Carnavalsverenigingen: in conversation with Moeilijk Straal
In this article, you will learn more about carnival in Kruikenstad and club life. We spoke with Moeilijk Straal, a Tilburg carnival club founded in 2013.
About Moeilijk Straal
Dirk: "We started out as CV msvdbfr, which stands for “Moeilijk Straal van de bizar fraaie kaart”. That turned out to be quite a difficult name for a lot of people. So, a while ago, we shortened it to Moeilijk Straal."
Sander: "We started in 2013 as a group of friends who dressed the same. Then we thought, we want to do more with the foundation. You don't really get to experience the official parties that take place beforehand if you're not in a society. At least, that was our idea. So we thought, let's start a society. That way, you get to experience more of what's going on and what's involved. So we started attending all the parties beforehand, and then you realise that there's much more to it than just those five days that people are familiar with. And I find that one of the more enjoyable aspects. Of course, I love those five days, but I sometimes find the parties even more enjoyable."
Gilbert: "Yes, I only joined about five years ago. Before that, I was in a carnival club with my grandfather. At a certain point, those men got too old, so it no longer existed in that capacity. And then I went to those guys, my friends from secondary school, so that was a warm welcome."
Sander: "We started in 2013 as a group of friends who dressed the same. Then we thought, we want to do more with the foundation. You don't really get to experience the official parties that take place beforehand if you're not in a society. At least, that was our idea. So we thought, let's start a society. That way, you get to experience more of what's going on and what's involved. So we started attending all the parties beforehand, and then you realise that there's much more to it than just those five days that people are familiar with. And I find that one of the more enjoyable aspects. Of course, I love those five days, but I sometimes find the parties even more enjoyable."
Gilbert: "Yes, I only joined about five years ago. Before that, I was in a carnival club with my grandfather. At a certain point, those men got too old, so it no longer existed in that capacity. And then I went to those guys, my friends from secondary school, so that was a warm welcome."
What does it mean to you to be part of a carnival club?
Dirk: "Being part of an society gives us something we all look forward to. Some people have a football team they do everything with; for us, it's the carnival club The parties are all marked in everyone's calendars, so those are the moments when you see each other. We're all getting a little older, some of us are having children, so this is kind of the glue that holds the group together."
What makes Tilburg unique?
Gilbert: "What makes Tilburg unique is that all kinds of clubs are welcome here. It's great if you wear the colours of Tilburg, but if you don't, that's perfectly fine too. I think it's just a brotherly city. It doesn't matter who, what or how, everyone can just get along during carnival. Everyone is welcome. But of course, the colours of Tilburg are the most beautiful."
Sander: "And if you get a beer spilled on you, well, that's just part of it. Everyone is just really friendly."
Sander: "And if you get a beer spilled on you, well, that's just part of it. Everyone is just really friendly."
What things really belong to carnival in Tilburg?
Dirk: "I definitely think it's the traditional events. It's not just about certain stages set up somewhere, but also actual events such as D'n Inhaol. How the prince arrives at the station and then goes to the square. Then the Kruikenzeiker is carried and placed on his pedestal. That's when carnival is officially opened. The prince is given the key to the city, and then carnival has really begun. Those kinds of customs, those kinds of traditions, are what I really love about carnival in Tilburg."
Does your society have a tradition?
Gilbert: "It has become a tradition that at least once during carnival, the entiresociety goes to my grandmother's flat to fry food together. We fill the deep fryer, empty a crate of beer, and it's always great fun. "
Dirk: "Other traditions include our outfits, of course. Since year one, we've all worn Scottish kilts and black smocks."
Dirk: "Other traditions include our outfits, of course. Since year one, we've all worn Scottish kilts and black smocks."
What are the hotspots during carnival?
Dirk: "I think the great thing is that there is so much. Everyone who has a society generally organises their own event. Almost all clubs have a residence, just like we are here at Van Horen Zeggen. So, for the clubs that have a residence, I would recommend going to those kinds of parties. That's the real carnival, the traditional carnival, of course."
Sander: "And just go from place to place. Don't necessarily stay in one place, but first go to De Heuvel, then De Korte Heuvel, and if it's too crowded there, walk on to Piusplein, or else turn the corner there, where you'll find a tent and a square towards Kattenrug and ' Elfde Gebod. From there, you can continue on to Willemsplein, so you always have something to do."
Gilbert: "And start early, because you don't have to wait until eight or nine in the evening; it's already lively from eleven in the morning. When it gets too crowded in the city, it's time to go home."
Sander: "But we always say that, and it never works."
Sander: "And just go from place to place. Don't necessarily stay in one place, but first go to De Heuvel, then De Korte Heuvel, and if it's too crowded there, walk on to Piusplein, or else turn the corner there, where you'll find a tent and a square towards Kattenrug and ' Elfde Gebod. From there, you can continue on to Willemsplein, so you always have something to do."
Gilbert: "And start early, because you don't have to wait until eight or nine in the evening; it's already lively from eleven in the morning. When it gets too crowded in the city, it's time to go home."
Sander: "But we always say that, and it never works."
You won Zumme Zinge?! this year. Would you like to share any thoughts on that?
Dirk: "I would like to say to other clubs, just do it. Write songs together"
Sander: "Just the experience of writing and recording is real, that alone. For me, the song doesn't even have to be released. The first time we were all in the studio together and the writing session before that, I actually thought that was more than enough."
Gilbert: "You can really see it growing. The first year we participated in zumme zinge?!, the enthusiasm wasn't that high, but since then it's been growing."
Sander: "You see more and more clubs doing it too, yes."
Gilbert: "Like us, writing a song together with the whole gang, yes, that sounds like 'Carnavalsmuziek'."
Sander: "Just the experience of writing and recording is real, that alone. For me, the song doesn't even have to be released. The first time we were all in the studio together and the writing session before that, I actually thought that was more than enough."
Gilbert: "You can really see it growing. The first year we participated in zumme zinge?!, the enthusiasm wasn't that high, but since then it's been growing."
Sander: "You see more and more clubs doing it too, yes."
Gilbert: "Like us, writing a song together with the whole gang, yes, that sounds like 'Carnavalsmuziek'."
Can you tell us something about the event you are organising this year?
Dirk: "We used to have a party at the Closhard. On the Friday of carnival, which was basically our own carnival opening. We didn't do that for a few years, but then we thought it was time for our own party again. We started to get excited about it again. So this year, on the Friday of carnival, we're organising our own event on De Heuvel, on the main square. We've booked artists that we really like ourselves. We hope that lots of people will come. It's just how carnival should be: outside on a square, no fences, no tickets, so everyone is welcome. It's called Hill Veul Fist, so it will be Hill Veul Fist."
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