Kermises

Kermises, or kermis in Dutch, kermesse in French, and Kirmes in German, are traditional local fairs held annually in many towns and villages across the Netherlands, Belgium, and neighboring regions. They are communitywide celebrations featuring carnival rides, games, stalls selling food, drink, and merchandise, street performances, and sometimes parades or live music. The event is typically organized by local associations or volunteer committees and governed by municipal authorities with safety and licensing requirements.

Historically, kermises originated in medieval Europe as religious or harvest festivals connected to a church mass and the feast of a patron saint. Over time they evolved into secular fairs that preserved religious roots while emphasizing social gathering, commerce, and entertainment. The exact timing, length, and emphasis vary by town, often tied to the local church calendar; in many places the kermis is the year's main local fair and can last from a weekend to several days.

Today kermises are important cultural and economic events for many communities, drawing visitors from surrounding areas and supporting local vendors and carnival operators. They can reflect regional flavors through food, beer, and pastry offerings and sometimes include modern attractions alongside traditional ones. In some areas they coexist with other forms of traveling fairs and share similarities with the French kermesse and the German Kirmes.