153 stallholders are setting up their stalls and preparing to receive thousands of visitors every day from May 18 at the Sinksenfoor on Spoor Oost.
The stallholders come from all corners of the country and sometimes even beyond. The Delforge family comes from Charleroi and has spread several oliebol stalls across the gigantic Sinksenfoor site. “We have been coming to Antwerp for at least forty years,” says Hotye Delforge (55). “We are now returning from fairs in Aalst, Bruges, Kortrijk and Ghent. On Sunday night we will dismantle our last chalet in Bruges and bring it here. We spend a full day dismantling our stall. And at least three days to put everything back together.”
“We can only relax…” Hotye interrupts his own sentence while laughing and clearly cannot immediately imagine the next rest point. “Because we are open every day, it is also intensive here.”
Son-in-law Max (left) helps during the construction. Hotye and his family have several oliebol stalls at the fair. — © Joris Herregods
“The seven weeks that we have been here is about the longest period that we have stayed in one place. You can ask any stallholder here, the real ones will all say the same thing: ‘We are always very happy to arrive here, but just as happy to leave again.’ A new place with a new wind is always a fun challenge for us.”
Stability
Richard Lapere (19) uses crude resources and eight workmen assemble a gigantic roller coaster. A large crane swings the metal pieces from one side to the other.
Richard took over his father’s rollercoaster when he was 16. — © Joris Herregods
Young Richard took over the reins from his father about three years ago, when he was just 16. “We learn from each other. There are certainly men on the field who are better informed about everything. They point out things that need to be improved to me, but I do the same with them. You learn this craft by watching, watching, watching again and finally doing it.”
“You learn this craft by watching, watching, watching again and finally doing it”
Richard Lapere
19 year old fairground dealer
The rollercoaster may be twenty years old (and therefore older than Richard himself), but Richard still labels it ‘the new’. “My father still has one that is at least fifty years old. This metal has a lot of quality and simply does not wear out. They just don’t make that anymore. That is why we must take great care of it, so that it can certainly last a long time. Because this really is the last of its kind.”
With eight workers they try to complete the job in one day. — © Joris Herregods
When the rollercoaster is set up, Richard and his team have to check everything every day and the rollercoaster undergoes a thorough cleaning every so often. “You have to check carefully that the screws are not too tight, because then the metal is forced and it can break because it is under too much pressure. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be too loose either.”
Family
Among the cranes, caravans and skeletons, one colorful stall catches the eye: the duck stall of the real Antwerp foor family, as Hotye describes them. Daughter Julie Dotremont (20) holds onto her mother’s chair while she hangs the prizes back into place.
“It will take at least two days to put everything back together,” admits Vincianne Put (49). “We have a total of three stalls that need to be ready and one is still set up at the Bist in Wilrijk. That market lasts until Wednesday. Then we still have a few days to move everything here and organize it again. The other two stalls should be in perfect order by then.”
Vincianne and Julie each have a duck stall. Fair has been running through their blood for generations. — © Joris Herregods
Just like with the Delforge family, you see the different generations busy. “As far as we know, we have always been a fair family. Even my great-grandmother had a stall. I have had everything myself: a hamburger stand, a children’s mill, token games.”
“As far as we know, we have always been a fair family. Even my great-grandmother had a stall. I have had everything myself: a hamburger stand, a children’s mill, token games.”
Vincianne Put
Fair trader
In addition to the fact that entire families participate in community life, the people on the site are also all related. “Sometimes someone tries out a new stall, but we always see the same, familiar faces. We go to a restaurant together, help each other set up the caravans and give extra instructions. But even during difficult moments you can always turn to each other.”
For the time being, the cheerful, busy fairground atmosphere is still far away. — © Joris Herregods
Vincianne hasn’t always had it easy either. Her son had a serious accident and is undergoing intensive rehabilitation. “That made us decide to sell all our stalls. At this duck stand, at the end of the day I can just lower the hatch and go to him.”
Even during these difficult moments, she is happy that she gets along so well with the other stallholders. “From the moment you enter the colorful stall, you have to click and put a smile on your face. But things are not always happy behind the scenes.”
“But you just have to keep going, just like the girls from K3,” daughter Julie agrees. “And we really enjoy doing it, but it is not always easy.”
“I can’t think of a single part of the job that I don’t like. The pleasure of the people, the recognizable faces of your colleagues and the familiar Antwerp customers,” Vincianne sums up.
The Sinksenfoor opens its doors on Saturday, May 18. — © Joris Herregods
The fair will be open every day. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight. The doors open at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. You can continue to enjoy it until 1 a.m. on Friday and until 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Tags: stallholders color Spoor Oost place wind .. fun challenge Antwerp
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