Bergen op Zoom is, together with Maastricht and 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch), one of the hotspots of carnival in The Netherlands. Many people, also from other places, flock to the centre to celebrate this very old spring festival.
This picture shows that even the tower, nicknamed Peperbus, of Saint-Gertrude's Church is decorated.
On Tuesday, at exactly 23:45 o'clock, the festival comes to an abrupt ending when the crow of Wana, the witch from the once competing trading town Reimerswaal (drowned centuries ago) is shot down, a fascinating moment with a lot of noise, tremendous light effects and a massive final dance.
Photos: © Albert Hagenaars, 2012.
www.alberthagenaars.nl
