Neighborhood Tiggelaar has won the flower parade in Zundert for the seventh time. With the Wagen Feniks, the neighborhood managed to win both the jury prize and the public prize. “Never get used to it, not even after seven years. It is so special.”
One of the designers, Alex Roelands, is still very nervous for the announcement of the result. “It went fine, until a few minutes ago,” Alex says just before the jury takes the floor. It is his first year as a designer. “We thought after the first procession: this is what it should be.”
“This is super, really great.”
Not much later the phoenix drives up the Corsoboulevard and the jury speaks the legendary words: “You can stop.” Neighborhood Tiggelaar wins the flower parade for the seventh time. And whether that is not enough reason for a party, the neighborhood also runs away with the public prize. Alex and the other designers jump in the air. “This is super, really top,” he shouts as he settles the stands to celebrate with the other members.
Figurants jump off the car and the pushers come out under the phoenix. The boulevard soon fills with party members. “This is great, really great, great! The car was so beautiful in the parade with those flags. We succeeded so well. We really had something like this morning: wow this could be it,” one of the members explains.
The tears flow over the cheeks of a mother who holds two children. “I don’t know what to say, I’m quiet for a moment.” A little later someone tells that it is fantastic. “I have no words for it. We all do it together. We all stand here together. Everyone does their own thing. It’s great.”
“Now we are going to party a lot, dance and have a nice drink.”
A group of boys is also visibly happy. “We thought: nice we have the audience prize. But we were also allowed to stop,” says one of them. In the meantime, one of the extras has sat down. “It has been a turbulent time for me.” He takes a moment to let everything come in.
In 1994, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2016 and 2019, the neighborhood of Tiggelaar also took the first place. This year the neighborhood received no fewer than 602 points from the jury for the phoenix. “I am now there for the seventh time, but I never win. It is so special,” says one of the members.
While the pushers go back to their place to let the audience enjoy the phoenix again, an extra tells how special she thought it was to be allowed to participate. “It was super hot, but very cool to do. Now we are going to party a lot, dance and have a nice drink.”
