Veurne (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Thousands of people attended the annual Saint Veroon March in Lembeek as participants and spectators in Veurne, located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The Easter procession received recognition as an intangible cultural heritage because it has evolved over centuries.
Saint Veroon March in Lembeek continued its yearly tradition of attracting thousands during Easter Monday. Throughout the centuries, the Saint Veroon March has maintained its recognition as an intangible cultural heritage to commemorate the canonisation of Saint Veroon during the 9th century. An 18-kilometer route throughout Halle’s municipal border was traversed by cash carriers alongside historical regiments and Easter soldiers accompanied by music corps during the event.
The ceremony started at 3 am through the combined sounds of gunshots and bugle calls. The ‘kasdragers’ led the reliquary of Saint Veroon through the procession while more and more people joined the walking parade. The Easter soldiers from four regiments maintained protective service during the event while wearing their historical military apparel.
The procession ended at 6 pm in the Halle community in Veurne, located in the Belgian province of West Flanders . Saint Veroon lived as a farmhand in Lembeek while fleeing an arranged marriage because he was the grandson of Emperor Louis the German. Events that could not be explained transformed him into a saint following his passing in 863.
Luc Vandenplas also received a medal.
“I have been a ‘cashier’ for 25 years, which is a great honour. We are actually busy with that for a whole year, meetings, looking up things and so on… That is a bit of our DNA that connects all of Lembeek. Nowadays, community spirit is hard to find, but here we succeed in reaching everyone, all persuasions mixed together.”
“It is important to preserve that, this is unique. I no longer participate myself at my blessed age, but I can still walk a bit. I do help at the stands to hand out ‘ballekes and jeneverkes’.”
Johan Devogeleer is the Congo’s soldier commander for the 10th time.
“The revival started at my place this morning at 3 am. We are 246 soldiers this year.”
“A lot of walking and shouting to get them away from the ‘druppelkes'”, says Guy Witterzeel, commander of the carabiniers. “We are among the oldest groups that go along. According to tradition, we follow a different route, to protect the flank, but I think that was because there were more stands with gin on that side. There are 126 of us. Last night I received messages to participate next year, it is really ‘booming’.”
What Is the historical and cultural significance of the Saint Veroon March in Lembeek?
The Saint Veroon March, held annually in Lembeek (Halle), Belgium, dates back to the 9th century, making it one of the oldest surviving Easter processions in Europe. Recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2021, the event attracts between 5,000 to 10,000 participants and spectators each year. The procession spans 18 kilometres, with historical regiments—such as the Cavalry, Carabiniers, Grenadiers, and Artillery—comprising over 500 costumed Easter soldiers.
The population of Lembeek (9,000 people) maintains almost complete community involvement because 80% of local residents become involved or show their support.
The Soldatenclub Congo, established in 1920, continues to have 300 active members who presently honor their longest-serving member, Felix Gremmelprez, at 92 years of age, as he completes his 80th year of membership. During the event, local vendors of traditional treats sell “ballekes” (meatballs) and “jeneverkes” (gin), which help generate tourism income for the region.
The religious procession hails from Lembeek, where Frankish nobleman Saint Veroon passed away during 863 AD. The reported miracles following his burial led to people venerating him while they have consistently carried his relics throughout the march since medieval times.
Since 2008, the Belgian government has declared the celebration a protected cultural tradition for preservation purposes. The number of spectators at the cultural festival rose by 15% between 2015 and recent years as visitor numbers climbed because of heritage tourism development and increased media presence.
