GROTE MARKT

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

KEIZERSTRAAT

The narrow Keizerstraat, more an alley, in the direction of Hoogstraat.
This picture was taken because of the visual rhyme.
Photo: © Albert Hagenaars, 20-12-2009.
www.alberthagenaars.nl

ZUIDOOSTSINGEL

An early design for the block where now buildings of the former hospital ABG are waiting to be demolished.



www.alberthagenaars.nl

VISSERSHAVEN

Draft (2008) by Albert Moelker for a possible reconstruction of the tidal water mill and surroundings in the old harbour district.

MORGANSTRAAT

Manhole cover in the middle of the street, established by Stichting Vastenavend (the local carnival organization) in 2011, to celebrate 6 times 11 years of carnival since WW II. The text is in the town's dialect. It means:

Just crush here
all vexations underground
and fun will remain
among us.

The street is named after the British military commander Charles Morgan (1575-1642), whose richly decorated tomb still can be seen in Saint-Gertrudis Church.

Photo: © Albert Hagenaars, 2011.


www.alberthagenaars.nl

LANGE PARKSTRAAT

The former Volkspark, nowadays called Anton van Duinkerken Park (after the author who was born in Bergen op Zoom as Willem Asselbergs in 1903). The bridge didn't survive WW II.
The picture was taken from the side of Lange Parkstraat.





www.alberthagenaars.nl

RIJKEBUURTSTRAAT

Photo of the so-called 'Gevangenpoort' (Prisoner's Gate), taken in the sixties, before the realization of the Westersingel, one of the most damaging interventions in the mediaeval tissue.
The original name, Holy Lady Gate (Onze Lieve Vrouwepoort) was used before the gate became a prison.

www.alberthagenaars.nl