History of Kruikenstad
Carnival in Tilburg may seem like an age-old tradition, but appearances can be deceiving. Behind the green and orange scarves, the parades, and the Kruikenzeiker lies a story of prohibitions, nicknames, and a nickname that the people of Tilburg are now proud of.
The Tilburg Carnival Foundation was established in 1965. This did not happen overnight: for over a hundred years, public carnival celebrations were banned in Tilburg. Compared to other carnival cities, carnival in Kruikenstad is still relatively young.
The name Kruikenstad refers to Tilburg's textile history. In the days of the wool industry, urine was used in the processing of wool. Tilburg workers took this urine to the factory in a jug. Outside the city, they were therefore called ‘kruikenzeikers’ (jug pissers). When urine was later replaced by chemicals, the practice disappeared, but the nickname stuck. For a long time, it was used as a derogatory term for the people of Tilburg.
When Carnival celebrations were allowed to resume in public in 1965, a life-size jug was initially chosen as the symbol of Carnival in Kruikenstad. That statue did not last long and was destroyed in 1967. So something else had to be found. The solution was found in the Kruikenzeiker. This turned a derogatory nickname into a badge of honor.
The name Kruikenstad refers to Tilburg's textile history. In the days of the wool industry, urine was used in the processing of wool. Tilburg workers took this urine to the factory in a jug. Outside the city, they were therefore called ‘kruikenzeikers’ (jug pissers). When urine was later replaced by chemicals, the practice disappeared, but the nickname stuck. For a long time, it was used as a derogatory term for the people of Tilburg.
When Carnival celebrations were allowed to resume in public in 1965, a life-size jug was initially chosen as the symbol of Carnival in Kruikenstad. That statue did not last long and was destroyed in 1967. So something else had to be found. The solution was found in the Kruikenzeiker. This turned a derogatory nickname into a badge of honor.
The kruikenzeiker statue
The Kruikenzeiker statue, located on Nieuwlandstraat, has its own story. This statue was a gift from the Tilburg Carnival Foundation to the city, in honor of the 22nd anniversary of carnival in Kruikenstad. The Kruikenzeiker is based on a person who can be seen in a group photo from around 1905. His name is unknown, but we do know that he worked at the Nard de Beer factory.
The Kruikenzeiker is therefore more than just a statue. It is a reminder of where Tilburg comes from, how a derogatory name became a source of pride, and why carnival here feels like something that belongs to all of us. So the next time you come across it, take a moment to look at it a little longer.
The Kruikenzeiker is therefore more than just a statue. It is a reminder of where Tilburg comes from, how a derogatory name became a source of pride, and why carnival here feels like something that belongs to all of us. So the next time you come across it, take a moment to look at it a little longer.
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