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Celebration of carnival in Kerkrade, the Netherlands

Clowns contest in Kerkrade 2008

Clowns contest in Kerkrade 2008
First of all of course the anthem of the province of Limburg with Joost and Jack
society Voldoa on the catwalk on town square
Klaboesterbiere this year again participating
Beppie Kraft and Frans Theunisz participate on the clowns contest

The clowns contest - in former days called wandering of the clowns - was very special again, just as last year. While various carnival artists and bands from Kerkrade, the province of Limburg and abroad, the carnival societies present themselves to the jumping, swinging and singing audience on town square. Presented it was by our own Joost Meys, Jack Vinders and Raoul Deckers. Of course we wanted to be there right from the beginning. Unfortunately there was some rain from time to time, to be honest, it could be worse. Fortunately all of the regional artists gave all they had: Beppie Kraft, Frans Theunisz, Sjef Diederen. The overture was for our very own Martino's, who won the carnival song contest of Kerkrade with the song "Mit inne feste paaf, kunt d'r Joep van d'r sokkel aaf." But who pleased us most were two boys who name themselves the Kirchröadsjer Steierbuben with their medley D'r Jroeëse Kirchröadsjer Vasteloavendslidjer-Walz, that contains 36 lines from Kerkrades carnival songs. But the song that it was based on we think is great too. For the first time I heard it on the men's carnival session in the Roda hall with the text to sing along projected on a projection screen. All lines from German schlager songs (Schlag is the German translation for hit) put together as one sing along song. But nobody sitting around me at my table knew from whom it was. At home querying google..., but what for? "Weisse Rosen aus Athen?" "Du hast mich tausend mal belogen?" Generated many results, but not wat I was looking for. Then at last at the toilet of pub d'r Pungel, meanwhile it is called "the Wieëtsjaf", on town square of Kerkrade, the song was to be heard again and the webmaster sighed disappointed: nobody knows who performs that. Somebody looked at the webmaster and answered: Sure, those are the Laatbluiers from town Echt, North of Sittard. We shall see... Of course when arriving the webmaster switched on the computer to look if it was right. Indeed it turned out to be the song Jungfrauenchor - translation would be choir of virgin - the carnivalesque street band de Laatbleujers from Echt. Hooray, that problem was solved. On Sunday after the carnival parade of Kerkrade West we were enjoying a Jägermeister in pub D'r Sjlaagboom on town square and that song was to be heard again. But this time sung in our local dialect. Anita and I looked at each other..."and who the hell are that again?" Nobody around us knew it. fortunately the answer to this burning question came already two days later on tuesday of carnival during the clowns contest: "Ready for you our one and only Steierbuben and they press 36 song titles of carnival hits made in Kerkrade into one number...." "Can you beat that, The Steierbuben."Of course we know them.

Those 2 teen aged musicians from Kerkrade have been on stage on town square before on November 11 2007, participating in the celebration of the opening of the carnival season, in our region and Germany also called the fifth season. "Gimme that camera, quick". Damned, still on photo mode."
If there will not be a cd available with that Vasteloavendslidjer-Walz on it, we still have our live recording from the market place and everybody will be able to enjoy the performance of the Steierbuben that kept everybody dancing. Not of an optimal quality and with a camara man singing along in the background, with a voice that suffered from the previous carnival days and that was of a doubtful quality too.
Just kidding folks. Of course the Steierbuben have their own website and D'r Jroeëse Kirchröadsjer Vasteloavendslidjer-Walz is available there on cd. Marvin and Kevin: At home we have it standing right between those of Wurmtaler musicians and the Palemiger Spatzen. Those two seventeen and eighteen year old boys from Kerkrade prove that today's generation know how to party and celebrate carnival.
Along this way I want to reply to the guest book entry of the parents of one of them: We also think it's great what Kevin en Marvin show and we are glad that we have pleased you with our recording. Also thanks for your compliments to our website.

Grand carnival parade city of Kerkrade 2008

Jemuutlieg beklopd In the grand carnival parade
In Bleijerheide we had to wait for number 118 because we had t enter there with our 119
In the Oranjestraat there was a short stop and thus time for a polonaise
After the grand carnival parade we watched the other carnival groups to finish on town square

This time no full report including lots of photos of the grand carnival parade in the streets of the city of Kerkrade. We joined the parade ourselves as a member of carnival society Jemuutlieg Beklopd. That's absolutely more fun than standing freezing and watching along the streets. Of course there will be some photos of our fun, singing and dancing in the streets during the parade. Despite the bad weather conditions we all had a lot of fun. The wetness and the cold were to blame that especially the bottle with Schrobelèr and other spirits were empty sooner than normal, but on the other hand it put everybody in the perfect mood for celebrating carnival. In the evening after having a meal together we went to the Roda hall and thereafter we remained on town square where there was a carnival wagon near the pub D'r Maat, that produced good music from large speakers and so created a perfect atmosphere for celebrating outside: plenty of place and fresh air. Maybe we should move the activities in the Roda hall to a temporarily sheltered town square.

