Den Bosch put itself on the map on Saturday with a carnival car specially designed for the Vuelta. The float was made by various Oeteldonk construction clubs and during the Tour of Spain it will be the signboard of the city where the second stage starts. A nice picture for the whirring television cameras: “If we are to believe the mayor, the images will go all over the world.”
When you think of Den Bosch, you think of carnival. So it is not so strange that the capital of Brabant presents itself during the Vuelta with a special carnival car. The car is completely dominated by Brabant, Den Bosch, Spain and of course the Vuelta.
“On the back is our Bossche dragon, which gives the Spanish bull a kick in the hole”, laughs builder John Meulesteen. “And first, for example, is a Spanish cyclist who fights with our own Hieronymus Bosch. With that there is also a piece of history, because the Spaniards say he was a Spaniard and we say that he was a native of Bossche.”
“You don’t just make such a carnival wagon with your hands, but also with your heart.”
The Vuelta carnival car will be in the Prins Bernardstraat on Saturday where a Spanish festival is being held. “We are proud of it”, says co-builder Jan van den Heuvel about the end result. “You don’t just make a car like this with your hands, but also with your heart. Carnival and the parade are very important in Den Bosch, so it’s a great promotion for the city.”
The car was commissioned by the municipality and took about three months of work. The builders hope that as many people as possible can enjoy their work on Saturday.
“Den Bosch and Oeteldonk are in our hearts and we put that on the map.”
And that should be fine, because the carnival wagon will undoubtedly be picked up by the director of the television broadcast and millions of viewers will see the creation. “If I have to believe the mayor, the car goes all over the world”, beams car builder John. “Den Bosch and Oeteldonk are in our hearts and with this carnival car we put that on the map.”
Watch the video of the second episode of the series ‘Spaanse Brabanders – Our boys in the Vuelta’. In it the Bosschenaren Jan van den Heuvel and John Meulesteen about the special carnival car, but also former rider Bas Maliepaard who stole a stage in 1963 in front of the great Jacques Anquetil.