Laer-Akkermolen - Visitors

After having guests in a hotel in 2024, Laer-Akkermolen expects guests again in 2025

Just as we sit down to discuss ‘Visitors,’ Martin gets a phone call. At that moment, only the title of the Laer-Akkermolen float is known, so before we talk further, Steven first shows us this year’s idea. A large UFO, nineteen meters long, is meant to move from front to back on a rollercoaster-like structure. This UFO is part of a design that will likely be different on three sides.

A little later, Martin returns with good news: the movement the men came up with should be technically possible. This movement is part of the idea to find a completely different, less demanding challenge for the hamlet compared to last year. This was both the hamlet’s wish and what the designers themselves wanted. 2024 was an intense year, but as they say this, they start laughing, realizing that this design is also going to be quite a challenge.

A different kind of challenge compared to last year is that multiple hamlet feel called to become actively involved in the preparations for the building season. While this is a bonus, the intention was to create a float that as many people as possible could help build. The fact that this design was created by five people also means they can better divide tasks and each person can use their own skills more effectively. In this way, they can complement each other well.

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This year, a quintet has signed on for the design at Laer-Akkermolen: Dave Roelands (38, teacher of Visual Arts, fifteenth design), Martin Straver (49, service technician, thirteenth design), Ronald van Loon (48, acoustic consultant, twentieth design), Stefan van Steen (43, Lead Engineer Civil, fourteenth design), and Steven van Erck (40, graphic designer, fourteenth design).

Original Dutch Text: Stijn van Helmondt
Translation: Saskia Molema
Photo: Eefje Fotografie

Hamlet Laer-Akkermolen
www.laer-akkermolen.nl

This article is brought to you by Corsief. An independent magazine about corsos in general and the Zundert flower parade in particular. The magazine is produced entirely by volunteers, who are all more or less active in the Zundert flower parade world. Corsief is entirely full-colour and appears four times a year.