Bruges celebrates New Year’s Eve: Brugge Feest on ‘t Zand!
For years, the transition from Old to New Year has been a special tradition in Bruges. Together with residents and visitors, we celebrate the festive beginning of a new year. Traditions are meant to be cherished, and this year, Brugge Feest promises to be another great success.
In collaboration with the Royal Committee for Initiative Bruges, De Zandfeesten, Shopping Brugge, Pluzand, and with the support of the City of Bruges, a grand public celebration will take place on ‘t Zand on Tuesday evening, December 31, 2024. We expect several thousand revelers once again.
Just like every year, our goal is to experience the transition from Old to New Year with singing, dancing, and celebrating. And this with the well-known but mega-successful event “Brugge Feest”. You are welcome from 9:30 PM, and we will kick off the sing-along spectacle around 10:30 PM. Dozens of musical ambiance numbers will be performed. Whether you can sing well or not, who cares. The ambiance is what counts. The occasional choir on stage and the thousands of partygoers on the square will be traditionally fired up and accompanied by Master of Ceremony Nick Blontrock. Think of the well-known Brugge Zingt formula during the summer on the Markt, but in a sparkling end-of-year setting.
There is still room for “occasional singers” on our stage. You can sign up by sending your name to info@comitevoorinitiatief.be. Or you can present yourself at the stage at 10:30 PM. To involve tourists in the celebration, the playlist also includes French, English, and German hits. These extra songs will surely appeal to our foreign guests in Bruges that evening. The lyrics of the songs will be projected on a big screen next to the stage. On December 31, starting at noon, you can also download the lyrics to have them at hand on the evening itself via your iPhone or iPad.
Just before the countdown to midnight and immediately after, ‘t Zand will be transformed into a magical scene with a spectacular laser and light show, accompanied by atmospheric music. A cloud of mist will ensure that the laser beams reflect in all directions, placing the audience right in the middle of the spectacle. The stage will be set up this year with the ring facing the Concertgebouw. This provides more space and visibility for everyone, making the experience even more impressive for the ever-growing number of visitors each year.
It is clear every year: Brugge Feest is a gift for everyone, a free present to the city and its residents, but also to the many visitors from home and abroad. After the laser show, our mayor, together with the alderman of culture, will usher in the new year with a New Year’s wish, followed again by an enthusiastic sing-along moment.
For the thirsty, there will be drink and food stands. As befits a festive evening, a champagne and oyster bar will also be present. The hospitality establishments on ‘t Zand will also provide adapted terraces. This way, the festive fun can continue even after the sing-along event has ended.
We celebrate together with attention to the environment. Visitors are asked not to bring glass, not to set off fireworks, and to dispose of their waste properly in the waste containers. Let’s ensure a clean ‘t Zand together.
Additionally, we urge everyone to come to the square on foot, by bike, or by public transport as much as possible.
For bicycles, there are parking facilities under ‘t Zand, and additional bike racks will be installed at Beursplein near the BMCC. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, will be an evening full of music, light effects, dance, spectacle, and togetherness. ‘Brugge Feest’ is the perfect start to a happy New Year.