Carnaval is the wildest weekend of the year in the southern Netherlands, with costumes, brass bands, and street parties taking over cities across Noord-Brabant and Limburg. The official three days run from Sunday 7 to Tuesday 9 February, though festivities traditionally kick off from Friday the 5th. Each city celebrates under its own carnival name — Den Bosch becomes Oeteldonk, Breda turns into Kielegat, and Tilburg (Kruikenstad) celebrates under the motto 'Lòs van oewe Lozzie!' for 2027. Maastricht is the southernmost hotspot with its own distinct Limburg flavour. Go in costume, embrace the chaos, and expect packed streets and long pub queues all weekend.