Caroline van Loo and Astrid Somers (both Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience) have been looking forward to the coming weekend for months, when the highlight of Carnival will be celebrated not only in Maastricht, but also in the surrounding towns and villages. “Well, carnival actually starts before November 11th,” says Van Loo with a wink. “I sit together with other women from my village Scheulder beforehand and we start thinking about the costume theme for the year. This time we are going as old horse riders, ‘ouwe ruiters’. Often, we also sew something: just find a few scraps of fabric from the storage and get started. It’s really fun.” A few kilometers away, in Noorbeek, people also have been in a party mood for some time. Here the wives of the ‘Raad van Elf’, in which Somers’ husband is active since years, are preparing in their own group. Not only needle and thread in the weeks before carnival are used here, but just also butter, bread rolls and knives just before the start of the parade. Both women are particularly looking forward to leading the polonaise – because that job is only reserved for the princess, who presides over the carnival in the village together with her husband as the prince couple. And Somers and Van Loo are the respective princesses of Noorbeek and Scheulder this year.
Only once
Somers: “A very special position, because you only become a prince or princess once.” Did the two of them also have to walk along doors and ask for votes? “No, it wasn’t that spectacular,” they both laugh. Their husbands have been carnivalists through and through for years, and at some point they agreed to participate as prince couple, they say. Somers: “Me and my husband specifically waited for it, because until seven years ago only a man could become prince in Noorbeek. We wanted to do it together.”
Social function
In addition to the numerous meetings, shows and trains that are on the prince couple's program, both women think that carnival is not just about partying and chatting - they also see the social function of the festivity. Somers: “As the royal couple, we are not only represented in the polonaise, but also come to retirement homes and schools. Carnival brings people together.” Van Loo agrees. The following Tuesday evening it will be all over at midnight. The crown comes off, the music goes out. Suddenly the celebratory mood is gone. Van Loo: “People then say ‘verdorie’, and ‘see you next year!’”