Lampegat’s (Eindhoven) first city princess has resumed her regular duties as a tutor, but looks back on the special 2024 Carnaval period with satisfaction.
City Carnaval Princess Mina d’n Urste (the first) is again called Rosa van den Nieuwenhof. She no longer waves the scepter over Lampegat but tutors Syrian boy Omar. During carnival, she took over from Mayor Dijsselbloem for four days. She visited nursing homes, schools, knighted a sick carnival-goer and saw everywhere she went “people’s eyes twinkle”.
She also paid the school of her tutor-pupil an official visit with her entire entourage of volunteers. Omar: “I was very proud. But also a little shy. Everyone came up to me and said: well done man”.
Fun was number one during those four days when Mina d’n Urste waved the scepter over Lampegat. Too bad for Omar: now the priorities are different again. After all, for tutor Rosa, sums are just as important.
Nine-year-old Anniek Verbunt of elementary school De Achtbaan is a finalist in the competition for best junior pancake baker in the Netherlands.
Today, Wednesday afternoon, 28 February, she competes against Eline from Driebergen-Rijsenburg and Thijn from Utrecht for the coveted title. The participants will bake their pancakes in front of a jury of connoisseurs. Anniek thinks she can convince them: “With my special apple pie pancake I’m going to make something different from the rest”.
Aniek always makes sure the edges of her pancakes don’t get too dark and her secret ingredient is a pinch of salt. The kitchen princess is all set for the competition. “The past few weeks I’ve been practicing so much that we’ve been eating pancakes a lot”, she smiles.
She is excited to compete but losing is not a problem for her. “I’m at least number three in the Netherlands and I’m already proud of that. I don’t necessarily need to win”.
For those who have not yet read enough about the typical Dutch dish, here is another fun fact: Friday, 8 March, is Nationale Pannenkoekdag (national pancake day).
Perhaps not everyone knows what the Ronald McDonald houses offer. Their slogan is “Keeping families close”. This means that parents can stay close to the hospital where their very sick children are. The sick child’s siblings can also stay over so the family can be together. On Wednesday February 28, the Veldhoven RMDH has an ‘Open House’. Visitors are welcome to see the facilities and sample the coffee.
Ronald McDonald Houses provide affordable bedsit rooms, a communal kitchen and laundry facilities. They are always close to hospitals with specialised care. Situations may vary: premature births, operations, cancer treatment, children in intensive care. RMDH Veldhoven is one of the eleven houses in The Netherlands where parents can stay at a stone’s throw from their child. Maxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven is one of ten hospitals with an NICU – a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Bambi belt
A premature baby wearing the ‘Bambi Belt’. Picture Courtesy: MMC
Recently, the hospital introduced a novelty, the ‘bambi belt’. It is a wireless band around the baby’s abdomen, which replaces the traditional spot electrodes that measure heart action and breathing. Currently, electrodes are attached to the delicate skin of a premature baby. This causes skin irritation, can be painful and disrupts the baby’s sleep. The Bambi Belt also make it easier for parents to remove their child from the incubator to cuddle.
Royal visit
Whether this innovation is the reason King Willem Alexander is paying the Maxima MC a visit is unclear. It is certain, however, that aroyal visithas been planned for Wednesday 28th. The King will be given a tour round the hospital and speak with doctors, staff, and parents of premature babies.
McDonalds
McDonalds founded the charity through which the RMD houses can operate. Worldwide, there are now over 380, eleven of which are situated in The Netherlands. However. McDonalds are not the only sponsors. Many companies and individuals support the RMDH with money, goods, or labour. Because the RMD houses depend entirely on charity, such help is the only way in which they can continue to offer their service to families.
Keeping families close
Visitors are welcome in Huis Zuidoost-Brabant on Wednesday 28 February from 10.30-16.00 The address: De Run 4604 in Veldhoven.
The pile of flowers is growing at Uldis’ regular spot on Klein Tongelreplein. Many people want to pay their last respects to the beloved migrant, who died last week after surgery.
Right opposite the entrance to the Albert Heijn with his back against the apartment complex, that was Uldis’ regular spot. This way he could greet all visitors who came out of the supermarket. “Hey girl” he would shout. Or he looked after the dog when the owner went shopping.
People regularly left him something tasty to eat or drink. Or had a chat with the popular man who originally came from Latvia. He didn’t speak Dutch but seemed to understand almost everything. When his legs had to be amputated three years ago, Tongelre held a successful fundraising campaign for an electric wheelchair.
Last honor
Now that Uldis’ wheelchair has disappeared for good, a memorial place has been spontaneously set up on the stones. A photo of Uldis with a friendly smile, a candle and a large mountain of flowers. It grows every day: many residents pay their last respects to the positive migrant with the amputated legs.
Uldis will soon have a municipal funeral. Although he has indicated that he ‘does not want to go into the fire’, it is still unclear whether it will be a funeral or a cremation. The service also has a private nature: only three or four people can be present.
Statue
Uldis was so inspiring to many residents in Tongelre with his sunny character that he deserves a statue, says a lady passing by with a full shopping bag. And it is not unthinkable when you look at the many bunches of flowers. Who knows, maybe this will be a final fundraising project for Uldis after the electric wheelchair.
King Willem-Alexander will visit the Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven next Wednesday. Here he will be updated about innovations in healthcare.
The king will be given a tour of the hospital. Specifically, talks at the hospital will focus on cooperation in the region and how healthcare innovations are being implemented.
Babies
He intends to discuss with doctors and nurses the new developments concerning preterm babies. Parents of a premature baby will also share their experiences with Willem-Alexander.
