Wijnegem enjoys a surprisingly sunny and quiet Annual Market (Wijnegem)

The 174th Easter Market was an unexpected success. It happened again, partly because the weather was much better than predicted. No punches were thrown during the ‘after party’ this year either.

The Annual Fair started a little later, but the weather was not the spoilsport as expected. “With the exception of a few exhibitors, everyone was present and there were also more last-minute stalls than expected,” says event councilor Juul Liekens (N-VA).

Dog by Els Van Doesburg

He was one of the many politicians who, among thousands of other visitors, were also present at the market on the traffic-free Turnhoutsebaan. Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken also passed by to support the Wijnegem department of Dirk Verhaert and his team. A few tents further, Mayor Leen Wouters and her proposed successor Maarten Janssens of N-VA received a visit from Maarten De Veuster candidate from Schoten and Flemish list pusher Els Van Doesburg with her dog.

Towards the end of the market around 3 p.m. the terraces were still full of enthusiastic visitors, but this time the dismantling and extra-time of the Annual Market went without any significant incidents. In many cafés, such as in Den Babbel and ‘t Dorp, people continued to celebrate enthusiastically until the early hours. Before the start of the festival, the police had to tow some stubborn illegal parkers.

The fair also ensured that the atmosphere was maintained for a while and the party could last a little longer. “The Annual Market was a success partly thanks to the efforts of the municipality’s employees and the police, in particular our market manager Anne Van Bilsen,” Liekens adds.(yeah)