Carnival Parade in Brugge in 2026

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Even in a city where we have visited for over 10 years, every once in a while, we discover a gem so unique it shows how lively this city can be.

The History of the Venice of the North

There are several cities in Northern Europe that have the nickname “Venice of the North.”

These include Amsterdam, Stockholm, Brugge, Hamburg, Saint Petersburg, and Copenhagen.

The reasons these cities are compared to Venice are that they have many characteristics of Venice. These include extensive canal networks, historic bridges and significant waterfront buildings.

Brugge has built on this link by integrating some Venetian traditions into this fairytale city and we got a chance to see a parade of costumes that was so unexpected, that we learned again what we have known for a long time about the pride the folks of this city constantly display.

No wonder, it is Anne’s favorite European city!

The Parade

In a stunning display, the colorful costumes paraded by the participants thru Market Square on 21 March 2026 captured a glimpse of the Venetian Carnival.

The costumes are handmade by members who proudly walked in the parade. They are inspired by classic outfits worn in Venice during Carnival.

The opulent styles feature luxurious fabics with accents of gold or silver.

The anonymity of the masks inspired a freedom during the 18th century. The idea was social equality and the freedom to disregard boundaries allowing commoners and nobles to mingle freely.

It was abloshed under the Nepoleonic reign but nowdays has returned primarily as a tourist attraction.

The masks and vibrant colors helped us understand why Brugge has earned a well-deserved place in the Venice of the North nickname.

Brugge 2026 parade member wearing an eye mask (called Colombina in Italian)

Mask we bought during a visit to Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The long, bird like beak is designed to hold herbs and ward off diseases, combining superstion and medical history.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you find this blog interesting and meaningful to you. The dedication of these folks to make these costumes is just so amazing. It is the reason we love Europe so much, the traditions and festivals provide such a great chance to see other cultures and traditions.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision-making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you with high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 30 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 55 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). His last major certificate is a Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) certificate earned from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
CLIA Riverview Certificate
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Riverside Luxury Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Brit Agent

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