Hesbaye Historic Festival 2026

On August 22 and 23, 2026, the event professionals from Markethings will be hosting the Hesbaye Historic Festival, a two-day event for all fans of classic vehicles at the centuries-old Veulen Castle in Belgium, for the second time. With numerous activities, Niels Schoenmakers and his team bring a bit of that Goodwood feeling to the mainland. The colorful program with classic car meetings, a Concours d’Elegance and exciting rallies leaves nothing to be desired. After over 700 classic cars and more than 2,500 visitors from ten countries attended the festival last year, it is set to become even bigger in 2026!

A journey through the history of cars and motorcycles

The Hesbaye Historic Festival is not an exhibition, but a living festival that brings contemporary history to life. The focus is on driving experiences on and off paved roads, live music and even demonstrations of classic craftsmanship. On the 20-hectare grounds of Veulen Castle, all participants can take a journey back in time through the automotive and motorcycle history of the 20th century.

The location – Veulen Castle in Hesbaye

In the east of Belgium, between Brussels and Liège, lies Veulen Castle in the Hesbaye region. It was built in its present form in 1747. The castle, which was lovingly restored between 2001 and 2009, originally belonged to the De Mercy-Agenteau family and provides an impressive location for the Hesbaye Historic Festival.

The 20-hectare site becomes a wonderland for petrolheads for an entire weekend in mid-August. Rally stages and off-road courses await participants directly in the castle park. In terms of craftsmanship, culinary delights and atmosphere, the Hesbaye Historic Festival is a reminder of the golden age and the spirit of optimism surrounding mobility in the mid-20th century. And the best thing of all: in some categories, you can take a seat in the passenger seat as a visitor!

Hesbaye Historic Festival – Whether participant or spectator, the program has it all!

A packed program is on the agenda for Saturday and Sunday. After the gates open at 10 a.m., the so-called Crafts in Action will start – live demonstrations in which professional restorers will show you their craft. At the same time, the Classic Rally Stage will also pick up speed. There are still places available to drive your classic rally car in several sessions throughout the day on the stage through the Schlosspark. An FIA Historic Technical Passport or a National Rally Passport and a valid racing permit / racing license are required.

On the Classic Rally Tours, on the other hand, varied stages through the Hesbaye await you. To the north of the Meuse, you will drive through unspoilt, agricultural regions with plenty of far-reaching views. The lovingly designed roadbooks take you along the most beautiful roads in the area. Of course, there will also be plenty of culinary delights with a variety of refreshment stops along the way.

There is also plenty to experience at the Hesbaye Historic Festival for those who want to take it a little easier. Anyone arriving with a classic car built in 1994 or earlier is entitled to take part in the Classic Car Meeting. For lovers of sparkling chrome, there will also be a Concours d’Elegance competition from 10 a.m. on both days. There will also be live acts on the stage in front of the castle, an auction and even hot air balloon rides.

Markethings has also thought of off-road and motorcycle fans

If you already have a rally track and off-road terrain at your disposal, why not make use of it? That’s what Niels Schoenmakers thought when preparing the Hesbaye Historic Festival. Throughout the day, all drivers of historic off-road vehicles will have the opportunity to dig through the dirt in the off-road area. If that’s not enough, you can take part in the Heritage 4×4 Tour. In addition to a few laps of the off-road area of the castle park, you will receive a road book for a free off-road tour around the castle.

Markethings also has an ace up its sleeve for motorcycle fans. From the early hours of the morning, historic motorcycles can be seen racing around the castle’s own circuit. The sessions for different classes start at 10 am. Fans of classic enduro and rally raid bikes can also make the off-road park unsafe in their own sessions.

Ticket options and prices

All tickets include day tickets for the Hesbaye Historic Festival. For day visitors without participation in tours or rallies, a day ticket costs 25 euros, the weekend ticket 35 euros. *) Participants in the Classic Rally Stage and the Heritage 4×4 Tour can take co-drivers from the public with them. Tickets for this Co-Pilot Experience cost 20 euros per ride. The proceeds will be donated to a local charitable organization.

Tickets can be booked directly via the Hesbaye Historic Festival ticket store. There you will also find further information about the activities on the festival grounds and the offers for motorcyclists.