Thijs en Jeroen

“We wanted to start a brass band, but none of us played an instrument. So we all contributed the same amount, and with that, a bunch of instruments were bought. Just pick one,” laughs Thijs. “That's how I started with träöte and Jeroen with drumming. But after a half-fasting ball and a bit too much beer, he suddenly stood behind the microphone. It was such a hit that he hung up the drums."

“We've been rehearsing weekly at the Boostenhof for twenty years now and inevitably end up at the bar afterwards,” says Jeroen. “The fact that no one lives in the Boekend anymore doesn't matter. We've spread out all over Venlo, but every Friday, we return to our 'base'.

"Around the eleventh of the eleventh, the season starts, but about four weeks before Carnival, it really gets busy. “We have the privilege of being able to pick the cream of the crop,” says Thijs. “I think that because we invested a lot of time and energy into the brass band, we now not only perform at the Boeremoosbal and other major Carnival events, but also experience cool things beyond that."

“In 2012, we were asked to do something with writer Jan van Mersbergen during the Night of Limburg's Sorrow,” says Jeroen. “It went so well that he insisted we join him at Lowlands. He wanted to throw a party. Half of Venlo was in that tent. We played, Jan narrated, and for a moment, we had forty-five minutes of 'Carnival together' in August."

"We've had the opportunity to play at Lowlands, in the HMH, and even in Carré, but still, the best memories are sometimes actually smaller and closer to home," Thijs adds. "With Bram & Ruud, we've played at people's homes during the Night of Limburg's Sorrow. At the last address, four people were already in one bed. Suddenly, we were there with 'the whole band' in that bedroom. When Bram joined them, the bed gave way!”

“I spent 18 years in the fire department responder service and experienced what makes life tough. Carnival is the moment for me to let go of that,” shares Jeroen. “It's the togetherness. Everyone is equal, and you forget everything for a while. As long as we're having fun, we pass that on. Just put all your worries aside, and don't care about the mess,” Thijs concludes.