Máxima Medisch Centrum (MMC) employs 3,500 healthcare workers and researchers.
No one who was in Klompengat could ignore it. The trumpets, saxophones and drums could be heard throughout the village. “We have eleven mop bands* that will make music in all cafes throughout Best.”
Of course you need a musical instrument for that. “I play the saxophone, but I just dumped it in someone’s hand to have a drink. That is very important here.”
It’s not just mopping* that is popular. “We had sausage bread and beer, so the day couldn’t be better,” says another musician. And there is something else to celebrate. “One of our members gave birth last night. She danced on Friday and Saturday, did not drink alcohol and now she has a child.” So who knows, he or she might participate in Klompengat in the future.
*No mops involved. A mop band (dweilorkest) is a traditional carnival band moving from pub to pub to play typical carnival music. The name may come from the swerving course these beer loving bands take. (Info added by EN editor)
Singing together and having fun, but also dwelling on life and being together. That is the Carnival Mass of Lampegat. It is a tradition and this year Catharinakerk was full again. “We do this by and for us”.
Imagine a mass in church during Carnaval, especially dedicated to Carnaval. In Lampegat (Eindhoven) it is possible. It is a catholic event after all.
Carnival is originally a Catholic celebration. It celebrates the beginning of Lent. This is the period of fasting for forty days before Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday. To properly “survive” Lent, a feast is celebrated in the days before Ash Wednesday; Carnaval!
Vur en Dur Mekaor
Every year a Carnaval slogan is chosen. This year for Lampegat it is: ‘Vur en dur mekaor’. Brabant dialect for for and by each other and also mixed up together.
Watch below for the video impression of the Carnival Mass, with speeches, music, humor and a prayer:
(Priest speaks in Dutch)
Carnival floats, hopping people and rowdy crowds lining the sides. Dwèrsklippelgat, Krutjesgat and Klompengat were the scene of a festive carnival parade. See a photo impression below.
During Carnaval, all towns get a different name, chosen because of a historical and often humurous aspect.
Dwèrsklippelgat
Dwèrsklippelgat (Nuenen): a ‘dwèrsklippel’ is Brabant dialect for a naysayer, a person that always is against or a beam that lies transversly. A ‘gat’ is a tiny village.
According the oldest and most persistent story the name arose for the first time during work on Saint Clement’s Church. Workmen tried against their better judgment to carry a beam transversely through the doorway. Dwèrsklippel also refers to Nuenens weaving history as a part of a weaving loom.
Photo credit: Studio040
Krutjesgat
This is the name for Son and Breugel during Carnaval.
It refers to the people of Son and Breugel who, a long time ago, used to collect pine cones in the forests to fire their stoves. And again, a ‘gat’ is a tiny village.
Photo credit: Studio040
Klompengat
That is what Best is called during Carnaval. A ‘klomp’ is a clog and this is because of the clog industry in Best. In winter times, farmers used to make clogs as a side income and this worked well due mainly to the fact that poplars (Canidas trees) were found to grow well in this area.
Photo credit: Studio040
Here an impression of the parade in Klompengat (Best)
(Dutch comments)
Music, dance and of course beer. The atmosphere was good during Concert Carnavalesk in Dwèrsklippelgat* (Nuenen). This musical feast is preceded by a story.
“This event actually arose out of disagreement”, Prince Nexus explained. “A long time ago, all the brass bands wanted playing time for their band. At one point they said in the hall, ‘you know what, why don’t you all put on the same clothes and you’re going to form one orchestra’. It took a few years before everyone agreed, but now for the 35th time we have a great Concert Carnavalesk”.
It wasn’t just enjoyment for the prince, everyone took to the dance floor as well. “I come for the fun, a beer and the music of course. Sometimes he talks a little too much that guy, but otherwise it’s great,” said a carnaval lover.
A disability doesn’t have to stop you from doing great things. With that message, 15-year-old Benjamin van de Kerkhof stars in his own theatre show, together with other young people with disabilities from the region.
“You’re so clumsy!” or “You can’t do this.” Just some annoying comments that young people with disabilities hear. The theatre performance ‘Alone’ takes you into Benjamin’s day where he is completely alone.
“This is really cool! This really suits me. The applause really gives me goosebumps,” says lead actor Benjamin, beaming. He has Dandy-Walker syndrome, a congenital brain defect. “I suffer from stimulus processing, so when everyone talks at the same time I don’t know what to do anymore. I also can’t see well,” he explains.
Spotlight
Anyone who thinks that only Benjamin is in the spotlight is wrong. “Even though my role seems very small, I still get quite a bit of credit,” jokes 16-year-old Tijn van Eenennaam, a good friend of Benjamin. He provides the intro to the show.
Benjamin: “I play myself and you have to accept me. I can give people something in a nice way, that’s very nice.” Tijn adds: “I like to talk about my disability.” He has the posture and movement disorder cerebral palsy. “The more people know about it, the more people can understand.”
Exciting
“It feels very good to be on the podium! Very exciting,” says Jules Moonemans. Problems with his eye and hand coordination do not stop him from shining on stage. “I am more than a disability. I am a person.”
“It’s really going to be a party. I promise you that!”, shouts Benjamin with great enthusiasm. He hopes it sells out. As loud as he can he says, “Everyone should come and see!” The show full of music can be seen on Saturday, February 24 at eight o’clock in the theatre hall of the ‘t Perron community centre in Heeze.
Eindhoven News is working together with SamenUitAgenda.nl which is a platform where you can find all sorts of interesting events. The nice and special thing is that you can get in touch with people before the event or after.
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