With the carnival parades just around the corner, some construction clubs in our province have suffered a major setback. The rules surrounding their carts are being tightened considerably, meaning that from now on, for example, only a maximum of twenty people are allowed on the cart. “It doesn’t get any easier.”
The stricter rules come from the various insurers of those cars. “The discussion has been going on for years,” says Edwin Broens of the Brabant Carnival Federation. “I think the reason was that accident with that monster truck in Haaksbergen. That led to all kinds of discussions about safety at these types of events.”
It was already known that some changes were also planned for the carnival parades. “There was already a first announcement about six months ago.” But now, with only about two weeks to go until the start of the party, it is clear what exactly those changes entail.
“There are now two insurers that construction clubs can contact. One will now only allow twenty people on the truck, the other requires that all vehicles are the property of the association. But yes, not every club has its own truck. These are often rented or borrowed. The impact of those changes is now becoming clear at a late stage.”
“You don’t want to look like you’re flouting the rules.”
In recent days, the Federation has written a letter to the 133 member associations. The reactions vary, says Broens. “Some say: if this is it, we have to make do with it. Others are disappointed that there are new rules for carnival. It doesn’t exactly get any easier.”
According to Broens, the changes will not have the same impact everywhere. “In places like Breda and Roosendaal you have many large wagons, which in practice do not have that many people on them. But if you look at the prince’s wagon with us in Uden, you are talking about the Council of Eleven, a dance group, the court chapel … That’s a lot more than twenty. So some of them won’t be able to participate this year.”
Broens is not afraid that many clubs will increase that limit slightly. “We have many responsible boards. Most of them do not want to take that risk at all. Photos will eventually end up in the press and you don’t want to have the appearance that you are flouting the rules.”
2024-01-31 20:49:58
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