The piss-pots of Tilburg

Prior to a visit to the city of Tilburg, I wondered what I knew about this city. I couldn't get beyond three items: Willem II; the biggest fair; and the "kruikenzeikerds." I wanted to know a bit more about the "kruikenzeikerds."

King William II

King William II loved Tilburg. He felt safe and happy there. He longed to live there and had a palace built. He laid the foundation stone in 1847, but unfortunately, he died three weeks before it was completed. The palace was transferred by the royal family to the municipality of Tilburg on the condition that a Higher Secondary School (HBS) be established there. This happened, and it was named the King William II College. The most famous pupil of this HBS is Vincent van Gogh, who attended the school from 1866 to 1868. 

The former palace of King Willem II is now part of Tilburg City Hall and is therefore called 'Paleis-Raadhuis'. The city 'breathes' Willem II. The stadium of the Tilburg football club Willem II is also named after King Willem II. And through a statue of Willem II, this king and the city of Tilburg are inextricably linked. 

Largest fair

The Tilburg Fair is the largest fair in the Benelux. Tilburg is proud of this. Every year, between 230 and 240 attractions from home and abroad are set up in a 4,5-kilometer-long ribbon through the city center. On the Tilburg stamp sheet shown below, the words 'Largest fair in the Netherlands' are stated above the Ferris wheel.

Piss-ers

' Kruikenzeiker' is the nickname given to residents of Tilburg by residents of surrounding places.

In earlier times, Tilburg had many textile factories and was therefore also known as “the wool city.” The inhabitants collected urine in jugs. The urine was sold to the textile factories, which used it to give the wool a sturdy structure. Workers also collected small amounts of urine in jugs and took them to the factory. As a reminder of this custom, the statue “De Kruikenzeiker” stands in the Nieuwlandstraat. During Carnival, the people of Tilburg also call themselves Kruikenzeikers or Kruiken, and the city is called Kruikenstad.

(Bron: Postiljon –Topical Covers)