Tilburg gears up for massive Willem II celebration: '3,000 litres of beer ordered'
Tilburg is preparing at full speed for the Willem II celebration, taking place on Monday at the Heuvel in the city centre. Following the team's promotion, entrepreneurs and construction crews are working flat out to make the party happen. Bar owner Leroy van Gestel of Ut Klèèn Kafeeke has ordered no fewer than 3,000 litres of beer — three times as much as at the previous celebration.
Stage and first-aid tents erected at record pace
The Heuvel is already a hive of activity early in the day. Construction crew chief Maarten and his team are hard at work building the stage and installing lighting and sound equipment. The time pressure is intense, but according to Maarten, everything will come together. 'We're glad it's going ahead,' he says, pointing to the spot where the stage will stand and where the first-aid tents will be set up. Two years ago his crew also built the celebration stage for Willem II, but back then there was a little more time available. Now it's a tight deadline, and in between tasks he weaves around forklifts loaded with scaffolding poles.
Bar owner orders three times as much beer as at previous celebration
A little further along, bar owner Leroy van Gestel of Ut Klèèn Kafeeke is making his own preparations. Drawing on the experience of neighbouring businesses, who ran short with 1,000 litres at the previous celebration, he decided to order 3,000 litres this time around. 'It arrives tomorrow at nine in the morning and it'll be nice and cold straight away,' says Van Gestel. On the evening of the decisive match against FC Volendam, he too was glued to the screen in nervous anticipation. In the weeks leading up to it, he had already made tentative preparations. 'It all worked out perfectly — we can go full steam ahead now,' the bar owner says. Joining the celebrations himself on Monday is not on the cards. 'I'll be standing here behind the bar. You have to make sacrifices for the bottom line. Besides, I don't drink alcohol at all,' he laughs.
Supporters already scouting out a good spot
While construction work is in full swing, supporter Frans and his mate are already watching in Willem II kit as the stage takes shape. 'We're having a look for a good spot for tomorrow,' says the long-time fan. He found the match nerve-racking, but the outcome fills him with pride. Beer in hand, he is already looking forward to the big party. 'Tomorrow we'll be back here and then the celebrations can begin,' says Frans. The promotion party and official celebration can be followed live on Monday from 15:00 to 19:00 via Omroep Brabant, both on their website and app and on Omroep Brabant TV.
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Source: Via Omroep Brabant (GNews)
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