Traditionally, on Easter Monday, the international horse procession takes place in the Hakendover (Belgium). The procession originated from the founding legend of the Church of the Divine Savior. Every year, more than 20,000 pilgrims and spectators flock to the Flemish Brabant village, making the Hakendover horse procession the third largest procession in the country. Believers and spectators come mainly from Flanders, Walloon Brabant, and the Dutch province of Brabant. Since 1890, Dutch pilgrims have been visiting Hakendover because processions were long forbidden in The Netherlands.
The horse procession starts after the high mass and depicts the founding legend of the church. Hundreds of riders and thousands of pilgrims accompany the 14th-century image of the Divine Savior through the streets of Hakendover, across the fields, to the altar on the ‘Tiense Berg’. They form a colorful procession full of extras, schoolchildren, associations, statues, brass bands, singing people, and horses. Once they arrive, the ground, pilgrims, horses, and riders are blessed. As the highlight, the horses gallop around the altar and the pilgrims three times because legend has it that the trampled ground will yield rich fruits.
The impressive horse gallop attracts many spectators. It is breathtaking to see how riders and horses make their way through the dust or the splashing mud. At the start of the procession, the spectators eagerly join the parade. They want to be in time at the Tiense Berg to see the gallop. Only when riders, horses, and procession participants return to the paved road does the procession calm down. Then the spectators stand on the side of the road to enjoy the passing spectacle.
