Carnival association ‘t Stiekelzwien from Barger-Compascuum has been around for 60 years. In all this time a lot of honorary members have been appointed because of their boundless commitment to the club. However, one stands out and that is Hendrik Koopman. He was named Knight. In the existence of the carnival association that has only happened once.
Upon arrival it seems like an amusement park. The shed of farmer Hendrik Koopman from Barger-Compascuum is full of colorful structures. Mr. De Owl reads in a corner in now a blank newspaper, while a witch further stuck in front of him. Father Jurgen and son Sander Sullman are busy putting the finishing touches to their floats. Because this weekend it is that time again and the carnival party will start again in Stiekelstad, as Barger-Compascuum is called.
Then the pilot door slides open and Koopman arrives together with the brothers Nick (chairman ‘t Stiekelzwien) and Jim Lingenaar (Prince Carnival) to take a closer look. Koopman has been making his warehouse available for years to cart -build teams. This year he offers shelter to no fewer than three groups. “I’ve been involved in the carnival in the village for about 25 years. What I am doing? I make this empty available, do hand-and-tighten services at the tent and help with decorating the village,” says Koopman.
From an early age he has been concerned with the carnival, which always provides a lot of solidarity in the village. And he simply wants to do his bit. And he just had to be rewarded for that. “I really don’t need the spotlights. But in 2018 the then chairman approached me. The association wanted to do something for me.”
As long as they didn’t make him an honorary member, he said at the time. “Because they all died.” Come on, then just a knight. “And in that case you get this,” he laughs while he points to the copper -colored medal around his neck.
According to Jim, or Prince IEGEL the 60th, that honor is well deserved. “Hendrik does everything for the association. If we need him then he will be there.” That is why they wanted to give Hendrik something special. A unique title. “We only have one knight and that is Hendrik.”
This year, 53 floats and 18 running groups are participating at Rosenmontag, the highlight of the carnival party in Barger-Compascuum. “We don’t have the longest but the most beautiful parade,” Lingenaar winks. Among other things, he points to a car with the title Hello Zwien. The floating car pays attention to all kinds of things that have disappeared from the village. Such as Rabobank, the Kegelcentrum and entertainment Palace IBO-Bar.
“It is a tribute to everything we have had in the village,” explains Sander Sullman. The Sullman group first worked from a rented barn in Emmer-Compascuum. That was far and expensive, says Sullman. “Sanding are scarce, so we are grateful that we can go here.”
For Koopman it is the most normal thing in the world to lend a hand. Simply a piece of after -work, that’s it. “Just stay yourself, then you are doing crazy enough.”