Vera Tax
Vera Tax has never understood why the highest position of the carnival is only for men. "I didn't understand the logic behind women not being able to become prince(ss)."
Vera has always asked critical questions and actually never received a clear answer. Until V.V. de Gaaskaetel asked her a question herself; if she wanted to become a Princess? And so Vera had the chance to become the first princess in Venlo. “I didn’t have to think about it for long and I immediately said ‘yes’!”
Vera Tax has been working in politics for a long time. She has been a councilor and alderman in Venlo politics and since 2019, she has been a member of the European Parliament.
Vera has been celebrating the carnival since she was a child. Vera was born in the city center of Venlo, but at the age of two, she moved to Velden. Here she experienced Gekke Maondaag and Brokke Dinsdaag. As soon as Vera went to Valuas college, she became acquainted with the Venlo carnival, and she was immediately sold. Since that time, she has both participated in the Velden carnival and celebrated the Venlo carnival.
Vera has therefore never missed a carnival. Now as a princess, her carnival looks slightly different. Her schedule is packed. For example, last weekend, Prônke took place in the city center of Venlo. This is an event organized by entrepreneurs in Klaasstraat. During the carnival, Vera and the association visit all the receptions of other associations, thank the sponsors, visit schools, and visit people who are ill. “We bring the joy of the carnival everywhere.”
In Venlo, only boys' dreams could come true to become a prince, but now literally everyone in our city can dream that he/she can one day become a prince(ss), and that is so beautiful!
Julia Tax on being the first carnival princess in Venlo
Vera asked her two good friends, Emmy and Nina, to become her aides. During a short walk, she popped the big question: “I'm going to ask you a question now that, in the history of Venlo, no woman has ever asked another woman.”
What sets V.V. de Gaaskaetel apart from others is that they have the courage to choose non-standard individuals to be prince or princess. “This way, they give everyone the chance to fulfill this beautiful role, and I appreciate that.” What Vera is already experiencing is that parents with young children are coming up to her and saying: “My daughter thinks it's so wonderful that there is a princess, and she wants to be a princess too someday!” “In Venlo, only boys' dreams could come true to become a prince, but now literally anyone in our city can dream of becoming a prince(ss) one day, and that is so beautiful!” Vera says proudly.