20 of the most impressive flower floats you’ll ever see are presented in a flurry of amazement and awe the gigantic sculptures are so detailed and professionally crafted that you might not even realise that their entire surface consists of little flowers Local communities battle for the award of best float using the area’s luscious dahlia fields in a year-long preparation for the big parade and exhibition in September Zundert has been organising the spectacular event for over 80 years Zundert Flower Parade was the first Dutch tradition to make it into the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage The parade is run by thousands of volunteers who contribute in many different ways from maintaining the flower fields to designing and creating gigantic artworks that impress visitors year after year Zundert Flower Parade is more than a project: it is a way of life the flowery artworks of the Zundert Flower Parade (Bloemencorso Zundert) move along the streets of Zundert in a glorious parade the triumphant float comes to a halt and is then surrounded by its dedicated builders who are cheered on for the epic proportions of their accomplishment the floats will be on display in a grand exhibition for the public You need a ticket to enter the parade area. These cost 13 euros for anyone over 12 years of age and can be bought on the Zundert Flower Parade website. You can also pay extra to reserve a seat in the grandstand if you want the best possible view of these amazing creations. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Locals and visitors in the Dutch town of Zundert were amazed on Sunday by a spectacular parade of floats made up of flowers. Volume 2 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fanes.2023.1249720 In 2022, there were worldwide 140 million births, which is 266 births every minute, resulting in the 8th billion inhabitant of our planet on 15 November 2022 (1). To give you an indication about where the largest need is for obstetric and anesthesia care in the world, it may be helpful to know where the next 1,000 babies will be born in the next five minutes, i.e., in Asia (511), Africa (326), Americas (106), Europe (52) and Oceania (5) (2) Is obstetric and anesthesia service to pregnant women equally distributed worldwide we see huge differences and inequalities in providing care to women the availability and quality of obstetric and anesthesia care with almost no anesthesia involvement in several under-resourced countries two women died directly from complications of anesthesia in the UK whereby anesthesiologists took care of some 1.4 million women over that period each maternal death is a tragic tip of the morbidity spectrum These data underpin the need for continuous improvement in the practice of anesthesia in obstetrics A host of factors influence whether or not the pregnant woman delivers in a facility-based delivery including where you live (which country; rural/urban) the wealth index of the country and household wealth Based on the belief that the doctor will conduct a cesarean delivery instead of trying a vaginal delivery which cost a lot of money and the surgery might result in physical harm whereby the parturient even may die makes that women are scared to go to seek help in a health facility and therefore opt for a home delivery Illiteracy and lack of knowledge of modern medical treatments further contributes to more home deliveries in LMICs Transportation challenges (dilapidated road conditions especially during the wet season, lack of availability of ambulances, limited transportation) and long distances from a health facility, remarkably also determine where delivery takes place in far remote and chronically under-resourced areas in the world lacking essential road infrastructures (4, 8–10) pain management has a low priority in many LMICs underpinning the inequality of pregnant women to receive adequate professional and safe pain relief during the delivery process Women have always sought pain relief during labor and childbirth that can vary in intensity and sometimes it can be the most severe pain a woman will ever experience This “natural” pain is a symptom of contractile activity of the uterus pain is a physiologic alarm feature of the uterus and a critical and important sign for the pregnant woman that birth may be imminent and that actions need to be taken to be prepared for a delivery That warning sign of pain is of no further use during the delivery process and therefore it is only human to take away the pain that accompanies vaginal and cesarean deliveries Often pain increases as labor increases depending on the rate of labor progression size and position of the fetus and maternal pain tolerance The above describes the poor treatment options of obstetric anesthesia care in LMICs, which is reflected by the global income and wealth inequality. The global bottom 50% countries capture 8.5% of total income and owns 2% of wealth, whereas the global top 10% countries capture 52% of total income and owns 76% of wealth (18) Although one is aware of the good quality pain relief options of epidural analgesia this service is not always available in LMICs given the limited number of trained anesthesiologists drugs) and the limited education and opportunity to practice these pain relief methods epidural services are more widely available in well-resourced settings in high income countries (HICs) in the west The lower take up could be influenced by suboptimal communications real differences in women's own wishes cultural norms and perceptions of labor pain All medical interventions have side effects Although epidural analgesia is the best method to provide optimal comfort to the parturient obstetric anesthesia is all about using a meticulous anesthesia technique inserting an epidural catheter in the right space correctly timed and fine-tuned to the situation of the adequately monitored laboring woman and administering a local anesthetic solution that is just enough to do the job to provide safe without having an impact on the woman's progress of the birth process The above-mentioned trials proved that the epidural test dose is adequate to be used for effective and safe analgesia during childbirth even if injected accidently intravenously or in the subarachnoid space It will not result in toxic reactions and high or total spinals will be prevented It also shows that there is no need to use more than the test dose at any time this formula works best if injections are administered intermittently if continuous infusions are used via electronic pumps the above dose should never be more than the test dose on an hourly basis calamities such as cardiovascular arrest should be preventable sulfentanil or morphine in minute doses to the local anesthetic solution This allows even further reduction of the local anesthetic dose At least 23 million epidural anesthetics have been administered to vaginal births in the US and countless of millions in the rest of the world provided a number of precautions are taken Worldwide, there is a remarkable rise overall in the trend of cesarean section rate for both emergency and elective surgical deliveries. The cesarean section rate is reported to be 32% (USA), 40.5% in Latin America with exponents as high as 80% in some private clinics, whereas on average it is 25% in Europe, 19.1% in Asia and 7.3% in Africa (33, 34) Pain or the fear of pain is also one of the most common reasons for women requesting a cesarean delivery in LMICs Patients are more satisfied with spinal anesthesia for their cesarean delivery and 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores of the neonates were found much higher than with general anesthesia performing a spinal block is not more time-consuming than the administration of general anesthesia and the decision-to-delivery time interval should not be increased with spinal blocks providing the dose of local anesthetic is limited the local anesthetic solution can consist of other local anesthetics to which adjuvants are added to prolong the block Neuraxial anesthesia therefore is the gold standard anesthetic for use in obstetrics, both in vaginal and cesarean deliveries (37) advocate providing safe obstetric anesthesia care to be given in the environment of a well-equipped hospital where better pain relief can be achieved in a safe controlled setting showed record keeping is poor by most standards reported on epidural analgesia rates in Singapore (16%) and Malaysia (1.6%) adequate record keeping and effective communication for which simulated continuous training should be encouraged The magnitude of many of the above issues has not been comprehensively studied and needs further research Please find hereby a number of topics that still needs