageant of the Golden Tree passes numerous catering establishments where you can get something to eat or drink.
You’ll find some public toilets at the following locations along the route:
Some toilets are accessible to people with disabilities, while others have a changing table. See an overview of all available public toilets here.
You can get information from
We put together a handy programme booklet explaining the story of the Pageant of the Golden Tree through the structure and order of the pageant. One programme booklet costs five euros.
Buy your own programme booklet at In&Uit ('t Zand 34) or at the informatoin offices at the Market (Historium, Markt 1) and in the train station, or before the pageant starts along the route.
The BMCC is the epicentre of the Pageant of the Golden Tree. From the beginning of August, actors rehearse here and staff roll up their sleeves to make a successful 14th edition of the Pageant of the Golden Tree. From here, the pageant, whose actors, horses and floats converge on 't Zand, will depart on 25 August.
The pageant does pass by 't Zand twice on 25 August. Those wishing to see the beginning of the pageant can take a seat at the free benches on the side of the Zuidzandstraat. On that side is also In&Uit, the central info point of the Pageant of the Golden Tree. On the Noordzandstraat side, you will find Stad Brugge's care zone, where disabled people (and any companions, friends and/or family) can go for an accessible view of the pageant.
The pageant will pass by the back of St Salvator's Cathedral for the first time this year, to avoid sharp turns for our floats. For the first time, enjoy the view at the cathedral from the free benches set up there.
Classic venues also pass by. Take a seat on the free benches at the Church of Our Lady. Some free, accessible seats are also provided here.
Take a seat on the free benches on the Dijver. As this is a coveted spot to watch the pageant from here, we recommend you descend to the city centre in time.
SOLD OUT | Two paying tribunes will be set up on the Market Square, from which you can enjoy the Pageant of the Golden Tree with a paying ticket. A ticket costs 12.5 euro. The first row of the stands will be kept free for wheelchair users (and one accompanying person).
