New rules are in the making to make the Thursday before carnival in Oeteldonk calmer and safer. The municipal council in Den Bosch wants to ban carnival events on that day. Cafes and other catering establishments that serve alcohol are also not allowed to open until six o’clock in the evening, unless they have permission. The plan still needs to be approved by the city council.
According to the Den Bosch municipal council, the Thursday before carnival has grown into an extra carnival day in recent years. This year, around 42,000 visitors came to the city center. That is twice as much as a year earlier.
‘Balance is lost’
According to municipal officials, this crowding is causing increasing nuisance. Residents complain about this and shopkeepers find it increasingly difficult to do their work. Police and city supervision also say that the situation is no longer tenable. According to the municipality, extra efforts in the city center come at the expense of supervision in neighborhoods and villages.
Mayor Jack Mikkers believes that action must be taken. “Carnival must remain a celebration where tradition and fun go together with respect for each other and each other’s interests,” he says. “We have noticed that in recent years the balance has been lost on the Thursday before carnival.”
‘Difficult decision’
According to Mikkers, it is too busy and the pressure on residents, entrepreneurs, police and enforcement is too great. The municipality therefore wants no outdoor carnival on Thursdays, no carnival in pub extensions and no carnival in restaurants.
The mayor acknowledges that it is not an easy measure. “We have no certainty that we will solve everything at once. These are difficult decisions. So we keep a finger on the pulse and continue to discuss with the parties.”
Hospitality industry angry about plan
Koninklijke Horeca Nederland in Den Bosch and Rosmalen is strongly against the proposal. The catering organizations call the measures disproportionate and harmful to the hospitable character of the municipality.
According to KHN, hundreds of entrepreneurs are affected, including entrepreneurs who are normally open and adhere to the rules.
“We understand that the crowds around the Thursday before carnival have increased significantly in recent years, but the solution that the council has now chosen is completely inadequate as far as we are concerned,” says Otto van den Groenendaal, chairman of KHN Den Bosch.
KHN Rosmalen is also critical. “Entrepreneurs must be able to do business behind their own front door within the existing rules. We do not believe that collectively limiting opening hours for the entire municipality is proportionate,” says chairman Roy van Veghel.
Apply for an exemption
The municipality says that it pays attention to entrepreneurs who do not organize anything related to carnival. They can apply for an exemption to be allowed to open and serve alcohol.
According to the municipality, rules have been chosen throughout the municipality, because the crowds could otherwise move to other neighborhoods or villages. KHN thinks that is too general. The catering organizations prefer customization and cooperation.
In recent years, catering establishments, residents, shopkeepers, the Oeteldonksche Club van 1882 and the municipality have often discussed the future of carnival. This included distribution, programming and maintaining the Oeteldonk character. The parties were only unable to reach an agreement on the Thursday before carnival.
Municipal council decides
KHN is also concerned about the future. According to the catering industry, such a collective intervention can also be used at other events later.
The municipal council has yet to decide on the new rules. KHN calls on the council to take a critical look at the consequences, feasibility and proportionality of the proposal. If the council agrees, the rules can be introduced.