our attention and can be subject of further research to optimize anesthesia care to the obstetric patient • How can we provide better obstetric and anesthesia care in low-and-middle income countries Here obviously is the biggest gain to expect for the LMICs How can we provide adequate pain relief in LMICs with minimal resources This implies an urgent need to strengthen anesthesia services in those countries more teaching and training of specialists in anesthesia These anesthesia services during childbirth may aim for entirely different goals in low- vs global initiatives in LMICs traditionally focus on improvements in public health care through immunisation anesthesiologists can further be critical in improving quality care and patient safety we need recommendations on how to further improve pain relief management as we still see huge differences in the prevalence of use of epidurals in vaginal deliveries This implies we need more anesthesiologists trained in obstetric anesthesia • How can we improve hygienic measures around central neuraxial blocks in obstetric patients Still incidents do occur whereby patients get infected with devastating consequences such as meningitis Strict hygiene measures are a vital aspect of regional anesthesia • We need a critical review of the sterility of medical devices (needles packages containing regional anesthesia trays and local anesthetic solutions distribution within the hospital to the end-user; and subsequently handling of ampules and vials in a sterile way and define the most optimal conditions • We need guidelines preventing the use of the same ampules and vials for multiple persons undergoing central neuraxial blocks in an attempt to decrease the risk of potentially fatal meningitis if these ampules and vials are contaminated • What are the minimal requirements to monitor pregnant women during childbirth Are we able to detect toxic reactions of local anesthetics and high/total spinals to allow anesthesiologists to address these issues in an effective and timely way How to recognise the early warning signs when the condition of a parturient deteriorates Topics such as improved screening and monitoring of patients to detect complications fast enough before they are even harming the patient What is the ideal size of a good functioning obstetric unit where regional anesthesia service can be delivered what is an effective patient:specialist staffing ratio Providing anesthesia service in obstetric care needs to be funded in such a way that there is no need for the anesthesiologist to culminate his activities covering both operating theatres and obstetric care • What is the ideal regional anesthesia technique in obstetrics What techniques are available for continuous administration of anesthesia drugs to parturients in labor What if the resultant block is insufficient and evaluation shows that the epidural catheter does not sit correctly How often does the anesthesiologist have to check the extent of the block and its effect on motor blockade What options does the anesthesiologist have to compensate for substandard/incomplete/no pain relief during vaginal delivery and an insufficient block and pain during a cesarean delivery What are the dangers of re-siting or topping-up an epidural catheter in case of an incomplete epidural or spinal block How to test whether the epidural catheter sits in the appropriate position Is a parturient with an epidural catheter in-situ allowed to walk around in the room or not What is the optimal concentration and dosing of the local anesthetic solution in epidural analgesia for vaginal deliveries What is the safest technique for a cesarean delivery Is there a still a place for general anesthesia during cesarean section How to teach trainees in general anesthesia given the vast numbers of cesarean deliveries under RA What are the disadvantages of general anesthesia for cesarean deliveries How to make parturients more comfortable during their deliveries What is the maternal satisfaction rate with individual regional anesthesia techniques • What are the risks of using epidural analgesia on the instrumental delivery rate including cesarean deliveries Does epidural analgesia have an impact on the duration of vaginal deliveries and is there a direct effect on the neonate's condition How to best avoid the impact of local anesthetics on muscle contractions and limit sensory blockade to the areas that are causing pain at a particular stage of vaginal delivery This is especially important for trainees in anesthesia who may be alone in the labor ward as their supervisor may be in the operating theatres complex But even consultant anesthesiologists may need from time help from a colleague How are arrangements made to provide essential help in urgent circumstances How can midwives get urgent help from anesthesiologists • Which drugs should be readily available in the obstetric unit Challenges for anesthesiologists in poor facilities are the lack of essential drugs There is a need for standards of anesthesia practice during childbirth Which drugs need to be administered to women undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia in order to prevent aspiration pneumonitis Which drugs such as antacids and antihypertensives should be available as a minimum What to do if there is a shortage of drugs Which fluids are to be administered to patients undergoing RA What are the guidelines regarding fasting in obstetrics • What are obsolete practices in anesthesia What are ethical and non-ethical behaviours and practices What to do in case of a complaint made by the patient for incomplete pain relief or a complication honest and transparent communication is the basis for good healthcare How do we keep all communications lines open Patients need to be informed about all aspects of obstetric and anesthesia care and need to have a prompt input and say in the final decisions about what kind of pain relief method will be used in her specific situation anesthesiologists need to be trained in open communication but also in de-escalation techniques if expectations by the parturient (and husband) are not met and may result in workplace violence against the healthcare worker • Documentation is also vital in medicine there is no defence of the actions taken by the anesthesiologist during anesthetic interventions This is both important to inform all team members involved and also for the next anesthesiologist taking over the care of the current patient and even in case of legal actions before the court Minimal guidelines specify documentation of the used regional anesthesia technique aspects of difficulties or complications and how these were resolved when to call the anesthesiologist) providing appropriate contact details the anesthesiologist is not in the immediate vicinity of the labor ward instructions for the midwives or obstetricians are essential • What is the global shortage on healthcare workers The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health highlighted a projected health workforce shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030 (Oriol 2022) We need to increase the level of standards of pain relief for all parturients wherever they are in the world to ensure minimal error while preventing harm and maximising safety by well-trained anesthesiologists Research and science should be keen balancing forces to drive more equitable access to healthcare globally and focus on gaps providing new techniques and better drugs are discovered making lifelong study an essential part of the practice of a modern anesthesiologist in an attempt to keep up with all these improvements To achieve quality improvement in maternal health and continued reduction in maternal and fetal mortality rate it is necessary to understand the structures and processes that lead to a maternal death or complications during pregnancies described by the World Health Organization as going “beyond the numbers” is a huge task that requires the collaboration of all involved in this kind of care published and made available to the wider professional community More research and better teaching will ultimately result in better obstetric anesthesia practice it is so important to have journals that report good quality outcome data of research That is the ultimate goal of a good-quality journal Frontiers in Obstetric Anesthesiology is such a journal to share their knowledge based on sound research to publish in this specialty field in our journal to make this obstetric anesthesia specialty one of the core sections of Frontiers We are awaiting your scientific contributions on all aspects of improvement in anesthesia care for obstetric patients with the final aim to make the experience of birth a pleasant one with an optimal start of the newborn in this world drafted the manuscript and approved the final version The author AAJVZ declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 1. