1/7 Niek and his son Niek, both with a big heart for the fair. (Photos: Karin Kamp)
The Tilburg Kermis starts on Friday and then it’s swinging, waving, shooting and colliding again. Just like in the past, in complete freedom, without corona rules. Niek Moonen (43) and his family built their attraction, the Toxic, on Wednesday. A meters high thrill ride, of which there is only one in the Netherlands.
The fair has a special place in the heart of the Tilburg family. as a young man Niek already watched how his grandfather was at the fair with ponies. His father and uncle, known as the Moonen brothers, also traveled through the country for years to please people with a ride in their attraction.
As a child, Niek attended a boarding school, but played at the fair every weekend. This is how his love for the profession grew. It’s hard work, making sixteen-hour days. “When I roll into bed, it’s two o’clock, half past two. And yet: I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a way of life and for me there is no other way.”
His attraction Toxic, which he purchased just before the corona crisis broke out, is the only one in the Netherlands. A dizzying ride for the real daredevil, where you fly over the head countless times in a rocking gondola. He has never been in it himself. “Didn’t see me. But when I heard the people screaming, I knew: I must have that.”
“Because you won’t find it anywhere else, I’m always assured of a spot at the larger fairs, such as Tilburg, Weert, Deventer and Groningen,” says Niek. “That is different if you have a more common attraction, of which about six are already registered.”
“Tilburg is a home game for us, we used to be here as a family,” said the operator. “I know a lot of people there. For me it is the most beautiful fair in the Netherlands.”
Niek’s 17-year-old son, who is named after his father, is also dead. He can be found at the fair as much as possible, but he still has to go to school for another year. It is the fervent wish of his parents that he gets his diploma, but the young Niek prefers to work at the Toxic.
“It makes me proud. That this profession continues to exist within the family, that is very important to us,” says his father. “Eventually, he will also get his own attraction that he will travel with.”
During corona everything came to a standstill. “That caused a lot of stress”, the Tilburger looks back.
“You have just invested a lot in an attraction and borrowed a lot of money for it. Then you think: what happens if it never goes back to the way it was? We sold poffertjes for a year and a half, that was our salvation.”
The Tilburg Kermis lasts until Sunday 31 July. On Monday, the family breaks everything down again, and then travels to the fair in Hoorn.