The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) intangible cultural heritage elements are the non-physical traditions and practices performed by a people. As part of a country's cultural heritage, they include celebrations, festivals, performances, oral traditions, music, and the making of handicrafts. The "intangible cultural heritage" is defined by the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, drafted in 2003 and took effect in 2006. Inscription of new heritage elements on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists is determined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, an organisation established by the convention.
Belgium ratified the convention on 24 March 2006.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Representative List Name Image Year No. Description Carnival of Binche 2008 00033 The Carnival of Binche is an annual festival held in Binche during the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France + 2008 00153 The processional giants and dragons of Belgium and France are a set of folkloric manifestations involving processional giants and dragons. Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges 2009 00263 The Procession of the Holy Blood is a religious Catholic procession which takes place each Ascension Day in Bruges. Krakelingen and Tonnekensbrand, end-of-winter bread and fire feast at Geraardsbergen 2010 00401 Krakelingen and Tonnekensbrand are the names of annual centuries-old festivities in Geraardsbergen. Houtem Jaarmarkt, annual winter fair and livestock market at Sint-Lievens-Houtem 2010 00403 Each November, Sint-Lievens-Houtem holds a winter fair and livestock market, the Houtem Jaarmarkt, where hundreds of traders sell cattle and horses. Leuven age set ritual repertoire 2011 00404 The Leuven age set ritual is a tradition of men from Leuven born the same year. Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse 2012 00670 The Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse are a set of folk marches, taking place from May to October in . Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke 2013 00673 Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke. Beer culture in Belgium 2016 01062 Beer in Belgium includes pale ales, lambics, Flemish red ales, sour brown ales, strong ales and stouts. Ommegang of Brussels, an annual historical procession and popular festival 2019 01366 The Ommegang of Brussels is a traditional Ommegang, a type of medieval pageant, celebrated annually in Brussels. Musical art of horn players, an instrumental technique linked to singing, breath control, vibrato, resonance of place and conviviality + 2020 01581 Namur stilt jousting 2021 01590 Stilt jousting is a 600-year-old tradition of Namur, in which costumed people on stilts joust. Falconry, a living human heritage + 2021 01708 The origin of falconry goes back to the use of hunting by birds of prey as a mean of hunting but it has evolved over time to become part of the cultural heritage of the people. Traditional irrigation: knowledge, technique, and organization + 2023 01979 Funfair culture + 2024 02108 Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques + 2024 02106 Dry stone is a building method by which structures are constructed from stones without any mortar to bind them together. Brussels' rod marionette tradition 2025 02313
Good Safeguarding Practices Name Year No. Description Programme of cultivating ludodiversity: safeguarding traditional games in Flanders 2011 00513 Safeguarding the carillon culture: preservation, transmission, exchange and awareness-raising 2014 01017 Tocatì, a shared programme for the safeguarding of traditional games and sports + 2022 01709 Safeguarding foster care heritage in the merciful city of Geel: a community-based care model 2023 00622
See also List of World Heritage Sites in Belgium
Notes
References
External links UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Official site UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Belgium: Official site