Yesterday at 3:50 PM • Modified yesterday at 9:07 PM
Not only thousands of fans watched Willem II’s match against FC Volendam with their nails on Saturday, Tilburg entrepreneurs also found it exciting. The sporting victory means a tribute and therefore glorious days for the catering industry. The team will be honored on the hill in Tilburg on Monday. “Last time, 1,000 liters of beer was not enough. That’s why we ordered 3,000 liters of beer,” says pub owner Leroy van Gestel.
While most fans are still sleeping off their victory rush, there is a busy hum of trucks and the metallic cheering of hammers on scaffolding poles on the Hill. The tribute of Willem II starts on Monday at three o’clock and that means that this Sunday is anything but a day of rest. A party area should be created around the statue of King Willem II.
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Ready on time
“We heard at nine o’clock yesterday that we had to get to work. We immediately started getting everything ready,” says Maarten van Kruizendijk, who is building the stage. The first posts were erected just as the most loyal fans were returning home. “We started at six o’clock this morning,” says the stage builder.
It’s a big job, but according to Maarten it will be finished on time anyway. “We are already working on the light and sound, so it will be fine. We are happy that it will continue. We were also allowed to build this two years ago.” Then Maarten’s construction team had a little more time. “Now it’s short notice. There will be another stage and the first aid tents there,” Maarten lists, before he gets back to work.
Every now and then avoiding forklifts with scaffolding poles, pub owner Leroy van Gestel is busy with his own preparations. “We ordered 3,000 liters of beer. We heard from neighbors that 1,000 liters at the previous ceremony was not enough,” says the boss of Ut Klèèn Kafeeke. “It will arrive tomorrow at nine o’clock and it will immediately be nice and cold.”
‘Behind the tap‘
An evening earlier, Leroy was glued to the TV, just like many fans. “We have already made preliminary preparations in recent weeks, but it turned out all right. We can now continue.” The end of the match meant joy not only for him as a supporter, but also as a bar owner.
Isn’t it very tempting to join the party on Monday? “I’m behind the tap here. You have to pay something for the numbers. Besides, I don’t drink alcohol at all,” laughs Leroy.
Then leave the drinking to the supporters. With a cold ‘pilske’ in hand and his Willem II uniform on, fan Frans stands with his comrade to watch how the stage is being built. “We were probably looking for a good place for tomorrow,” says the veteran. Frans takes a sip of his beer. “And we’ll probably drink something beforehand.” The two fans found the match nerve-wracking and talk proudly about their club. “We’ll be here again tomorrow and then the party can start,” laughs Frans.
The promotion party and the ceremony can be seen on Omroep Brabant. On Monday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM you will see a live stream of the festivities on this site and on the Omroep Brabant app. The players’ tribute can also be seen live on Omroep Brabant TV.