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/births-and-deaths (Accessed February 7 2. Armstrong M. Where the Next 1,000 Babies Will Be Born? Statistica. (2022). Available at: https://www.statista.com/chart/28740/where-the-next-thousand-babies-will-be-born/ (Accessed February 7 Maternal mortality in the developing world: why do mothers really die PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Why do some women still prefer traditional birth attendants and home delivery A qualitative study on delivery care services in West Java Province 5. Trends in maternal mortality: 2000 to 2017: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division. Geneva: World Health Organization. (2019). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality (Accessed February 7 UK Confidential enquiry into maternal deaths—still learning to save mothers’ lives CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Why do women attend antenatal care but give birth at home A qualitative study in a rural Ghanaian District Drivers and deterrents of facility delivery in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Reasons for preference of home delivery with traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in rural Bangladesh: a qualitative exploration Socio-cultural factors influencing the decision of women to seek care during pregnancy and delivery: a qualitative study in South Tongu District so we don’t do anything”: healthcare provider’s knowledge and attitudes regarding the provision of pain relief during labor and after childbirth Closing the global pain divide: balancing access and excess A cross-sectional survey of labor pain control and women’s satisfaction 14. Available at: https://srhr.org/rhl/article/who-recommendation-on-epidural-analgesia-for-pain-relief-during-labor (Accessed February 7 Use of labor neuraxial analgesia for vaginal delivery and severe maternal morbidity Analgesia for vaginal birth: secondary analysis from the WHO multicountry survey on maternal and newborn health Key bottlenecks to the provision of safe obstetric anesthesia in low- income countries; a cross-sectional survey of 64 hospitals in Uganda 18. Available at: https://wir2022.wid.world/executive-summary/ (Accessed February 6 The provision of epidural analgesia during labor according to maternal birthplace: a Norwegian register study Variations in use of childbirth interventions in 13 high-income countries: a multinational cross-sectional study (2020) 17(5):e1003103.doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003103 Challenges and hurdles for patient safety in obstetric anesthesia in Japan The bupivacaine story: a tribute to George A Cardiac arrest following regional anesthesia with etidocaine or bupivacaine PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Every dose given in epidural analgesia for vaginal delivery can be a test dose ECG Monitoring of mother and fetus during epidural anesthesia Ten ml bupivacaine 0.125% with 12.5 micrograms epinephrine is a reliable epidural test dose to detect inadvertent intravascular injection in obstetric patients Identification of inadvertent intravenous placement of an epidural catheter in obstetric anesthesia Plasma concentrations of epidural bupivacaine in mother and newborn: 0.125% versus 0.375% High-volume spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine 0.125% for cesarean section Extent of anesthesia and hemodynamic effects after subarachnoid administration of bupivacaine with epinephrine Volume or concentration–what matters PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar Cesarean section in Indonesia: analysis of trends and socio- demographic correlates in three demographic and health surveys (2007–2017) Cesarean sections and social inequalities in 305 cities of Latin America Anesthesia for cesarean delivery: general or regional anesthesia—a systematic review CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Maternal satisfaction towards spinal anesthesia for cesarean section CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar The current role of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery Communication and patient safety in gynecology and obstetrics—study protocol of an intervention study A survey of regional analgesia and anesthesia for obstetrics in selected countries in the Far East The global health workforce stock and distribution in 2020 and 2030: a threat to equity and “universal” health coverage Citation: van Zundert AAJ (2023) Safety in obstetric anesthesia requires more research and support Received: 29 June 2023; Accepted: 19 July 2023;Published: 31 July 2023 Edited and Reviewed by: Alparslan Turan *Correspondence: André van Zundert YS52YW56dW5kZXJ0QHVxLmVkdS5hdQ== †ORCID André A. J. van Zundert orcid.org/0000-0002-1836-6831 © 2023 van Zundert. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow The Vincent van GoghHuis presents an exhibition of works by German artist Anselm Kiefer (1945) from 8 March to 9 June 2025 This exhibition about his journey in the footsteps of Van Gogh is in parallel to his exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam Anselm Kiefer set out to travel in the path of Van Gogh He arrived in Zundert in August 1963 and was kindly welcomed by the Mutsters family at a farm on the Moersebaan Kiefer stayed there for a few days and drew portraits of the farmer and his wife He described the stay extensively in his travel journal ‘Now finally the farmers have agreed to pose for portrait sketches They wanted to put it off until Sunday so they could be properly dressed and I’d like to paint real farmers (potato eaters).’ [Anselm Kiefer Kiefer’s interest in Van Gogh and his paintings has never ceased not too far from where Vincent painted his most famous works which he photographed and incorporated into paintings Colossal Another year, another Corso Zundert (previously), the legendary parade of giant floats adored with thousands of dahlia flowers that twist through the narrow streets of Zundert, Netherlands. This year 19 teams took inspiration from the work of Vincent van Gogh who was born in Zundert 162 years ago and imagery from van Gogh’s painting including several interpretations of the artist’s self-portraits Started in 1936 the parade celebrates the region’s reputation as a global supplier of dahlia flowers an area now covering 33 hectares (81 acres) of 600,000 dahlia bulbs in fifty different species The first Corso Zundert parades were modest in size featuring horse-drawn carts or bicycles covered in flowers but the event has since grown dramatically The floats now merge more ambitious aspects of contemporary/urban art with traditional parade floats as part of a friendly annual competition You can see plenty more photos over on BN DeStem Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now Join more than 200,000 subscribers and get the best of art and visual culture from Colossal Copyright © 2025 Colossal. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Thousands of liters of hazardous substances were found at a drug lab discovered by the police on Friday evening in Zundert These could pose a threat to the environment #Zundert | De politie heeft 18 oktober vier mannen aangehouden na het aantreffen van een grote bewerkingslocatie van stoffen voor verdovende middelen aan de Achtmaalseweg. Door een anonieme tip kwam de politie de locatie op het spoor.https://t.co/QNl6t59OTo pic.twitter.com/aXYxviODt7 The cocaine laundry was located on the Achtmaalseweg There was a strong chemical smell around the warehouse where smuggled cocaine was prepared for use The lab was in full operation at the time of the raid.Four suspects have been arrested in the course of the police operation: three men of no fixed abode (aged 56 The other perpetrators ran away and hid in the warehouse for hours on Friday evening The AMA advocates on behalf of the medical profession and the public - operating at a federal level and within each state and territory Get to know the AMA - the peak professional body for doctors in Australia Meet the representatives on the AMA’s main policy-making body - Federal Council  and  Working  Groups representing  the views of AMA  members Learn more about our Board and get to know our leadership team How the AMA became Australia’s most influential Medico-political association AMA advocacy campaigns working towards an effective health service AMA Position Statements on public health and medico-legal health issues AMA submissions on a range of issues including parliamentary enquiries Using innovative research and communications to shape Australia’s health reform agenda tools and advice for medical professionals and students The complete guide on everything you need to know about becoming a doctor in Australia Costing assistance and guidance on medical services and fees Explore the multiple pathways you can take in medicine throughout your professional journey Confidential counselling and peer support for all doctors and medical students speeches and transcripts from the Federal AMA Australia's leading peer-reviewed general medical journal We raise awareness about issues and challenges facing doctors in training We lobby on behalf of GPs to ensure their voices are heard on the hill We lobby to ensure private practice remains an essential part of healthcare We lobby for the rights and concerns of public hospital doctors in Australia We champion medical care for rural and remote communities We help students find their voice to build a healthy medical profession researcher and teacher Professor André Van Zundert has been awarded the Australian Medical Association’s 2024 AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award.  