None other than Henk Heilbron (69) of the Keti Koti Alkmaar working group was allowed to open the cheese market this morning. By ringing the bell, he also hopes to attract a lot of attention for the very first Keti Koti celebration in Alkmaar next Saturday. To his great disappointment without rapper Def Rhymz: “Unfortunately he is seriously ill. It has to do with his heart, so he really can’t be there.”
On July 1, the first celebration will start at 1 p.m Keti Koti, the abolition of slavery, loose in De Oude Kwekerij city park in Alkmaar. To announce the celebration in a big way, Henk was allowed to ring the cheese bell at ten o’clock this morning. And he considers that an honor. “I thought it was quite exciting, you don’t know what to expect. But I rang the bell and did the dance,” he laughs.
He would like it, but Henk is not twenty anymore. So when he heard that he also had to carry the cheeses traditionally across the Waagplein, it was quite a shock. “It’s tough, together with those men about 130 kilos of cheese on your shoulders, but I did it. I’m tired, but satisfied.”
He attracted a lot of attention in his brightly colored blouse. And fortunately so, because the main goal was: even more enthusiasm for the event in the city park.
Henk himself has been busy preparing for Keti Koti for months. “Fortunately, I’m not alone in this,” he says. “We are about six people from the working group. About ten volunteers also work on it. In addition to hand-and-span services, they ensure that all children also have a nice day with entertainment.”
Without ‘Grillmeister Def’
At the end of May it was announced that Def Rhymz had been hospitalized with heart problems. It is now certain that he will not be there. “Very unfortunate, because he also has a grill food truck that he would be with that day.”
But don’t worry, because according to Henk there is no shortage of music and entertainment. “The two artists Dennis Hillris and Brian Lo, who perform throughout the day, now end the show. And there are also plenty of bands that provide a good mood.”
Letting go of old
Despite the serious undertone, it should be a fun day. “I am an advocate of connection. Letting go of the old and continuing together in the future. Of course we will honor our ancestors, but then we will continue cheerfully. We will have a party together.”
The organization hopes that at least 200 people will come to the event. “We hope for that, but maybe there will be more after the cheese market, because it was very busy. I think there will be quite a few visitors. Many people respond positively to the celebration in Alkmaar. And as long as there is good food, people are up for anything.”