As Vanouds - Oeteldonkse Binnendieze carnavalsoptocht Verwersstroom-Binnendieze Oude Bogardenstraatje s-Hertogenbosch 734 pm 251002_0045

Open-air theater play Oeteldonk (as this city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch during carnival is called), 2 October 2025.

People are performing an open-air play throughout the city. It is the year 2036… eleven years from now… Things are no longer as they used to be. But there is still one place where the carnival is still celebrated as it once was.
During this boat trip, people sail through time along the ‘Binnendieze’, the historic inner-city river of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, which has long been important to the city.
In this audio recording, the 16 boats approach one by one over the water, and the narrator on board tells the passengers that they have now arrived in the year 1974, inside the Saint John’s Cathedral of the city. The cathedral’s plebaan, Lunter, stands on the altar and delivers his blessing to the people (see photo).

Photo Description – Scene at the Binnendieze:
The photo captures a moody nighttime scene along the Binnendieze in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

In the lower left, a narrow boat sails through the canal, filled with closely seated passengers. These are Oeteldonkers, recognizable by their clothing in red, white, and yellow accents—the traditional colors of Oeteldonk. All eyes are turned upward. There on the right, standing on a raised path beside an iron railing, is Plebaan Lunter, dressed in a white robe blessing the people with the Holly Binnendieze-water. It is the year 1974. The moment is part of a theatrical scene that brings the city’s past to life.

The surroundings are steeped in history: old brick walls, a wooden overhead structure with beams, and warm, subdued lighting create an intimate and almost mystical atmosphere. The scene evokes a timeless, theatrical ambiance—perfectly suited to a performance that blends storytelling with heritage.

#1:56 A man who says he is from the local newspaper asks the plebaan all sorts of questions.

#4:45 Far in the distance, the first boat with Oeteldonkers approaches, and the narrator explains where they are there. Meanwhile, spectators chat among themselves, and faint notes from performers further down the canal begin to drift in.

#7:01 The boat has arrived, and the narrator announces: “In 1974, instead of carnival being under church ban, history was made. The plebaan of the city’s cathedral organized the very first Holy Carnival Mass. That is remarkable, because the city's carnival association was founded 1881 as a form of resistance against the church’s ban on our celebration.

#7:31 Now the plebaan speaks:
“Welcome, brothers and sisters. Welcome to our beautiful Saint John’s Cathedral. Isn’t it beautifully decorated?” he asks the churchgoers.
He continues:
“Dear red-white-yellow friends” (editor’s note: the colors of Oeteldonk),
“The divisions of the past are no more. We find one another in the light of the red-white-yellow celebration. And so, dear friends, I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Then the priest blesses the people with the Holy water from the Binnendieze.

#8:31 The boat continues toward the next bridge, where people are welcomed with old carnival music featuring accordion and singing. On the next approaching boat, you can also hear singing—and this story will repeat itself fifteen more times.

#50:09 The remaining Holy water is poured back into the Binnendieze. We begin to dismantle everything and continue with our beautiful lives.

Freesounders enjoy your audio-tour even you do not understand everything.

Date/time: October 2, 2025, 7:34 pm

Weather: 15 ºc, clouds 91 %, wind SSE 11-14 km/h, 1026 hPa, humidity 53%, visibility 50 km, dew point 8 ºc, cloud ceiling 9.1 km,

Location; Verwersstroom/Binnendieze, Oude Bogardenstraatje, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch), Noord-Brabant, Netherlands (Holland), Europe. GPS 51.68610 5.30551

Gear chain: Sennheiser mkh30/50 MS with pointed SW, in Rycote cyclone small, windjammer > Tascam FR-AV2. Noise floor ~47.6 dB, Post editing: Decoded Mid-side to STEREO. EQ correction for the blimp and limiter on -3 dB when necessary.

Original 130 minute MS-track 48/32 bit-float available for motivated pro's and artists.

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(more pictures: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=klankbeeld%20plebaan%202025&title=Special%3AMediaSearch&type=image