AMA President Professor Steve Robson presented the award to Professor Van Zundert at the conference which is being held on Queensland’s Gold Coast Professor Robson said it was a privilege to present Professor Van Zundert with the award in recognition of his commitment to medicine "Professor Van Zundert's efforts in healthcare are exemplary and they are matched equally by his efforts in many other fields," he said "Professor Van Zundert is a wonderful anaesthetist He is also a volunteer supporting Brisbane’s homeless Brisbane and has served with NATO Peacekeepers as military medical director." As an educator and researcher Professor Van Zundert's record is extraordinary seventy-six book chapters and more than five hundred scientific publications He has given more than 850 international lectures and is ranked in the top two per cent of scientists "Professor Van Zundert shows us leadership and selflessness in his professional life and in his volunteering," Professor Robson said "Whether in his role as Lieutenant Colonel with NATO Peacekeepers or as a volunteer improving the lives of Brisbane's homeless Professor Van Zundert embodies the very best in humanity "I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to congratulate Professor Van Zundert with the AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award today." Professor Van Zundert thanked Professor Robson and the AMA for the award saying it was “an honour and privilege to receive the award in the company of fellow AMA members today.” "Receiving the Australian Medical Association 2024 Excellence in Healthcare Award feels like winning Olympic gold It's a moment of immense pride and validation underscoring the crucial role anaesthetists play in delivering safe and effective anaesthesia I am profoundly grateful for this recognition and the steadfast support of my remarkable colleagues This award celebrates not only our individual contributions but also the collective dedication and unwavering commitment of the entire healthcare community we strive to advance patient care and uphold the highest standards of excellence in clinical medicine Thank you for this extraordinary acknowledgement." Professor Robson also congratulated the other finalist for the award for her commitment to her culturally and linguistically diverse patients in Sydney’s west Professor André Van Zundert is the Professor and Chair of Anaesthesiology at the University of Queensland 76 book chapters and 500 scientific articles He has over 13000 citations and has an h-factor of 53 Professor André Van Zundert was the 2023 ANZCA Lennard Travers Professor of Anaesthesia The University of Queensland honoured Andre’s dedication to teaching and education with a Higher Education Academy Fellowship Professor van Zundert has been awarded the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Medal He has served with NATO Peacekeepers as military medical director with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and holds multiple civil and military awards from both Belgium and the Netherlands Professor André Van Zundert is a valued member of the Patient Safety Committee of the Queensland Clinical Excellence Commission The Queensland ANZCA registrars in anaesthesia elected André patron of the Queensland Anaesthesia Registrars Research Collaborate On Sunday, Corso Zundert 2016 did not disappoint with bonkers-looking entries from competing local districts electrifying the streets of the town in the form of outsize flower-based foxes 33-foot-high float made from some half a million dahlias The organizers point out that the all-volunteer event is also a competition with a winning entry picked by an “independent and professional jury consisting of people with a background in art and theater.” The winner is announced during the second passage through the center of the town before a crowd of 75,000 onlookers seated in bleachers along the side of the road “leading to emotional scenes”—so emotional in fact that the town has created a special phrase to describe this phenomenon which it dubs the “Zundert jubilation.” “The districts go to great length to build the most beautiful float,” they said winning the parade is among the best experiences in life.” Watch Dutch TV coverage of the parade below: SEATTLE — Merchant du Vin and De Kievit Trappist Brewery are pleased to announce that Zundert Trappist Ale will be available in the US this summer The abbey was established in 1900 in the quiet countryside outside the village of Zundert built in one of the abbey’s historical farm buildings The lapwing weathervane on the roof inspired the name of  the brewery and remains in place still: Brouwerij De Kievit  – “The Lapwing Brewery” – also uses the beautiful crested northern lapwing in their logo Zundert Trappist 8 Ale shows clear chestnut-brown color bottle-conditioned; Zundert evolves with each taste and defines a new chapter in the book of excellent Trappist ales There are only 11 Trappist breweries in the world A beer displaying the “Authentic Trappist Product” logo on the package must be made at a brewery within the walls of a Trappist (Cistercian) monastery; the ownership of the brewery must be by the monks of that community; and the final profits from the beer must be passed along to charity Early Registration Open You are using an outdated browser. 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Worldwide Every year on the first Sunday of September, a small-ish Dutch town gets taken over by a parade of spectacularly colourful and really We’re talking stuff like ginormous milk cartons towering sloths and eclectic displays of abstract art they’re all made entirely out of millions of flowers The floats are part of an event called the Corso Zundert which takes place in the southern Dutch town of Zundert (incidentally the birthplace of one-eared post-impressionist genius and flower lover Vincent Van Gogh) It’s officially the world’s biggest flower parade the Corso is much more than just a load of pretty flowers it’s been listed by the Unesco Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2012 The flower sculptures are entirely crafted and pushed along by volunteers and the audience usually numbers about 50,000 This year’s edition of the Corso Zundert takes place on September 4 and 5. You can find out more info about this year’s parade here. And if you aren’t sold on attending yet, here are some incredible photos from past editions Meanwhile, a spectacular flower display is taking over one European capital Plus: take a look at the awe-inspiring winners of the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us Founded in 1936, the annual Corso Zundert parade is a celebration of the Netherlands’ most iconic exports: flowers The event is held every year in the small town of Zundert where 20 teams of volunteers from different hamlets compete for the best designed parade float More than being covered almost completely in vibrant dahlia flowers the float designs often incorporate moving elements and are accompanied by marching bands and other performers along the parade route This year’s winner titled “Dangerous Transportation” featured a giant dragon and was designed by the Tiggelaar hamlet. You can see a full listing of all 20 parade floats here On the 125th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death institutions across the world are celebrating the Dutch artist’s legacy A portrait of van Gogh made of 50,000 dahlias is on display in Amsterdam until the end of the week, and a cycling path, which drew on van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” with an innovative light design, is available to the public. A 