Dancing and dancing: this is how Zoetermeer residents used to celebrate carnival

You know what I see when I’ve been drinking? All animals. This text, from the music track All animals by Ronnie and the Ronnies, was on the float of De Soetelieten during carnival in the 1970s. Together with De Palenbijters, they were one of the two carnival associations in Soetelande, or Zoetermeer.

Carnival foundation De Soetelieten was founded in 1969. For the next twenty years, carnival was celebrated every year in Zoetermeer. We delved into the archives for old images of carnival-celebrating fellow citizens.

Restaurant De Meerbloem

In Dorpsstraat you will find the SNS Bank branch at house number 121. Restaurant De Meerbloem used to be located there where Zoetermeer residents celebrated carnival.

Parade with floats

For the eleventh anniversary of carnival association De Soetelieden, floats drove through the Dorpsstraat. In 1988, the members of the association celebrated carnival in Zoetermeer for the last time.

Source: AD Zoetermeer