Yesterday I saw them on our central train station. They were dressed in glitter clothes and stood out between the commuters. These were people heading south to the annual carnaval.

Why they go south?

Historically the South of the Netherlands like Belgium is where our catholic people live whereas the Northern part - above the rivers - is protestant. Festivities like carnaval do not fit in the protestant way of living and as the catholic belief allows for a bit of fun the carnaval developed in the South mainly.

So cities like Eindhoven and Maastricht change their names for a few days and for next week there is not much else going on but carnaval. Never make work appointments during that week. They will be absent!

Party people from above the rivers head south to join the party but are not really part of the incrowd. They just get drunk and stuff.

The first day there is the "carnaval stoet" best explained with a picture:

Cities upfront have selected a prins and secondants who are the boss of the city for a week or so.

So the summarize our February winter carnaval :

IS

IS NOT

have fun
Goldrooster