335-meter long cycling itinerary organized by Van Gogh Brabant takes visitors though five towns and cities featuring sites like the school he attended in Tilburg and Etten-Leur Auvers-sur-Oise, the French village where van Gogh spent his final days and died by suicide at age 37, has also planned several events to mark the day. Members of the artist’s family laid a wreath on his grave in Auvers-sur-Oise this afternoon. Visitors will explore the locations of some of van Gogh’s most famous work and see his former room in the Auberge Ravoux where he lived the last 70 days of his life Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum and the Institut Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise worked together to organize the events descendants of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh lay down sunflowers at his grave on the 125th anniversary of his death on July 29 2015 in Auvers-sur-Oise in northern France a collection of approximately 30 organizations is commemorating van Gogh the whole year under the theme “125 Years of Inspiration.” The foundation has organized events to take place throughout the year across the Netherlands all places where van Gogh once lived and worked The Van Gogh Museum also released “The Vincent van Gogh Atlas” today, which follows the artist’s European travels from his hometown of Zundert in the Netherlands to Auvers-sur-Oise. The museum’s exhibition “Munch : Van Gogh,” set to open in September will celebrate van Gogh and Norwegian artist Edvard Munch This exhibition will be the first to focus on the similarities between the two artists both known for their emotionally charged artwork and innovative styles © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins To commemorate the 125th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death, the artist’s birthplace of Zundert, a small town in the Netherlands near the Belgian border, dedicated its annual flower parade to his work and art “The childhood dream in Zundert is not to become a famous football player “Mostly young people from Zundert itself are responsible for designing the floats building the scale models and overseeing the construction the colouring and all other aspects of creating the huge floats.” For scenes from this year’s Zundert flower parade and an up-close look at the floats in action Yes, it’s that time of year again for the world’s largest flower parade, Corso Zundert in the Netherlands Located in the small town of Zundert at the Belgian border the annual parade features 20 giant floats created by various districts within the city To encourage a wide breadth of creativity the parade never has a theme leaving teams free to design whatever they want as long as the floats fit the within 20 x 10 meters and are completely adorned with dahlia flowers If you want to explore a bit more, there are more photos of the 2014 event courtesy Omroep Brabant, and you can also see our Corso Zundert coverage in 2013 and beyond It’s the biggest time of year for the small town of Zundert in the Netherlands. Twenty gigantic floats were paraded through the city as part of Corso Zundert (previously) an annual flower parade that sees teams of designers and artisans compete to build the most original sculpture covered almost completely with dahlia flowers Aside from being consistently ranked as one of the best countries to live in on Earth, file this as reason #4,123 to stop by the Netherlands: Bloemencorso every float here is made from natural flowers From twisting architectural structures the size of houses to bizarre animatronic birds and puppets and even animals made from swooping gestures reminiscent of graffiti Bloemencorso seems to have a little bit of everything the next event happens September 1 and 2 of 2013 “We are encouraged by these early results,” said Dr “These findings provide an entirely new perspective on ALS pathogenesis raising exciting hypotheses and possibilities both for disease biomarkers and for therapeutic targets.” ALS and FTD are characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and frontal lobes but the causes of this neurotoxicity have remained elusive And while great progress has been made in identifying genetic mutations that cause these neurodegenerative disorders the vast majority of cases have no identifiable genetic mutation Previous research has shown that the astrocytes—the glial cells in the brain and spinal cord—may release one or more toxic factors that contribute to motor neuron death The Neuron study provides evidence that the offending neurotoxic factor is a common inorganic polyphosphate which was found to be released by both mouse and human astrocytes in cells with an array of ALS/FTD-linked mutations (including SOD1 is a ubiquitous negatively charged inorganic biopolymer present in the cells of all living organisms These polyphosphates perform numerous functions in cells: energy storage “The biggest surprise from our study is that the toxic factor is not a novel or rare protein or peptide but rather a very simple inorganic molecule that is found in every tested cell type in nature and conserved across more than 3 billion years of evolution,” said Dr An important finding of the research is that human cerebrospinal fluid samples from familial and sporadic ALS cases revealed increased polyP concentrations “The study shows that exposure of spinal cord neurons to polyP reproduced the toxic effects of media from ALS astrocyte cultures increased Ca2+ flow into neurons and enhanced motoneuron death,” said van Zundert Brown and colleagues found that motor neurons can be rescued from the astrocyte toxicity by reducing levels of polyP “Our findings strongly encourage the view that lowering polyP levels extracellularly may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for diverse types of ALS/FTD,” said van Zundert As a postdoctoral fellow in Brown’s laboratory in 2008 van Zundert discovered that increased electrical excitability of motor neurons is an early van Zundert began to consider polyPs as a candidate cause of hyperexcitability in 2014 when it was reported that this molecule can act as a glial transmitter that mediates communications between astrocytes and neurons ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that involves the loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles Roughly 10 percent of ALS is familial—inherited from a person’s parents—and is caused by a genetic mutation in a patient’s DNA The remaining 90 percent of cases are classified as sporadic and occur in cases with no family history of disease An estimated 6,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year is among the most common forms of early-onset dementia FTD is caused by the loss of neurons in the frontal or temporal lobes This study was supported by several funding agencies the Max Rosenfeld ALS Research Fund and FightMND and with additional support from the National Institutes of Health and several Chilean governmental agencies Sign up Privacy Statement Second place went to Klein-Zundertse Heikant for Ent, the tree that glows green (video), and third place went to Schijf for Black Gold, which featured a giant snorting pig peeking out from under the ground (video) These brand new photos were just released to us by the people who run Corso Zundert. (We first wrote about their parade last year.) Though all the photos are impressive you must watch the videos to really see these flower floats in action (The winning Aztec-inspired float had 53 different movements!) Want to advertise with us? Visit My Modern Met Media. Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening. This year, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s death, Zundert dedicated its flower parade to his everlasting artistic cause. Florists crafted 20 towering tributes—up to 65 feet long and 32 feet tall—imitating colors, motifs, and imagery from Van Gogh’s paintings, including several iterations of his famed self-portraits. Each float consisted of wiring, cardboard, paper-mache, and thousands of dahlia flowers, which were grown in the area specifically for the parade. The floats eventually made their way toward the town’s market square, where, in March 1853, Van Gogh was born. This year’s event competition welcomed 50,000 spectators. Van Gogh was born in Zundert 162 years ago I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Each year the 'Bloemencorso Zundert' parade celebrates its status as a global supplier of dahlia flowers. Zundert, a municipality and town situated in the south of the Netherlands gives a staggering 33 hectares (81 acres) of space to 600,000 dahlia bulbs in fifty different species. This year Corso Zundert took inspiration from the work of Vincent Van Gogh, who was born there 162 years ago. While the festival does not usually feature a specific theme, exceptions are made for the town's most famous son. Some of the floats featured Van Gogh’s face, in a similar style to one of his self-portraits. Others replicate his most famous works of art, while others have clearly been inspired by his use of vivid colour. While the first Corso Zundert parades were modest in size, featuring horse-drawn carts or bicycles covered in flowers, the event has grown dramatically. Twenty hamlets participate, and hundreds of people from each one volunteer to put the floats together. Each village works hard to outdo its competitors, with designs becoming more and more ambitious every year, with a single float containing up to half a million flowers. