stoeten

Stoeten is the Dutch plural form of the noun stoet, meaning a parade or procession. It denotes an organized line of marchers, often accompanied by floats, costumes, music, and spectators, that moves through public streets during public festivities or ceremonial occasions. The term is widely used in the Netherlands and Flanders to describe festive processions, especially carnival parades (carnavalsstoeten), municipal celebrations, religious processions, and other public spectacles.

In practice, stoeten vary by region but typically feature coordinated choreography, thematic floats, and live or recorded music. They are integral to local cultural life in many towns and can attract large crowds. The concept is closely related to but distinct from op tocht, a more general term for a parade or procession; stoet emphasizes spectacle and ceremonial character.

Notes: The word stoeten is a standard plural, used when referring to multiple parades or to the parades within a given context. The term is not a proper noun and does not designate a specific event unless paired with a qualifying noun (for example, carnavalsstoeten, bloemencorso-stoeten).