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Horsey highlight.

Brussels’ mini-marathon.

An impressive programme of classical music – as well as jazz, world music and dance – takes place across Flanders every summer and autumn, with performances in the main venues, as well as in churches and other historic buildings.

The Feast of St Nicholas (Sinterklaas in Dutch) is celebrated by children with even greater enthusiasm than Christmas. St Nicholas (the original Santa Claus), dressed as the Bishop of Myra, walks the streets with his blacked-up sidekick Zwarte Piet, and children receive presents, as well as sweets and speculoos biscuits.

This big, rollicking, noisy late-summer fun fair set out along the Boulevard du Midi has the newest rides plus dodgems, roller coasters and all the other old favourites.

Every five years, this vast flower show takes place in the Flanders Expo trade fair complex to the south-west of the city centre. Ghent’s flower-growing industry is famous above all for its begonias, azaleas, rhododendrons and roses.

Bruges’ biggest day out, the Procession of the Holy Blood follows an 800-year-old tradition: 40 days after Easter, the sacred relic of the Holy Blood is paraded around the streets in a colourful, spectacular, but at heart solemn procession featuring sumptuous medieval and biblical costumes.

The most important athletics meeting in the Belgian sports calendar.

Stadium shared by Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge.

Oldest cycling classic in the World Cup.