It is a special year for Hans Prenger. 36 years ago he thought he would become Prince of Carnival Association De Kainbongels, but exactly that year the association from Emmer-Compascuum ceased to exist. To his great disappointment, the party was canceled. Now, 36 years after the association disappeared and eleven years after its re-establishment, he can finally fulfill the role.
“After such a long time, I found it exciting, but also very beautiful,” says Hans with a smile. “It is something you look forward to for a long time, and this anniversary year is extra special.”
It is special that Hans is not alone on stage this year. His wife Leonie and son Lars assist him as princess and adjutant. That is something that does not happen often in Kainbongelstad. “Normally you have a prince and an adjutant, or a prince and a princess,” says Hans. “But we just do it as a family. My own wife and son are there, you can’t get any better than that.”
Leonie beams. “It is really something for Hans that he has become a prince. The fact that we can do this together makes it extra special.”
The preparation took the family a lot of time. The suits, the medals, the scepter, everything had to be perfect down to the last detail. “There’s a lot coming your way,” says Lars. “You have to arrange everything, and it takes more time than you think.”
Leonie adds: “We didn’t have a holiday this summer. We wanted to save all the days off to do this properly.” Hans laughs: “Being a prince fills up the agenda quite nicely. You have to make time to work, I always say.”
No one knew that Hans would become the new prince. And something like that is quite difficult to keep quiet if your son and wife are also involved in the plot. “I have never lied as much as I have in the past six months,” says Hans, laughing. “It was exciting, but also fun to keep a secret.”
Meanwhile, at home it was no longer about anything else. “Everything had to be arranged,” he says. “And we did that together.”
He made his application as prince short but sweet. “I wrote in my application letter: ‘I want to become prince of Kainbongelstad, period.’ There was no need for more.”
Because the association is celebrating its eleventh anniversary this year, the family opted for an extra festive look. “We wanted something with gold in our suits,” says Lars. “That fits nicely with an anniversary.”
Leonie clicks on the blue lights in her crown. “This will be a wonderful year for us.”