The 2025 edition of Aalst Carnaval has broken multiple records and concluded after three days of festivities.
This year saw the sunniest, longest, and safest carnival in years, with more than 200,000 revellers participating.
Mayor Christoph D’Haese (N-VA) expressed his satisfaction with the event’s proceedings, praising the efforts of emergency services and the Safety Cell.
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Carnival Prince Prins Sjalen, who received the symbolic key to the city, was also honoured for leading the celebrations over the three days.
Tuesday featured the Voil Jeanetten, who transformed the Grote Markt into a dance floor with their version of ‘Den Tettendans’ before 5,000 participants paraded through the streets.
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The evening ended with the traditional burning of the effigy by Prins Sjalen.
For the police, the final night of festivities was similar to previous days. They recorded 12 incidents of underage alcohol consumption and 25 instances of illegal tobacco and vape use.
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
There were also 16 immediate settlements, five administrative arrests, and two judicial arrests. One drone was confiscated.
The Red Cross provided care to 131 individuals, including three minors with alcohol-related issues. Their ambulances made 25 trips, transporting 30 people to emergency services.
The fire brigade was called out once due to fireworks and conducted six medical interventions.
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The Koisploeg collected 60 tonnes of waste, matching last year’s total, with support from Mooimakers’ eco-team for sorting.
The next edition of Aalst Carnaval is scheduled for 15, 16, and 17 February 2026. The countdown to the 96th parade has begun.
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The yearly carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Sunday 02 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The carnival is defended by fans as being indiscriminate in its satirisation of public figures – but in 2019, UNESCO withdrew its recognition of the carnival as part of the cultural heritage of humanity due to its use of antisemitic stereotypes.
