Did you know that it is common in North Brabant that during carnival every single city and town takes on a nickname?
Some names are simply the dialect version of the city or town name (in Limburg) while other places have a complete change of name (in North Brabant but also elsewhere). The carnival city names usually refers to a local history tale or trade related to its inhabitants.
Den Bosch -> Oeteldonk
During carnival in Den Bosch you will see many people’s costumes featuring the traditional carnival colors red, white and yellow. Also expect frogs in any shape or form as the city’s carnival name Oeteldonk translates into something like ‘Frog Hill’.
Eindhoven -> Lampegat
The name Lampegat (‘Lamp Hole’) refers to Eindhoven’s history as the Dutch city of lights and its close link with Philips light bulbs.
North Brabant
Breda – Kielegat
Tilburg – Kruikenstad
Roosendaal – Tullepetaonestad
Baarle-Nassau-Hertog – Smokkelgat
Bergen op Zoom – Krabbegat
Best – Klompengat
Boxmeer – Boksmèr
Dongen – Peeënrijk
Etten-Leur – Stijlorenrijk
Geldrop – Lappegat
Goirle – Ballefruttersgat
Helmond – Keijebijtersstad
Kaatsheuvel – Turfstekerslaand
Milheeze – Veenmollenrijk
Oosterhout – Kaaiendonk
Oss – Ossekoppenrijk
Oudenbosch – Puitenol
Prinsenbeek – Boemeldonck
Schijndel – Schorsbos
Sint Oedenrode – Papgat
Sint Michielsgestel – Bokkendonk
Uden – Uje
Valkenswaard – Striepersgat
Veghel – Kuussegat
Vught – Dommelboarzedurp
Waalre – Keiengat
Waalwijk – Schoenlapperslaand
Limburg
Maastricht – Mestreech
Venlo – Jocus Riék
Sittard – Marotte Riek
Valkenburg – Vallekeberg
Echt – Aesterriek
Geleen – Gelaen
Heerlen – Hedsjer
Heusden – Wallepoepersland
Kerkrade – Kirchraoj
Mook – Heikneuterrijk
Roermond – Remunj
Valkenburg – Vallekeberg
Venray – Pielhaas
Weert – Rogstaekersstad
Gelderland
Arnhem – Ernem
Apeldoorn – Knienenburg
Culemborg – Papklokkendam
Doetinchem – Leutekum
Nijmegen – Knotsenburg
Zutphen – Baaierm
Overijssel
Zwolle – Sassendonk
Deventer – Stokvissengat
Enschede – Krekkelstad
Oldenzaal – Boeskoolstad
Raalte – Stöppelburcht
Zeeland
Goes – Ganzestad
Sas van Gent – Betekoppenstad
Utrecht
Amersfoort – Trekkersgat
IJsselstein – Apenstad
Utrecht – Leemput
Flevoland
Emmeloord – Pierenoord
Lelystad – Knarregat
Drenthe
Assen – Pitlo
Groningen
Delfzijl – Krabbeziel
Friesland
Sneek – Drabbelterp
North Holland
Amsterdam – Gròòtgragtegat (try pronouncing all those G’s)
Bussum – Erwtenrijk
Haarlem – Muggendonk
Hoofddorp – Meerbonkendorp
Purmerend – Boemeldam
South Holland
Alphen aan de Rijn – Castellum
Delft – Kabbelgat
The Hague – Kreesiedentie
Dordrecht – Ooi en Ramsgat
Gouda – Pijpenburg
Rotterdam – Dwalmdam
Not only in North Brabant and Limburg
The carnival season has its roots in the Christian celebrations leading up to Lent, a time of fasting and restraint. Beer flows freely, people dress up in colorful over-the-top costumes and the party takes to the streets with amazing parades of handcrafted floats with slogans. The whole city is in a festive mood. Everybody is welcome to join the party.
Please take note that carnival is not only celebrated in North Brabant and Limburg but also in some places in provinces like Gelderland, Overijssel, Zeeland and Utrecht.
Dates for carnival in the Netherlands
While the dates for Valentine’s Day, King’s Day and Christmas are fixed, carnival can fall any time between 1 February and 9 March. The fasting period of Lent begins 40 days before Easter Sunday, a movable date. The Sundays in between do not count because they are not considered fasting days. So carnival starts seven weeks before Easter Sunday.
Below you will find the carnival dates from 2018 until 2028:
2018: Sunday 11 February to Tuesday 13 February
2019: Sunday 3 March to Tuesday 5 March
2020: Sunday 23 February to Tuesday 25 February
2021: Sunday 14 February to Tuesday 16 February
2022: Sunday 27 February to Tuesday 1 March
2023: Sunday 19 February to Tuesday 21 February
2024: Sunday 11 February to Tuesday 13 February
2025: Sunday 2 March to Tuesday 4 March
2026: Sunday 15 February to Tuesday 17 February
2027: Sunday 7 February to Tuesday 9 February
2028: Sunday 27 February to Tuesday 29 February (leap day!)
