To save on increasingly expensive diesel oil, the fair in IJsselstein opened an hour and a half later than usual on this drizzly Thursday afternoon, at three o’clock. And in the evening the fairground lights now go out half an hour earlier. A consequence of the war in the Middle East.
Just after the late opening time, students and (grand)parents with (grand)children stroll and stroll across the egg-shaped, stimulating site. “I smell poffertjes,” someone exclaims with delight. Three boys let their eyes wander over the brightly lit attractions. They are unsure how best to smash their ten-dollar note. An exhibitor complains to a security guard that hardly anyone will show up due to the cold. Real crowds are only expected this Easter weekend.
Popular attraction the Crazy Dance is powered by large red wheels that resemble an old-fashioned steam train. Besides this one spin ‘n pukeattraction, which features illustrations of party animals and a peace symbol, contains two generators.
“The latest of the latest, silent and more economical,” says organizer René Duursma, who organizes 56 fairs a year throughout the Netherlands. There is indeed no humming to be heard. There are screams from girls swinging around in their gondolas a few meters higher, while the smoke machine exhales heavily and the exciting dance song ‘Pull Over’ by Speedy J plays.
The cotton candy stall and Crazy Dance attraction.
Photos Merlin Daleman
The relatively small fair in the former fortified city uses 75 liters of diesel oil every hour. In addition, cars and trucks that drive around the attractions, fencing and all other facilities must be constantly refueled. “Without fuel we are nothing,” says Duursma. If the price of diesel oil fluctuates by 10 percent, he says it doesn’t matter. “Allemeneur, you can’t always dance with the princess. But we cannot arm ourselves against a diesel price that rises from 1.70 to 2.50 per liter,” said Duursma.
According to the organizer, increasing the price of tickets again is not an option. Then the amount may have to increase by 25 percent. The public has rediscovered the shooting galleries, carousels, bumper cars and grabbing machines after the corona crisis. It would be stupid to chase that group away again, says Duursma.
Would you like to work more energy-efficiently? Previously, fairground operators purchased sufficient grid power from municipalities, Duursma explains, who in turn paid a fixed amount annually to grid operators. But in practice, the events industry only used that electricity for four to six weeks per municipality, so that cost local authorities too much money. In any case, the power grid is overloaded.
That is why it seemed more practical to simply throw in a few more generators at the fair. “That feels a bit contradictory, because as a society we want to be environmentally conscious and cleaner and prefer to work with green energy,” Duursma responds. Moreover, it is less suitable for wartime.
René Duursma organizes 56 fairs a year throughout the Netherlands.
Photo Merlin Daleman
We are not pathetic or needy, but the prices are so extreme now, beyond our control
Fair operator René Duursma
Ruud Gullit in Orange shirt
To grab the attention of visitors, stall owners have decorated the panels of their attractions with American gangsters from the Al Capone era, statues of elephants and toucans and a cartoon version of Ruud Gullit in the Orange Shirt. An inflatable Spiderman doll surveys the grounds. Cuddly bears with the characteristic print of Gucci or Burberry as fur await a buyer in glass cabinets.
Thanks to their candy pink fleece vests and bright yellow aprons, Mario Holtkamp and Gert Geertsema also catch the eye. The Tukkers stand shoulder to shoulder between the stacked buckets and cones of cotton candy in a stall with a circus-like roof. They have to pay a fuel surcharge of 25 percent for the generator. “We don’t want to pass that on, because the fair already has a reputation for being expensive.”
Earlier this week they spent 330 euros at the pump for their two company buses. They do not like switching to electric vehicles. “We cannot afford that for the time being.” Moreover, they have to reload every now and then because they are pulling a heavy stall.
The conversation is interrupted by a boy looking for cotton candy. He wants to know how much the cone costs. “7 euros,” answers Holtkamp. The customer thinks for a moment. The 5 euro bucket fits his budget better. Holtkamp and Geertsema notice that customers have become more critical and study the price list more often.
Calypso ticket sales at the fair in IJsselstein. The operators are not interested in raising prices further.
Photos Merlin Daleman
Not pathetic
The fairground operators will have to consult with the government, Duursma argues. There will have to be compensation, he believes, for example temporarily removing the excise duty on fuel. “But perhaps there is a completely different solution.” His professional group would like to think about this. For example, during the corona crisis, “reasonable” arrangements were made, he reflects. “If you acted a little normally, you would be fine.”
The government is currently developing possible measures regarding higher energy and fuel prices and promised to return to them at the end of this month. Minister Heleen Herbert (Economic Affairs and Climate, CDA) previously stated that “it is wise to think before we take the first measures.” Also because the economic consequences will remain felt for a longer period of time.
Fairground holders feel let down by The Hague, says Duursma. He understands that politicians initially said: just wait and see how long it takes. But now they have to get moving, he thinks. “It’s taking too long.” The realization has not yet sunk in, he thinks. “We are not pitiful or needy, but the prices are now so extreme, beyond our control.”
Duursma has “complete understanding” for truck drivers who slowly chugged across the Afsluitdijk in protest on Thursday. If the situation does not improve, the organizer will consider similar actions. “The fair industry can make the world go round, but it can also stop it.” Fairground operators are not the people to block a road, he adds, but “we have to be able to do business.” “I don’t understand why it has to come to this.”
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