6 & 7 september 2026
6 & 7 september 2026
Simply building a float entitled “Eindtijd”, that is what designers Thomas Hense, Mike Daemen and Thomas Leeuw want to do together with the hamlet of The Berk. “The idea had crossed our minds for quite some time”, says Thomas Hense. “After the corso of 2025 we kept developing it. Before the final design was there, we presented a sketch of the float. When the hamlet agreed we could make a start with the scale model based on the final drawing.
Quite daring. It is not the first corso float with skulls and skeletons. The death theme causes goosebumps with many people. The image of this compact float with a skull overgrown by dials and a number of gears shows obviously that all things come to an end. And all that while the many hours of work are still ahead.
The three designers started designing last year with “Odoodem”, a float consisting of big totems, with a symbolism of their own. The float of 2026 is symbolic again, but certainly not static. Mike Daemen who is responsible for the design and the movement says: “There will certainly be a lot of motion (big and small) on our float. What it is exactly still remains a surprise. What we can say is that there will be no figuration on the float.
Everybody has a specific task. Thomas Leeuw mainly aims at the construction and motion. Thomas Hense aims at the shape and the control during the building proces. “We take care the shape model is ready before we start putting up the building tent. We are going to release a nice design together with De Berk, that is for sure. We are curious how it will end. Time will show!”
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Thomas Hense (34) has been active with De Berk for more than 16 years, just like the other two. Mike Daemen (27) works as a ZZP in electrical engineering. Tomas Leeuw (24) is a carpenter. This is their 2nd design.
Original Dutch Text: Eric Elich
Translation: Emile Wassenaar
Photo: Jeanne van Oosterhout
Hamlet De Berk
www.buurtschap-deberk.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.