Three toddlers hang from an orange banner between two trees on the schoolyard of De Petteflet in Groningen. Are you coming to play outside? it says. Only when Spongebob walks onto the grounds do they let go, they want to take a picture with it.
Much less attention are drawn to the few mayors in suits who enter the schoolyard shortly afterwards. It is quite a funny sight: among all those bright children, dolls and parents in sunglasses, the mayors – in suits but without a tie – look strange.
Fresh from the VNG (Association of Dutch Municipalities) annual conference, they can also come and ‘play outside’. Every year all mayors meet in a different city, this year it is Groningen.
Loud cheer
Little has been spared to please the mayors. Music, garlands, animated puppets, a children’s choir and of course the press for a photo opportunity. And the kids are up for that.
They surround the mayors with loud cheers, hands in the air. Also in the game of football, briefly – after all, it is warm, the dignitaries bravely participate. But then the children run back to the climbing frames.