The Witches' Procession

The history

About 160 years ago, on 19 April 1861, Edward Vermeulen was born in Beselare on the farmstead 'Navegheer'. When he was four, the family moved to Hooglede. Edward Vermeulen later became known as folk writer Warden Oom.

Beselare must have left an impression on him. He chronicled the numerous legends about ghosts and witches that lived in his native village and were passed on from parent to child and incorporated them into his books. In "Het Betoverd Hof", he incorporated the legend of the "flying goat", a piece of Beselaar folklore. The story of Babbe van d'Eijer Panders is also a pure Beselaar tale that he recorded here in his younger days. Both legends, outlining the superstitions of earlier times, are brought to life in the Witches' Parade.

Beselare has long been known as the 'Enchantress Parish', because people here have always found entertainment in telling all kinds of stories about witches and ghosts. Through Warden Oom's work, that name became widespread. In this way, Warden Oom contributed to Beselare's reputation as a village of witches. A reputation that in the late 1950s led to the Witches' Parade, which will pass through the village for the 47th time in 2023.

The witch's procession

In 1959, residents of what was then Zonnebekestraat marched in procession to Beselare town hall for the baptism of the mistress of all sorceresses, Sefa Bubbels. That street fair grew into the Witches' Parade. After 62 years, this folkloric procession remains one of the liveliest and most attractive in the country. A parade in which the entire Beselaar population participates and which still manages to attract and charm the general public.

The parade opens with the depiction of the history of the Beselare Marquisate. In a second part, the witch in the fairy tale is featured: Snow White, Hansel and Gretel who are besieged by... the witch.

Main plot remains the portrayal of the witch as we know her from local legends and folklore. Meele Crotte, Calle Bletters, Leeme Caduul, Fyte Kwik and, of course, Sefa Bubbels are the names of some of the witches who wander through Beselare in various guises in the company of ghosts and devils. Sometimes in lurid, but mostly in folksy and comic scenes, witchcraft is portrayed.

But even in Beselare, witches cannot escape punishment. This is depicted in the witches' sentencing. The witches' prison, gruesome tortures, the "Vierschaere" and the funeral pyre form the final part of this very lively procession.

In short, the Witches' Procession is a folkloric pageant full of folk scenes and humour in which 1,100 extras make for a more than captivating viewing experience.