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Copyright © 2018 CGTN. Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3 “The bank is committed to preventing human rights abuses and is addressing this issue in a holistic manner,” says Lonneke van Zundert Regional Head of Security & Intelligence Management (SIM) in the Asia & Middle East region Human trafficking is a global problem in which countries may be involved either as a source Different initiatives are taken to tackle the problem depending on this typology and the industry Van Zundert stresses that sound local knowledge is a key requirement for robust analysis as red flags can vary by jurisdiction and line of business the Netherlands is predominantly a destination country for human trafficking with a focus on sexual and labour exploitation there are both destination and source countries the forms of exploitation are more diverse and there may be different root causes The initiatives taken by ABN AMRO revolve around client due diligence transaction analysis and awareness raising When assessing a company that wants to become a client of ABN AMRO including those pertaining to human trafficking Van Zundert: “Human rights due diligence is a fundamental part of the credit application and approval process exemplified by cases where transactions were denied (or approved with stringent conditions) due to human rights concerns such as forced labour.” Where necessary – particularly when red flags are identified and in the case of information gaps – sustainability assessments are supplemented with enhanced research conducted by SIM Van Zundert also underlines the importance of Public Private Partnerships and the positive evolution in the relationship between corporations and government authorities and law enforcement “Sharing data between partners inevitably leads to better insights and improved analysis when working to solve a shared problem We also see increased cooperation among companies for example through initiatives such as the European Bankers Alliance and Mekong Club This enables us to raise awareness and to tell our clients and the wider business community that this topic is a priority for ABN AMRO.” Analysing transaction data is another way in which ABN AMRO seeks to contribute to the abolition of human trafficking tools and systems the bank uses to detect fraud can also be applied to trace human trafficking,” Van Zundert explains Having previously worked for the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee military police force Van Zundert has ample law enforcement experience with human trafficking cases intelligence and expertise we are able to identify irregular transaction patterns which could be an indicator of illegal activity such as human trafficking.”  Not only has data analysis introduced a new type of human rights due diligence In addition to focusing on large corporate clients who may face human trafficking risks in their supply chains the bank also pays close attention to small and medium- sized enterprises and private individuals Data analysis is especially helpful for identifying victims of human trafficking who may have personal bank accounts accounts with ABN AMRO When their wages are funnelled back to the employer Van Zundert notes that it is also important to understand the local context when analysing data frequent payment transactions late at night at massage parlours or nail studios might be a red flag of criminal activities or illegal prostitution transactions of this kind are not uncommon and perfectly normal.”  Corso Zundert has drawn the attention of visitors from home and abroad for years For the first time a few floats also ride in China started a cooperation with Corso Zundert to show the designs of various corso floats to Chinese public  On the occasion of the opening of Corso 2021 Dafeng Holland Flower Park recorded this video to thank Corso Zundert fort he pleasant cooperation and to show how the public enjoy the floats Two of the hamlets that build for this largest parade were surprised by the request from China at the beginning of this year A selection procedure in Dafeng resulted in a request to reconstruct a parade float from their hamlet These are the parade floats which have been rebuilt in Dafeng: Stil-Leven (2015) of hamlet Schijf and Vortex (2016) of hamlet Klein Zundert Stibbe congratulates Prologis on acquiring 6.5 hectares of land at the sustainable business park Business Centre Treeport (BCT) in Zundert near Breda where they will develop a high-quality warehouse facility of 47,246 square meters The all-electric warehouse will have a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ classification and features such as solar panels The facility will support customers’ growth and sustainability goals and benefit from BCT’s own energy generation and ecological zone The development will be completed mid-2024 Stibbe worked alongside De Lobel & Partners on the acquisition Through a theatre performance about Eastern European migrants a theatre maker in the southern Netherlands town of Zundert with some 3,000 Eastern European labour migrants hopes to bridge the divide between local inhabitants and the immigrants “We want to give a face to labour migrants from Eastern Europe”, says writer and theatre makerPeter Dictus on a Saturday in a huge empty greenhouse in Zundert “They are normal people that have settled here in large numbers but the rest of the town would rather ignore them Saturday afternoon, rehearsals are in full swing for theatre production Moeland - Rijk van de Armen [Moeland - Kingdom of the Poor], which will be put on in the greenhouse over the coming three weekends. Members of Het Zunderts Toneel crawl over the black sandy soil like strawberry pickers. Monologues are practised elsewhere in the greenhouse He plays the slumlord who makes big money on the renting out of rundown homes or caravans to East Europeans for usurious prices hopes that employers in the greenhouse sector will come to the “documentary theatre” He also hopes they will have a different perspective on the phenomenon of labour migration According to figures from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics Zundert is the most densely populated area of the Netherlands when it comes to labour migrants from Central and Eastern Europe some 2,500 people from that region live here That is almost 12 percent of the local population It was made possible by Voxeurop’s community High-quality reporting and translation comes at a cost To continue producing independent journalism Subscribe or Donate They are desperately needed on the strawberry fields or in the tree nurseries but as human beings we want to keep them hidden.” Journalist and photographer Riet Pijnappels photographed various migrants at their work and at home which will be on show from next weekend in the chapel of the former Sint Annaklooster literally gives a face to Polish asparagus pickers and Lithuanian strawberry pickers “But they are only seen as a pair of hands here in the village,” Pijnappels says Most Eastern Europeans live in holiday parks in Zundert The Fort Oranje camping site is filled with dozens of rickety caravans filled with Poles “And they have to pay 500 euros a month for the ‘privilege” That is another side of the migration story.” Dictus is surprised about how the different populations can be so physically close and yet live such totally separate lives Last weekend Zundert held its famous parade of flower floats In the framework of the “Central and Eastern Europe” project a few weeks ago the Zundert Stage Group and some seventy Eastern Europeans cycled past a number of tents where the floats were being built “The Zundert residents and the people from Central and Eastern Europe initially stood gaping at each other like rabbits caught in the headlights of a car.” He acknowledges that the Eastern Europeans share some of the blame they are often not interested in integration “I know a group of Romanians who have been