The largest fair in the Benelux will start again on Friday. And that means that there is now a lot of construction in the Tilburg city center. Traffic still squeezes through the Spoorlaan with difficulty, between the operators’ trucks. The construction is an attraction in itself for many Tilburgers.
Again this year it appears: you have two types of fairground visitors. Those who enjoy the fair and those who enjoy the construction. And you see that last group now. They are mostly retired men. They stand between the trucks and workmen, looking upwards, to see how the ‘hooggaatie’ (as Tilburgers call the Ferris wheel) slowly but surely becomes round again.
“This brings liveliness to the city.”
“I live in the street behind this and come to have a look every year,” says a man who is standing still at the crossing point of the Spoorlaan. “I especially like how the drivers maneuver their trailers. It’s full everywhere and yet he gets through. The grandchildren are on vacation, so we hardly come to the fair itself. Only if I go get roasted peanuts for my wife.”
A woman standing further on is annoyed by the traffic: “I think it is very dangerous that they have not closed the Spoorlaan. You have to pay close attention when you’re standing here watching. But I do like it a lot. And I am confronted with it all day, because I live near here.”
Frits is watching on the other side of the street. “The technology, the way of working, the activity. This brings liveliness to the city,” he beams. “It is organized chaos. Every year I look with great admiration at all those people who work so hard.”
“If people are happy, the money will come naturally.”
But the hard workers also enjoy it themselves. “It’s going perfectly,” laughs Frank Melissen. “That’s fair. We will arrive in two days, make it a big party and we will be gone within a day.”
After ten long years, Frank is back at the Tilburg fair: “My grandfather stopped and said: ‘Boy, go do it! Go drive people crazy again!’ Well, we’re back. Wimpie’s Prize Palace back!”
William Brunselaar belongs to the camel race, which does not involve real camels. With a broad smile, he enjoys all the activity around him: “In a few days we will set up a complete amusement park in Tilburg. That is kicking: for the people on the terraces, but also for ourselves.”
Then Melissen points to a third colleague who arrives. “There is the organ man. The drinking organ!” It turns out to be René Scheepers from Breda, pulling the string. He can also laugh about it himself, because he is also in a good mood: “We are going to make people happy again. That’s our life. Because if people are happy, the money will come naturally. We are going to make it a fun party together again.”
The Tilburg fair starts Friday afternoon at three o’clock.
