Slowly, the first students trickle in. Sweet Caroline blares through the speakers. Left and right are bars, run by student associations, where beer is already flowing copiously. In front is a large stage, where a live band will soon provide the music. Their instruments are shielded by glass walls and a net has been spanned at the front of the stage. "This is against beer throwing. There is expensive equipment here and we want to protect it," said the organisers.
What is missing are the long tables, typical of a cantus. This was a deliberate choice this year. "Last year, students stood on tables, which turned out to be unsafe. So this year we chose to do it without tables for once." Speaking is Birgitte Hendrickx, deputy director of the SSC. Together with the INKOM working group, she organises the Cantus, among other things. Everything has been thought of: from security to prices of beverages. "We have deliberately made beer more expensive than soft drinks. Free water is also available." At the entrance, the nix18 rule is strictly enforced in the process: no 18+ band, no cantus.
About 5,000 people have signed up, including 3,600 freshmen. Hector van Eijkelenborg is one of them. Never before he had experienced a cantus. In fact, he didn't really know what it was either. "It's kind of a laugh to see beer being thrown, I'm definitely going to do that myself," he said. To the side of the revelry, a group of first-year internationals look around in amazement. They have just arrived and are (still) dry on the side, but plan not to stay that way. And will they be throwing beer themselves? One does, the other prefers to throw it down her own throat instead.
Among the ponchos stands a senior. Judging by his raspy voice, he has already had a few parties. How does he experience cantus? "It is not an official cantus, but it is a nice party.”