Intangible heritage
A dive into local traditions and customs
Traditions to be proud of - Discover the traditions that give colour to Eersel and the Kempen region
Those who think of Brabant traditions quickly think of carnival, the sausage roll and the soft g. But Eersel and De Kempen also have other traditions. They show where we come from and say something about who we are.
Pilgrimage Retie - Werbeek
Traditionally, Brabant belongs with Limburg to the Catholic south. It is therefore logical that there are many Catholic traditions here.
Ever since 1661, Eersel pilgrims have been flocking to Werbeek, just across the border in Belgium, on the last Saturday of June to honour Mary of the Snows. Apart from the pilgrims, the Eersel guilds and Harmonie de Goede Hoop also take part in this event. In procession, the statue of the Lady of the Eersel parish is carried along.
This tradition originated in the period 1660 - 1670 when the Kempen region was plagued by the plague. The inhabitants of Eersel made a promise to go on pilgrimage to Werbeek every year if these villages were spared from the infection.
The day starts with a celebration in Retie church. This is followed by a serenade and flag salute on the square in front of the town hall, drinking the Erewijn with the mayor and, of course, the procession to the chapel of Werbeek. After the Rosary with singing, everyone goes their own way again.
Music for early spring life - No dew without sound
Dauwtrappen
Dauwtrappen in Eersel is an old tradition and takes place on Ascension Day. The Koninklijke Harmonie De Goede Hoop from Eersel sets out in the early morning around 6am, marching through the streets armed with brass, wood and drums and blowing the village awake. Along the way, the musicians perform aubades (musical salutes of honour) to people who mean something to the village, and in any case to people such as the mayor, parish priest, chairman or honorary member of the brass band.
Somewhere between all those notes is something that is hard to name: a kind of village feeling that you cannot organise, but that is suddenly there. The custom probably comes from Germanic times and revolves around celebrating spring and the awakening of nature. People used to believe that the dew had a purifying and healing effect.
A cosy Kempen tradition - From pub to pub
Farm cover
A farmers' trek in Eersel and the Brabant Kempen region is a surprise trip by covered wagon for couples who are going to live together or are moving . Friends and family organise this trip, often with music and drinks, and it is a typical tradition in the region, in which the couple pulls from café to café through various villages in a decorated covered wagon pulled by a tractor.
The tradition stems from neighbourhood help, where the whole neighbourhood helped with a move.
From flag salute to banner - For generations
Archers' Guilds
The guilds are all about loyalty, honour and solidarity. With their banners, flagons, drums and fixed rituals, they keep a centuries-old Kempish culture alive. They are still visible at special moments, such as processions, commemorations, holidays and village activities. The guilds also include the militia. During the king's shooting, members take turns shooting at a wooden bird. Whoever shoots off the last piece becomes guild king.
There are no fewer than eight guild associations in the municipality of Eersel. Each guild has its own history and customs, but everywhere it revolves around the same thing: solidarity, loyalty and pride in the village. The oldest guild is the guild of Wintelre from 1320. The guild of Vessem is first mentioned in 1398. For the village of Eersel itself, the St Catherine & St Barbara Guild is very old: there is tangible evidence of this from 1506.
Stories that stick around - Discover the secrets of De Kempen
Regional stories
The Kempen is full of exciting regional stories, sagas and legends. They used to be told mainly in the evening, at the table or by the fire. Stories about ghosts, errant lights, witches, gnomes and mysterious places passed from generation to generation. This gave the landscape an extra layer: behind a forest edge, heath path or old tree, a story could just hide.
A well-known example is the Gloeiige: a fiery ghostly apparition that, according to stories, wanders through the Kempen region. Once, he is said to have been a rich, greedy landlord from Eersel. Because of his actions, a curse rested on him, forcing him to wander forever. His story is still being told, including through routes and places in the area. Check out the Glowing Route here .
During fair, the whole village comes together - Always a reason for a party
Fair
Fair originated from "church mass": in the Catholic south, this is often a bigger celebration than in the rest of the country. The fair's density and socio-cultural status in Brabant as a folk festival is very strong. In De Kempen, people sometimes take time off themselves, especially on fair Monday. Every village celebrates its own fair, with rides, music, goodies and lots of fun. It is the time to meet on the square or on the terrace, where the beer often flows copiously.
The carnival Monday in Vessem traditionally ends with lots of beer and...toilet paper. As every year, the village turns snow-white for a day, when the trees near the fairgrounds are pelted with hundreds of rolls of toilet paper: that's about three supermarket containers full. Anything goes and nothing is too crazy ...not even putting a nappy on your head.
A warm winter tradition - Atmospheric nativity scenes and stories
Christmas stable routes
The Kempen region (both Belgian and Dutch) is known for its strong tradition of nativity . These routes take visitors past dozens, sometimes hundreds, of nativity scenes built by community associations, parishes and private individuals. Many of the cribs are outside, often with handmade figures. Most routes can be visited from mid-December to early January. Regularly, real sheep or donkeys are placed at the cribs
In De Kempen, this beautiful nativity trail can be visited every winter.
