The most visited annual festivals in Bergen op Zoom are Vastenavend (carnival, January/February), JazzBoZ (jazz festival, late May), Krabbenfoor (annual fair, August), and ProefMei (culinary festival, May). These four events together attract the majority of festival-goers to the city.

Vastenavend is the largest annual event in Bergen op Zoom. The Bergen carnival lasts for four days, encompasses the entire city centre, and has been declared intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands.

A good successor is Krabbenfoor with more than 200,000 visitors in 4 days. 

The Crab Fair takes place annually in August and lasts for five days. The fairground and amusement rides fill the Grote Markt and adjacent streets. Current dates can be found at krabbenfoor.bergenopzoom.nl.

JazzBoZ is freely accessible on most stages. Open Monument Day offers free entry to historic buildings. Krabbenfoor, ProefMei and the Magische Winterweken are freely accessible, although you have to pay for refreshments and also for some activities.

The four events you shouldn't miss are Vastenavend (intangible heritage, January/February), JazzBoZ (free jazz in the historic city centre, late May), Krabbenfoor (oldest annual fair in West Brabant, August) and the Magical Winter Weeks with Candlelight Evening (December).

The Bergen festival calendar starts with Vastenavend (January/February), followed by ProefMei and JazzBoZ (May), Krabbenfoor (August), Maria Ommegang and Open Monumentendag (September), Vestingloop and Ellefde van d'n Ellefde (November), and concludes with the Magische Winterweken and Lichtjesavond (December).