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‘s-Hertogenbosch Carnival (Oeteldonk), Netherlands

La entrega de la llave de la ciudad es la ceremonia de apertura de los carnavales de Breda
Carnival Breda (Kielegat), Netherlands
El desfile de carnaval de Nimega conserva los colores tradicionales rojo y negro
Nijmegen Carnival (Knotsenburg), Netherlands

 

What is the Carnival of Bolduque?

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The Bolduque Carnival, in Dutch Den Bosch or Oeteldonk as it is called in carnivals, is a celebration that takes place every year in the city of Bolduque lasting 3 days. The city dresses in red, white and yellow and this combination of colors can be seen throughout the city, in the streets, shields, flag and seals.

This carnival has the particularity of being held under certain rules that must be followed and respected, as this is taken quite seriously. Some of these rules are that the city is transformed into Oeteldonk and here people become farmers or durske (little girl or young woman in the local dialect) and must follow dress rules. Among the garments that must be worn at carnivals are gown, scarf with the red-white-yellow combination, a cap or black beret and a frog. The frog symbol is a joke related to the town’s swamp.



As is customary in the other regions of the country, the Prince Amadeiro, to whom thekey to the city is given. There is also an important character during carnivals called Knillis, a doll or farmer statue which is kept hanging in the market square during the days of the festivities. During leap years, Hendrien, the figure of hishousekeeper is included.

 

During the Bolduque festivities people wear a combination of yellow red and white

During the Bolduque festivities people wear a combination of yellow red and white

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When is the Carnival of Bolduque?

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Ethe Bolduque Carnival will take place from approximately February 14 to 17.

 

 

History of the Bolduque Carnivals

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The carnival celebrations have a similar beginning to the rest of the localities of the region. The carnivals began as a kind of event where people had the last opportunity toconsume food before fasting. Thismedieval tradition was adapted over time, mixing with religious aspects until it became what we know as carnival today. Like the rest of the carnivals in theNetherlands, the festivities had been banned because they were against public order and behavioral norms.

At the end of the 19th century, a repeated request was made for a restructuring of the carnivals, which is how Oeteldonk became known for the first time. There, the different aspects and rules that the carnivals should contain were made known. Thus, in 1882, the Oeteldonksche Club, an organization regulating the carnivals, was founded and in 1883 the Prince of Carnival element was integrated.



Bolduque carnivals have kept the same formula ever since. However, it incorporates new themes or modifies certain traditions, some years it includes events and some years it does not. The Bolduque carnival has had some intermittency, especially during the First and Second World War, adding to the low participation that the carnivals attracted in some years. However, the tradition is kept alive and is still celebrated in the city.

 

Where is the Bolduque Carnival

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The Bolduque Carnival is held in the city and municipality ‘s-Hertogenbosch, also known as simply Bolduque in English. The parade starts at the Van Grobbendoncklaan and ends at the Marktstraat.

 

The streets are flooded with local participants and visitors to participate in the parades and festivities of the Bolduque carnivals

The streets are flooded with local participants and visitors to participate in the parades and festivities of the Bolduque carnivals

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How is the Carnival of Bolduque celebrated?

The carnivals of Bolduque begin their celebrations with the delivery of the keys of the city to the Prince of Carnival on the first day at 11:11am, a small parade is held through the town hall and the “founder” of the carnival is placed in the entrance square. This founder is the mascot of the carnival and is known as Knillis..

The following day themain parade or grand parade takes place. The parade runs through the city and starts at 12:33 and ends around 4:11. Participating are carrozas comprising grupos mayores to 11 people, carrozas menores and of course, the bandas and the bailarines. There is also the children’s parade with the different activities.

On the last day different minor activities are held, the keys of the city are returned and Knillis is removed from the square, thus ending the celebrations.

 

Tips for going to the Bolduque Carnivals

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If you want to participate in the Bosch carnivals, it is necessary that you adhere to the rules of the carnival, that is to say that you dress according to the event. If you have trouble deciding how to dress or you can’t wear a costume, the city has stores where they sell clothes and emblems for the festivities. Also, we recommend planning your trip and your lodging so that you do not have any type of altercation during the carnival season.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:

 

Events in Bolduque Carnival

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On the first day, the opening ceremony takes place. The Prince of Carnival arrives at the main square station and is greeted by his assistant and the royal court. This is followed by a tour or small parade through the town hall and finally Knillis is placed in the square. If it isleap year, Knillis is placed next to Hendrien.

 

 

The following days begin the big celebrations, the music concerts, the parades, the food and the multitudes in the streets. The second day of carnival is when the big parade that runs through the city takes place. You can see the colorful floats passing through the streets and avenues, beside them are the participants in costume, wearing the distinctive colors such as red, orange and yellow. The music bands carry the carnival step and the rhythm reaches every corner of the city. The children’s parade is celebrated along with their parents and they carry out playful activities.

