Newsletter
Dear folklore friend,
This coming Thursday, 3 September, we will already be enjoying the last West Frisian market day. Looking back on the past season, I once again cannot avoid a few meteorological observations. For as far as the weather was concerned, the 2026 season was a fickle one. While during the first half we could count ourselves lucky with beautiful market weather, the second half was unfortunately less fortunate. Armed with a genuine ‘heat protocol’, the board felt compelled to cancel the ‘Children's Day’ (Dag van het kind) altogether. It was sweltering and therefore unbearable for people and animals alike. The decision, taken with a heavy heart, met with broad approval.
How different it was the week after. The ‘Ring Tilting Day’ (Dag van het ringsteken) clearly had two faces. The parade went off without any problems, but the ring tilting had barely begun when Pluvius, despite many a quick prayer, opened all the floodgates. Downpours and strong winds meant that nobody stayed dry. My thick woollen suit can take a lot, but at a certain point enough was enough: soaked to the skin! Fortunately, a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, and nobody let it get them down. Our ringmaster for the day, Willem van der Voort, also stood his ground manfully behind his lectern. He kept the spectators, who did not give up either, supplied with information. Afterwards it turned out that everyone had enjoyed it after all. At the prize-giving the sun was even shining again. Richard Tamis and his tilter Danièlle Seegers-Huijberts received the Siem Huijberts trophy as winners. All's well that ends well!
The almost completed season brought a few changes to the folklore board. Jan Dekker, as the new treasurer, had his hands full straight away, and the same applied to Tinka Kriens as secretary. Both have settled in admirably and carried out their duties. Our programme leader Jan Benit took Martin Buis under his wing as an ‘intern’. Martin has to learn the tricks of the trade so that in due course he can take over the baton from Jan. Given the sheer number of jobs Jan does, that will still take some time. For Max Hopmans, the end of his long membership of the board is fast approaching. He will leave the board at the end of this season. A successor for his media portfolio has meanwhile been found in Milou Beets. She will manage the website and look after the ‘traditional’ and social media. She is also involved with the folklore as a coachwoman.
This year, too, the projects ‘Weegschaal’ (being weighed on the old scales for a fee) and ‘Ansichtkaart’ (a photo in costume on a carriage) were once again a success. These activities, which bring in some extra money for Museum Vreeburg, are undoubtedly here to stay.
Sometimes everything seems to be arranged and then suddenly part of the programme is up in the air. That happened during the ‘Collectors' Day’ (Verzameldag). Shanty choir ‘Onder Zeil’ was due to perform but unfortunately had to cancel due to circumstances. Fortunately, their colleagues from shanty choir ’t Scheepstuygh’ turned out to be willing and able to fill this unexpected ‘gap in the sea’. For which, of course, our thanks and praise!
And then this coming Thursday it is already the festive closing day. Naturally, as is tradition, we will close with the joint lunch, followed by the ‘battle for the man and the woman’. When this playful event was brought out of mothballs after many years, I explained at length how it works. Should anyone have forgotten, just join in anyway. It soon becomes clear, and fun is guaranteed!
Thank you in advance to everyone who has contributed to another wonderful season. I look forward to seeing you this coming Thursday and, of course, next year too.
Rienk Mud
Chairman, Stichting Bevordering Westfriese Folklore (Foundation for the Promotion of West Frisian Folklore)
