Thursday it’s that time again: the first West Frisian Folklore in the city center of Schagen. Finally, enthusiasts can dress in traditional West Frisian clothing again. It’s just that not everyone has that hanging in their closet, so people can visit the clothes attic for the last time tonight to borrow a suit.
“It is extremely busy at the clothing rental,” says Jan Benit, board member of West Frisian Folklore. In the attic at Museum Vreeburg in Schagen, there are racks full of traditional West Frisian clothing, which can all be borrowed. Each participant can choose a costume and borrow it for a small fee up to and including the last West Frisian Folklore of this season.
After two tough years of corona, the board is ready for ten Thursdays with carriages, traditional clothing and the West Frisian language. Benit expects more participants to participate this year than in 2019. “I think it gives people a kick to participate in the parade. There is a lot of audience watching and you get a lot of compliments,” says Jan.
New wheels
In addition to the costumes, the carriages are also an important part of the parade. “There are always 12 to 14 carriages taking part,” says Tom Bos, who is responsible for the maintenance of the carriages as a volunteer. Those carriages often last quite a few years, so Tom and his colleagues have done a lot of work in recent months. “In some cases, the wheels had to be replaced and they also painted,” he says. Bos expects that the carriages will now be able to ride during the parade without any problems.
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Strollers
This year there are also dozens of prams ready to be borrowed. “I have refurbished them all recently and they will be picked up by participants this evening,” says volunteer Siem Burger. He has worked hard lately to replace the tires on the cars and make the ironwork shine again. “Everything is ready,” said Siem.
It is still possible to pick up a suit from the clothing rental, which is located in the attic of Museum Vreeburg in Schagen, from 7 to 9 o’clock in the evening.