On the last day some minor events are held and the closing of the carnivals takes place. The prince returns the keys of the city and Knillis leaves the square. The mood is somewhat sad, but it is a reminder that the festivities will begin again next year.

 

Carnival mascots stand in the main square during the Bolduque carnival

Carnival mascots stand in the main square during the Bolduque carnival

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Bolduque Carnival Parades

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The Grand Parade or main parade takes place on the second day of carnival and departs from Van Grobbendoncklaan at 12:33pm, runs through the main streets and avenues and ends at Marktstraat at about 4:11pm.

 

Parade route

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The Bolduque caranval parade starts at Van Grobbendoncklaan and ends at the Marktstraat.

The Bolduque caranval parade starts at Van Grobbendoncklaan and ends at the Marktstraat.

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The start of the parade is at Van Grobbendoncklaan, it passes through some other streets such as Graafseweg, Hinthamerstraat, Torenstraat, Oude Dieze, Verwerstraat, Schapenmarkt, Markt, and ends at Marktstraat.

 

Poffertjes is a pancake-like fried dough typical of the area

Poffertjes is a pancake-like fried dough typical of the area

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What to eat at the Bolduque Carnival

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During the festivities, you can find desserts such as the Appelflap, it is a puff pastry dough filled with apple. You can also find Poffertjes typical Dutch, they are a fried dough similar to pancakes, but smaller and sweeter.

The town of Bolduque offers a few local eateries, the most popular are 7evenden Hemel, Lunch & Dinercafé van Puffelen and Le Bateau offering contemporary, regional and vegetarian food.

 

Appelflap is a puff pastry pie with apples typical of the region

Appelflap is a puff pastry pie with apples typical of the region

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Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Bolduque Carnival

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Within the carnival you can be part of the festivities, from the opening ceremony with the arrival of the Prince of the Carnival, with his tour of the town hall and the placement of the carnival mascot. Then you can participate in the Grand Parade and finally take part in the minor events, concerts and performances that take place during the carnival. In addition, also attend theclosing ceremony of the carnivals..

If you don’t want to get complicated, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside the Bolduque Carnivals

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The city of Bon Bosch has some tourist attractions of great importance, these are:

Jheronimus Bosch Art Center

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It is an art gallery that contains replicas of the paintings and drawings of Jheronimus Bosch. This gallery was inaugurated in 2007 by the artist Pieter van Vollenhoven Jr.

 

Het Noordbrabants Museum

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It is a museum of art, culture and history. Its opening dates from 1983. The collections include works from prehistoric times to the present day.

 

De Bossche Markt

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It is the municipal market that has existed for over 900 years. Here you can find a wide variety of food, fruits, vegetables and meats, including flowers and clothing.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

Book tickets in the city you are visiting

 

Safety at the Bolduque Carnival

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The city of Bolduque is relatively safe, although some locals consider it somewhat dangerous. You can feel safe walking the streets during the day and stay alert and contact the authorities if you witness any unusual activity.

It is always a good idea to keep your valuables in a safe place to avoid theft and misplacement. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your valuables safe:

 

 

Weather at the Carnival of Bolduque

 

During the carnival festivities, the weather is somewhat cold and the temperature ranges between 1 and 7 degrees Celsius. We recommend you bring warm clothing during the festivities.

 

The second day of Bolduque's carnival is the main parade with floats

The second day of Bolduque’s carnival is the main parade with floats

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How to get to the Bolduque Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The nearest airport is Eindhove Airportn. Once there, you can reach the city of Bolduque via different means of transportation.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From Eindhoven Airport, take the bus on lines 401, 400 or 10 to Eindhoven Station. From there you transfer and at Eindhoven Central Station, board the train indicated and you will arrive in the city in 20 minutes.

 

How to get there by bus

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From Eindhoven airport go to Eindhoven station using bus lines 401, 400 or 10. Once there, use bus lines 156 or 154 to get to the city. The trip takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.

 

How to get there by car

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From Eindhoven airport take the A2 freeway to the city. The drive is 20 minutes.

 

Where to stay at the Bolduque Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Best Western Plus City Centre Hotel Den Bosch

4-star hotel 250 meters from the city center. Facilities offer bar, free internet and parking area.

 

The Duke Boutique Hotel

4-star hotel 250 meters from the city center. Rooms have air conditioning, bathroom with shower and toiletries. Facilities offer free internet, bar and restaurant.

 

Mövenpick Hotel ‘s Hertogenbosch

4-star hotel 2.5 km from the city center. Rooms have flat screen TV and bathroom with toiletries. Facilities offer restaurant, bar, free internet and are adapted for people with disabilities.

We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:

 


Booking.com

 

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