The artwork Shrove Tuesday greetings, with the Bergen title “Lice naoor oe eige” (Look at yourself), was made by Albert Moelker on behalf of the building club The Crab Breeders, to mark their 22nd anniversary.

The heads are busy with chapscovering carnival objects and decorations sculpted from clay with polyester. This artisan process is an indispensable part of carnival preparations and symbolises cooperation, creativity and self-mockery – core values of the Bergse festival.

Carnival is the heart of Bergen op Zoom. Already in 1413 is the feast named in written sources. In that same year, the famous poem about the Blue Boat, still a firm part of the Bergse Carnival tradition.

Modern Carnival took shape after the Second World War. In 1945 was the public holiday re-introduced and in 1946 it appeared Manifest, the starting point of the Vastenavend Foundation. Each year, the season begins on 11 November, when the motto is presented. Throughout the four days of Lent, Bergen op Zoom transforms into Crabhole and the inhabitants Crabs.

More information about this image and the other images in our city can be found at KidOR, Foundation Art in Public Space.

This image is part of a walking route.