Holland Hopping: Having fun in Noord-Brabant!

Noord-Brabant is one of the larger southern provinces. Due to its proximity to Belgium and its catholic history, Brabant has a different culture then its northern neighbors. The fact that Vlaams (the language of the northern part of Belgium) and Brabants both originate from the same dialect largely explains the cultural similarities between Vlaanderen and Noord-Brabant. One of these cultural similarities is the festival of carnaval, which will be explained in detail below. The larger cities of Noord-Brabant are (from the west to the east): Roosendaal, Breda, Tilburg, Den Bosch ('s Hertogenbosch) and Eindhoven. These are also the cultural, shopping and clubbing hubs of the province. However these can also be found in other places throughout the province.

Carnaval

Carnaval originates from an eating festival that was held just before the catholic period of fasting. Traditionally the weeks before Easter no celebrations were held. To compensate for this period of fasting, people would celebrate extravagantly. From this feasting various traditions originated. In the Netherlands these traditions include costumes and parades. Carnaval is traditionally held from Sunday till Tuesday 40 days before the first day of Easter, but this may vary from town to town.

The upcoming years carnaval will take place on:

· 2012: 19 - 21 February

· 2013: 10 - 12 February

· 2014: 2 - 4 March

· 2015: 15 - 17 February

· 2016: 7 - 9 February

One of the big happenings for most towns in Brabant during carnaval is its parade. Almost every town has its own parade (although participants are sometimes featured in multiple parades). Each parade has its own starting time and date. Neighboring towns or cities try to separate their main parade starting times. Towns may also have a second or third parade on a different time, these may overlap with neighboring towns or cities. The date for each parade in 2012 can be found on this site. If you click on the parade that you would like to see, you are redirected to a new page which displays the starting time and other information.

Each town or city also has its own alternative name during carnaval. These names can be found here.

Things to do in Brabant

Not in Brabant during carnaval or do you wish to do other things in Brabant. Fear not, there are many other places to visit. We will highlight a few below.

Do you like karting, but do you want to try something different. Then icekarting is probably made for you. This indoor karting area makes use of electric karts. The track is a challenge for both beginning and more advanced kart drivers. Advanced kart drivers will have a higher maximum speed, which makes it harder to control your kart when taking a turn. More information and online tickets can be found here.

Looking for more excitement. Then indoor skydiving might be your thing. Indoor skydiving offers most of the thrills of actual skydiving. The tunnel is powered by 12 fans and is 23.5 meters high. You will be guided by a trained instructor and friends and/or family can watch your experience from a special viewing boot. More information and reservations can be made on their website.

Want to have a fun day independent of your age. Then a visit to the Efteling might be your thing. This amusement park is dedicated to bringing the fairytales of your youth back to life. The park features rollercoaster’s, relaxing rides, areas for young children, cafeteria and restaurants, a hotel, a golf course and a theater (some of these are only included with a hotel stay). Plenty of variety for everyone. It has to be noted though, that during the winter some outdoor attractions are closed (mainly the rollercoaster’s). More information? Check out the website.

A more relaxing option is the safari park De Beekse Bergen. This safari park houses a number of exotic animals. The park is open 365 days a year and can be experienced on foot, by car, bus and even by boat. More information can be found on their website (the website is in Dutch).

Delicacies

Below are some typical food that you may run into during your stay in Brabant. Be sure to try them out!

- Brabantse worstenbroodjes (sausage rolls): A meal that can be found in most bakeries and supermarkets. These are often served as lunch, but can also be served late in the evening (cut in smaller chunks).