Children's carnival parade city of Kerkrade 2008

Kinderoptocht Kerkrade 2008
Shooting photos of the children's parade

Anita shot some photos of the childen's parade arriving on town square, in which Jennifer participated under supervision of her father this time"

Carnival Kerkrade 2007

Children's parade city of Kerkrade
Making up in Jennifer's school the Diabolo
After the carnival parade a few beers in the pubs on town square in Kerkrade
Our carnival parade through the city of Kerkrade
All members of the van der Burgt family at the pub "City Corner"
Keep on shooting photos
After the parade to the Roda Hall
Clowns contest on town square of Kerkrade
Op d'r Maat, op d'r Maat
The carnival groups Toddezek and Breuker Batse
Frans Theunisz is swinging with "Prince Carnival" Niels I
Regional artists Beppie Kraft and Big Benny
For ther last time to the Roda Hall this "fifth season".
Carnival Kerkrade 2006
Anita and Jennifer join the main parade
Jumping in the Roda Hall with uncles and aunts

Carnival outside Kerkrade
Eleventh of the eleventh: Cologne
Joining the opening of the carnival season in Cologne
Frans and Gerrie are cooking pea soup
Last beers in a Kneipe
Carnival throughout the years
the webmaster's carnival in Kerkrade throughout the years

On Saturday of the weekend before the weekend of carnival, we visited the Buutte festival in the Brikke Oave in Brunssum, a so called joke teller's competition arranged by Brunssum's carnival society Cv de Streupers. A joke teller as part of those traditional carnival sessions is already the webmaster's favourite act, but six on one evening is really something for risking an aching stomach, including of course the champion of the province of Limburg (and in 2008 that was Jan Geraedts) ...really great! Really a recommendation for people who want to exercise their laugh muscles and of course have some knowledge of Limburgish dialect :=) Put those tickets away already for next year, Louis and Marij.
There in Brunssum we also met the people that invited us to join them on the trip to cologne on November 11th 2008 for the annual celebration of the opening of the fifth season - as carnival is also called in this region and the Rhine land in particular. Viva Colonia! We can hardly wait.

On Sunday of the same weekend the webmaster was back on the men's carnival session after 10 years, of course with the people of carnival society Jemuutlieg Beklopd. What I noticed immediately, which was also confirmed by others, was the very good line up; and what was even more surprisingly...everybody was allowed to finish his act in the temple of foolishness, Kerkrade's Roda Hall. As far as I know a record. Compliments to the organisation Comité. Fortunately not everybody agreed, but for the closing event of a carnival convention I would rather not have chosen the tribute to Queen band. But I would love to hear them again in 2009 on town square on a Saturday night as a side event of the World music Contest (Wmc) that takes place in Kerkrade every 4 years. Erwin of the formerly Merretkoer with a tribute to our Dutch folk singer André Hazes on the other hand I appreciated very much. Erwin is anyhow one the webmaster's favourite artist from Limburg. Beppie Kraft, also called the singing nightingale, I enjoyed for the second time that weekend, because she was also on the joke teller's competition the night before in Brunssum.


The mood is good already en the carnival events will follow each other very rapidly. On Tuesday of the week before carnival auw wieverbal (Women's carnival not recognizable dressed up as witches and other costumes including a mask to be able to make fun of the men) in the pubs on Kerkrade's town square and the main street and the same event yakes place in Aachen two days later on fat Thursday, which I visited along with several people of carnival society of which the webmaster once was a member. Then, on Sunday the three crazy days start including the grand parade on Monday - for those who do not know it yet: the start of it is at eleven past eleven am - and the clowns contest on Tuesday, that will start at eleven past two pm and will again be presented and broadcast by Limburg Television. Let us hope that they gave all they had like last year, because that was an event not to forget. Beppie Kraft, Frans Theunisz etcetera. Let's pray that Our Father is a party animal and postpones the rain till ash Wednesday. For the lovers of examining photos, on the right menu there are some albums of carnival celebrations of the past years.

Höhner meets Nikolaus

Höhner meets Nikolaus: On St. Nicholas day December 6th 2007 in the Roda hall in Kerkrade there was a concert of the Höhner, the chickens, a band from Cologne, not only popular in Germany, but also in German speaking areas along the border to German in the Netherlands. The organising community had a surprise too: plastic glasses of beer for €2,-, a record as far as I can remember.

Celebrating the opening of the fifth season (carnival).

The council of eleven (again eleven ;-) did not keep it dry on the first day of the carnival season 2007/2008. Despite the rain Anita and Jennifer can't be held back from celebrating and having fun, which is normal during carnival, and so it is in Kerkrade on the eleventh of the eleventh. In particular during carnival nobody says "Kerkrade", but Kirchroa, as like that Kerkrade is called in dialect.

Erwin (of the formerly very popular Merretkoer) is one of our favorite carnival singers and he sang his most famous songs during the opening of the carnival season in Kerkrade. Icon Frans Tiedtke, who celebrated his jubilee being folk and carnival musician for 6 times 11 years and 11 months on November 10th 2007.

Kartoesj is also acting on the stage of the market place in Kerkrade during the celebration of the opening of the carnival season. They won the carnival song contest of Limburg. Simply stretching the arm and shoot a world class photo on the celebration of the opening of carnival: three of a kind: René, Anita and the webmaster 

 

© Jos van der Burgt