working for the same grower for twelve years Yet they still call themselves seasonal workers This makes me think of the Moroccans who came to live here fifty years in what we call the problem district of Zundert.” In the play he also shows the “postponed lives” of the Eastern Europeans Voxeurop depends on subscriptions and donations from its readers The year 2021 will go down in history as a special year for Corso Zundert While Stichting Bloemencorso Zundert knew early on that there would be no Corso in 2020 the decision for this year was delayed for a long time the well-known and changeable corona measures But what this Corso year did have in comparison with 2020 was that there was another building season in the tents and a beautiful exhibition with a winner Hamlet Klein-Zundert may call themselves with their design Murica The hamlets Klein-Zundertse Heikant and De Markt won the second and third prize respectively the parade floats entered the exhibition grounds the professional jury formed a first impression and opinion The floats passed by the jury while driving and in full gear after deliberating and looking at the floats again In a mix of footage from the morning and interviews with representatives of the twenty hamlets Each hamlet was told its position in the rankings during the interview The top three were kept in suspense until four o’clock it was revealed who could take home the winner’s cup in 2021 Because after the presentation of the prizes by Mayor Joyce Vermue the delegates went back to their building site where they were received with great joy by their neighbours The famous ‘Zundertse stop-moment’ – with the cup high up in the air – took place this year when the cup arrived at the tent of hamlet Klein-Zundert For the complete ranking of this Corso, please visit our website: www.corsozundert.nl/en/our-corso/results-2021. Would you like to admire the creations of the twenty hamlets? That is possible. On Monday 6 September, you can still visit the exhibition grounds. Buy your tickets and reserve your time slot online. To do so, please visit: www.corsozundert.nl/en/tickets-en 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of after a short illness in the care of the staff at St Beloved son of the late Aad and Lily and adored brother of Herman No flowers please, donations, if desired, to St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation https://www.stvincentsfoundation.ie/ Messages to the family can be left in the ‘Condolences’ section below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Zundert – After the extended Cornona measures of last time the Foundation Corso Zundert did not see any possibilities to make a moving parade possible with a view to the present Corona regulations A show of the corso creations in an exhibition area was the last option of Foundation Corso Zundert After intensive consultation and cooperation with the Zundert Council and precise adaptation of all plans this scenario proved safe and executable And so Zundert is preparing for a two-day exhibition on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 September on the CLTV grounds in Zundert Chairman Jos Jochems: “Of course we saw all messages and opinions on the internet and social media It was by no means an easy issue for the Foundation the corso community and the Zundert Council to find a scenario for an event of this size taking place in these times We trust that exhibition of the floats in the context of the present regulations does honour the corso builders and the public can watch all this beauty in a safe way.” Visitors must buy a ticket and reserve a time block in advance The price for the ticket to the exhibition area is € 7,50 Within this time block of 15 minutes the visitor can enter the exhibition area via one of the three entrances The visitor has about two hours to enjoy all beautiful things that Corso Zundert has to offer Note that in the exhibition area the 1,5 meter regulation applies but it is not necessary to show a corona entry proof The area will be open on Sunday 5 September from 1.00 pm till 9.00 pm and on Monday 6 September from 09.00 am till 9.00 pm Together with Omroep Brabant the Foundation Corso Zundert will perform a live registration This broadcast will be completed with various interviews from the exhibition grounds This registration will start as a TV broadcast on Sunday the prizes will also be announced from the jury This will be broadcast at Omroep Brabant TV and via www.omroepbrabant.nl Sales of tickets will start on Saturday August 29 at 9.00 am and is to be reached via www.corsozundert.nl/tickets In the ticket system it is an option to purchase a Zonnewijzer which you get while scanning your ticket at the entrance gate A separate Zonnewijzer is also for sale at the Corso desk in our Corso Centre at 3 Entrance tickets and grandstand tickets that were already bought for the ‘riding event’ will be refunded as soon as possible At the latest refunds will take effect on September 10 People who bought tickets at the Corsobalie (office) will be approached separately by Corso Zundert For the latest information always keep an eye on our social media and website www.corsozundert.nl presents the multifunctional party location on the Corso Boulevard (at the Oranjeplein) The reason for creating this location is the desire to use the available space as efficiently as possible and thus make the event more and more sustainable A single location is used as grandstand A and sponsor home to view the parade from in the afternoon of Sunday 3 September and is transformed into an after-party location on Sunday evening and on Monday 4 September This is made possible by adapting the sponsor home and extending the area towards the back The multifunctional party location consists of three parts. The party marquee can be found on the ground floor and the vide on the first floor, around the main stage. This format contributes to an atmospheric and intimate CorsoParty. The marquee will be open right after the award ceremony on Sunday and all of Monday. You can find the programme on www.corsozundert.nl/en/praktisch/party The public terrace opens on Monday at 10 am and can be found on the first floor of the CorsoParty location We have seats available on the ground floor for people with disabilities The terrace offers the opportunity to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a view of the Corso Boulevard where the people visiting the annual fair are passing by There will be live music on Monday afternoon You can also check out the LED-screens that will be placed on the Corso Boulevard They will show footage of this year’s Corso as well as some behind the scenes footage and fragments of the Corso’s history The screens are also in view of the passers-by on the Corso boulevard This is how the CorsoParty location offers something for everyone cash can no longer be used to pay for admission tickets and consumption tokens We notice that visitors are already increasingly accustomed to paying with debit cards or using mobile phones We will switch to digital ways of paying as much as possible You buy admission tickets easily via the website or at the box office using debit or credit cards which contributes to sustainability and safety for you and our volunteers The vending machines for consumption tokens also only accept digital payment At the individual catering establishments in Zundert’s Molenstraat it is still possible to pay with cash to purchase corso tokens What is a Corso Sunday without an element of surprise? Fear not, the design of Klein-Zundertse Heikant wants to please the corso-loving audience let yourself be surprised,’’ says designer Ron Stoffelen One certainty is that the float of Heikant should be an impressive whole Two floats with a combined length of 28 metres will showcase a dwarven people that is still in the process of building their dwelling In mere minutes the float will tell the entire story of the dwarven people Despite being inspired by the fantasy world of J.R.R “The story is visualised and doesn’t require prior knowledge You get a glimpse into the life of this dwarven people and all that comes with it,” Robin shares The audience will get a theatrical experience Approximately 50 extras will help bring the float alive People in the hamlet were very eager to become extras this year because the last time that Klein-Zundertse Heikant had this many extras they could stop at the Corso Boulevard with their float Freeland Festival “It is precisely the enthusiasm of the extras that makes this year’s float so much fun to work on” Karel and Ron are looking forward to the enthusiasm of the extras a design has been chosen which emanates threat The desire to build a float with such forms had been around