Jos Lamers

Jos is the owner of the Lamers pastry shop in the city center. Due to the carnival, it has to close. To still have an enjoyable day with the pastry shop, they kick off the carnival with a fun tour through the city with current staff, former staff, and interns. They do this on carnival Friday. They start in Keizerstraatje at the gate with the bronze “Köpkes”. “We’ve been doing this for years and we’ll keep doing it for years to come!” says Jos.

One of the bronze Köpkes is made in honor of his father. Jos's father is present for this tour and looks around with gleaming eyes from his mobility scooter. In Keizerstraat, they spontaneously declare a prince(ss) in the heat of the moment. So after Jos's speech, someone from the staff is chosen who receives just a bit more attention that evening than the rest. “Of course, that person doesn’t have a cap or hat, but along the way, we’ll find something for him/her to wear on their head.” To truly kick off the carnival, they pour a glass of beer over the Köpke of his father and then the evening can begin. They all head through the city center together and make it an unforgettable evening. They often end up at Café de Beak, Café Central or in the cellar at Café in den dorstigen Haen. “Those are truly great evenings.”

Before the carnival begins, Jos is already busy with this celebration. The bakery is filled with the most delicious pastries and cakes, festively decorated, of course, with the colors red, yellow, and green. Jos is not part of any associations and can therefore, except on Fridays, wander through the city as a lone wolf. His wife often asks, "Are you going to the city already?" to which Jos replies, "I'm excited and can't wait any longer, I'll run into someone anyway." "The carnival in Venlo is just like a warm bath. As soon as you put on a funny hat, you just go along!"