An hour of carnival – excuse me, Vastelaovend – for beginners, in other words. Some sixty people, including a handful of international students and University President Rianne Letschert, fill the front section of the lecture room. First thing’s first: getting their tongues round the carnival’s official song for this year, the Vastelaovendsleedsje. “In the Maastricht dialect, try to follow along,” one Tempeleer instructs the audience, clearly enjoying himself. They respond with a grin and a valiant attempt at singing along – some clearly manage better than others.
Shivers
The lecture takes on a more serious tone when the former prince of the city Stefan is invited to answer some questions. What were the most special moments as the head of the city? Meeting a boy with autism who wanted to get to know the prince, is his response: “His mother said that he had never been this happy before. It still gives me shivers down my spine.” And visiting two people who were terminally ill: “They burst into tears when I entered the room, it was the last time they would ever see the prince.” Both died shortly thereafter.
However, the atmosphere is mostly light-hearted. Especially when one female student inquires whether everybody could become a prince. “You need to be very clever and handsome, that is all,” responds the newly arrived prince of the city Carlo d’n Ierste with a deadpan expression, much to the audience’s delight. Before following that with a more serious answer. Above all, an aspiring prince must possess the Mestreechter Geis – know the spirit of the city and its citizens –, love carnival and speak Maastrichts. Whether women are also eligible is never mentioned.
Celebrate together
But while the linguistic requirement might exclude some of those present from attaining the position, the prince emphasises that it would not exclude them from the festivities. “Vastelaovend is something you celebrate together, and that includes the students and staff at UM. I hope that after today you will all be certified celebrators of carnival.”