Vastelaovand in Mestreech!!!

The carnival officially starts when the Mooswief swings from a pole on the Vrijthof

Friends of this blog will remember our entry called 'Bloasmuziek' dating back to last spring. You will have noted that the members of the BD-team have a soft spot of the southernmost Dutch city called Maasstricht. We think it's a beautiful town with a gentle and often elegant population and we were very pleased that we were invited to share the fun of the annual carnival, which is considered by connaisseurs to be the best carnival in Holland. We suspect they might be right.

Carnival parade in the old centre of Maasstricht

Carnival is celebrated foremost in the southern, traditionally catholic provinces of Holland and it's said that people from the north don't know how to do that. There is truth in that, though it's also a fact that some southerners do not care for it. The BD-team member found it a hoot for a night and an afternoon, but cannot imagine to carry on for three days. Because that's how long it takes.

The carnival starts when al large doll called 't Mooswief' is hoisted from a pole on the famous Vrijhof square after sunday mass. From then on, the city is ruled by Prince Carnaval and his Council of 11, a mock government. During carnival things are turned upside down, ranks and class are of no value and mocked by the revelers.

'Clergy'

bust of 'saint Gerd', the mayor of Maasstricht of Maastricht who recently saw himself constrained to step down from office, because his real estate acquisistion methods were considered to be 'unsound'. People still love him there, though...

This is not not the cast of an old fashioned staging of die Walkure, but
members of 'de Bataoave' carnivalsclub enjoying the sunday parade

Example of a 'zaate hermenieke'

People are organised in parish- neighbourhood or street clubs, who spent many hour to prepare for the three days of merry making preceding the 40 days lent period. Much time and money is spent on the costume and make up. Many people play and instrument and together they form the so called 'zaate hermeniekes' (shitfaced fanfares). Taking part is more important than playing in tune.

Much time and money is spent on the 'pekske' and make up, but there are exceptions

It's quite easy to spot the Northerners. Here we see two, given away by their uninspired attire, faulty make up and overall un-festive attitude.

Revelers on sunday afternoon

For three days, funnily clad people roam the streets, from one square to the other, from one pub to the next, until on ash wednesday the priest shuts the thing down and everybody goes home with a cross of ash on their foreheads.

Members of a samba drum band

It hardly gets more colourful than this

The Lord knows what he's supposed to be, but it looks very funny

That reminds me, I have to do that tax stuff before the end of next month...

And today we leave you with an image of some high ranking members of the 'Bataoviere'. One doesnt' get any closer to aristocracy in Messtreech in carnival time.