for some time and this year the designers have found a suitable theme Ron explains: “We have always wanted to do something with circles and finally Adrie came up with a design using them.” Wim and Ron set to work on the design in October and later Maikel joined them as welcome addition Maikel: “I immediately started spinning with them!” One by one each circle will burst into life as an undefinable entity Adrie explains how the sharp contrast been the circles and the heads is an important component of the design: “There is discord and contrast in colour between the circles and the soberly coloured heads The heads express people in amazement or rather fear.” The public should have the idea that they are not in the right place this unsettling fear is a component of the float “We don’t want to divulge anything about the invasion because what can be understood about an invasion?” It could be anything The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students The famous Zundert Corso returns on 4-5 September 2022 The dates for this year’s Corso Zundert (the flower parade of Zundert) twenty teams will compete against each other to build the most beautiful float Learn how to become part of this unique event which proudly calls itself the largest flower parade in the world The Dutch town of Zundert (close to the Belgian border) is getting ready to host another edition of what is believed to be the most impressive parade of flower installations worldwide - one with a 80-years long tradition The Corso is actually a heated competition between groups of friends or sometimes - entire neighbours on building large and creative flower figures The winner is then judged by a professional jury but the public also gets to award a special recognition The Corso is has taken deep roots in The Netherlands the Dutch Corso culture and Falconry have officially been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021 the Corso practice is claimed to have spread in the south of France and Italy before becoming popular in the Netherlands in the nineteenth century there are around 30 such parades in the country The first parade in Zundert took place in 1936 in honour of Queen Wilhelmina's birthday the flower installations are taken to a large parade on the streets accompanied by musical and theatrical performances and other exhibition-type activities The Corso is done entirely voluntary and manually – even pushing the heavy flower car forward which is considered an honour for the team The teams spend months in preparation before putting the flowers in the very final days before the parade Said flowers often number up to half a million per car while the size of each installation reaches several metres of length and height the Corso is an exercise in community building and a meeting point of several generations To check out the full programme and purchase tickets, make sure to visit the official website of Corso Zundert. Get a taste of the parade before even getting there from our Gallery above The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital the world's longest flower parade passes through the streets of Zundert it is time for the younger Zundert corso builders to show how they have been caught by the corso fever virus With a colourful parade of more than 200 floats and more than 800 children it is clear that the corso is very much alive among young people You can find more information on our special children’s parade website kindercorsozundert.nl It is pretty topical: a wolf emerging in Achtmaal. This animal was seen several times and left its traces in the outside area of the village. What is remarkable, the design of the hamlet of Achtmaal appeared shortly after spotting the wolf for the first time That makes one wonder if more is going on than just a myth In September the big bad wolf will be seen in maximum sizes Werner van Aert already had the idea of building a wolf for some time and this year Marc Roelands and Luuk Wouters will help him “In my opinion the atmosphere with a corso float is very important The Nordic mysteriousness grabbed my interest The starting point however was the wolf itself but a being from the underworld of the Nordic mythology that is a threat tot he other gods To face this threat they invented a solution in Achtmaal “Because of his strength he is chained up “ “You can see by his grinning head that he is looking for a next victim and this manner  we make him move through Zundert.” By using several moving elements in the design Fenrir will come to life For the three designers of Achtmaal this is the first design they can work out Marc Roelands (22) works a an electric engineer Werner van Aert (29) is an interim financial controller This year, the design for hamlet Rijsbergen is created by Femke Sannen and Pieter Meeuwissen—a debutant and an experienced designer where Pieter designed for the past two years “We started brainstorming together and quickly came up with the idea of showing a behind-the-scenes look at something contemporary,” begins Femke “But with a wink,” Pieter adds there have been quite a few dark and heavy floats in recent years so the design for Rijsbergen this year should be something lighter “The idea of ‘behind the scenes’ quickly led to the concept of parcel delivery services,” Pieter continues The street scene has even changed because of it.” The float depicts a distribution center with a large map draped over it like a dome “It gives a double representation of the chaos that we don’t usually see Ordering something online is very easy for us as consumers but not everyone knows what kind of pressure it puts on delivery services,” Femke explains The float will feature about 25 to 30 performers who will portray this chaos and pressure Through the use of LED lighting on the roads and streets an illusion of track & trace will be created this float will have a lot to see and hear Femke Sannen (27) has been active at Raamberg Pieter Meeuwissen (67) was born and raised on the Veldstraat but later moved to Nijmegen for his studies He recently moved to Mook in Limburg and works as a self-employed biologist today the biggest corso in the world passed through the streets of Zundert On the first Sunday of September twenty huge floats show themselves to the spectators lots of cast members were to be seen on and around the corso floats The whole of it provided a lot of entertainment and an impressive spectacle for the thousands of visitors After deliberation by the expert jury the hamlet of Poteind with their float Nanook emerged as the winner With 628 points they were allowed to stop at the Corso Boulevard to receive the first prize The hamlets of Achtmaal and Klein-Zundert respectively got hold of the second and third prize The prize awarded by the public went also to the hamlet of Poteind On Sunday morning the floats left their building sites early to move towards the exhibition site Tired but satisfied the floats were pushed onto the site by man power The expert jury took a first look at the creations At half past one the floats left the site to accomplish the 81st edition of Corso Zundert the broadcast of Omroep Brabant went live and the spectators from Zundert and elsewhere obviously enjoyed all that splendour During the second passage at the Corso Boulevard the famous phrase “You may stop” resounded The hamlet of Poteind experienced the Zundert jubilation of 2023 The award was handed out by mayor Joyce Vermue. Check out the entire ranking of this Corso on our website: www.corsozundert.nl/en/our-corso/results-2023 Would you like to admire the creations of the twenty hamlets again You can still visit the exhibition site on Sunday night You pay € 6 to enter the exhibition site (children up to and including 12 years of age are free) The escaped coati that was spotted in the trees in a Breda neighborhood earlier this week was captured The female is now staying at the ZRC Zundert bird rehabilitation center an employee there confirmed after the story was reported by Omroep Brabant The bird facility's staff determined the animal is a red coati The animal was caught in a person's backyard on Thursday evening and brought to Zundert the Stichting Aap exotic animals nonprofit organization would take care of the coati Coatis must be quarantined for a month when they are captured ZRC Zundert also sometimes takes in hedgehogs and foxes so it has enclosures suitable for the small coati which is not normally present in the Netherlands according to the bird rehabilitation center "It may be that it was someone's pet after all," said the employee "She's already eaten well here." According to the employee Eventually she will probably be sent to live in a zoo The bird rehabilitation center is consulting with Stichting Aap about this