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50th Edition of Spakenburg Days Kicks Off with a Festive Start
It took three years because of the pandemic, but this morning the Spakenburg Days finally kicked off again. For four Wednesdays in a row, the village by the harbor will be celebrating, with market stalls, performances, and a spotlight on traditional costumes from all over the Netherlands.
Live TV segment and article by Ulrike Nagel.
00:00 RTV Utrecht 00:24 Ulrike Nagel 01:20 Segment on the 50th edition of the Spakenburg Days 03:13 Ulrike Nagel
Ulrike Nagel reports live from the Spakenburg Days
Sunshine, 28 degrees, and lots of cheerful people—by 10:00 a.m., it’s already bustling and lively at all the market stalls. They offer something for everyone, from fish (of course) to oliebollen (yes, really). Mayor Melis van de Groep, dressed in traditional costume, walks past the fishing boats and stalls with his daughters, chatting with the residents of Spakenburg along the way. “Yes, people stop me all the time, but that’s just fine. It’s a celebration and a homecoming; this is the 50th edition, and it’s fantastic that we can do this again. And all in traditional costume, no less.”
The second and third days of Spakenburg Day are traditionally even better attended, the mayor explains. But even today, there’s already a lively crowd. It often depends on the weather, too. “If we’d had yesterday’s heat today, we might have had to cancel the festivities,” says Van de Groep, “so I’m glad it’s happening today. This is a blast!”
50th Spakenburg Days (photo: Ulrike Nagel)
On the main stage, various regions of the Netherlands are showcasing their own traditional costumes; today, for example, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and Zelhem in the Achterhoek. Women in black hats look as if they’ve stepped right out of a history book. Ingrid Cortvriendt traveled all the way from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen to be here with her friends. She’s wearing her traditional outfit: a black skirt and large puffed sleeves. “It takes me about half an hour to put this on, so that’s not too bad. Woolen socks underneath and a woolen skirt, too. That sounds warmer than it is, because it’s a natural material and not synthetic, so it’s much more comfortable when it’s warm. But actually, there are supposed to be three more skirts underneath; I just left those out.”
Ulrike Nagel at the Spakenburg Days 2022
Sitting on the bench next to her is another Ingrid from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, wearing beautiful jewelry that matches her outfit. “This is the Sunday version; it usually takes me an hour to get all this on. But luckily, I only wear it a few times a year.”
You’ll see Spakenburg traditional attire on every corner, just like the oliebollen and fish stands. For the next four Wednesdays, you can enjoy all this here—including shanty choirs or simply a beer on the patio. “We’re staying at a campground nearby and cycled over here,” says a man in the front row of the café. “You really hit the jackpot here. Sun, the market, music, a beer to go with it—this is vacation; what more could you want?”
