Despite the rain, most of the students are really enjoying themselves. Belgian first-year student Richard Habiyaremye, for example, who is clearly having a great time dancing to the music. “This is the first real party for me in a long time,” he says enthusiastically. “Even more so because I have just turned 18, and as a result of COVID-19 I have never been to a real festival. I am really enjoying myself here.”
The majority of the maximum of 750 people admitted has crowded around the main stage for the festivities. Because of the Testing for Admittance the one-point-five metre distance regulation can be abandoned. On the rest of the grounds – which includes a number of food trucks and a sitting area – it is a lot quieter. Two barmen try to drive away the boredom by encouraging the few passers-by to order a drink from them. “We are the only ones here that sell special beers, but still everyone is going to the bar next to the main stage,” one of the two sighs.
There is not much going on at the stands for the student associations either. Where usually this is the ideal place to recruit new members, it has remained eerily quiet because of the limited number of visitors. The weather is also not helping: the inflatable cushions on display by a number of associations, upon which students can play various games, are completely soaked.
Still, a small group of students joins in one of the games. With drenched clothes and laughing faces, they step off the inflatable cushion. “You have to make the most of it, don’t you,” says American exchange student Caprice van den Assem. As she and her friends are not from the EU, they have to have themselves tested every day in order to participate in the programme. “It is such a lot of fuss with all those limitations, but this is at least better than nothing. The programme yesterday was a bit of a let-down, but this is the best event yet. Let us hope that things will get better and better as we progress.”
After more than two hours, the festival is over for the first group of students. There are another 750 people waiting at the entrance to storm the grounds. On the way to the exit, the mood is one of elation, although here and there is also some disappointment. “Apparently, Antoon is soon to make an appearance. Had I known that, I would have certainly signed up for a second shift.”