38th International May Fair Market Koewacht – Advertising Zeeuwsch Flanders | Zeeuwsch Flemish Advertisement Magazine

Wed Apr 24, 1:12 pm

General

Etienne van Waes

COWWAIT – On Sunday, May 5, 2024, St. International May Fair Market Koewacht will organize their International May Fair Market for the 38th time. A cross-border market that has grown into “The largest, cross-border, tourist/recreational open-air market on Sundays in Belgian and Zeeland Flanders”.

Interest in the annual May fair in Koewacht (Belgium and the Netherlands) declined sharply. This gave rise to the idea of ​​organizing a cross-border market. The Central Association for Ambulatory Trade, Zeeuws Vlaanderen (CVAH), the WEO Wase Market Stallholders Association (WMV), Entrepreneurs Platform OP! Koewacht and VVV Axel were immediately prepared to help.

Best market of the year

A commercial trading market, unique in its kind. Belgian market traders can offer their goods on the Dutch section and vice versa. In particular, the diversity of items that are offered for sale because there is a minimum occupancy in the various sectors gives market traders certainty that it is interesting for them to come to our market. But this also applies to visitors, because many industries are represented. There are market traders who consider the international May fair market to be their best market of the year. As in previous years, the market is fully booked.

Our market has proven throughout its history to have a strong tourist/recreational character and to be an ideal day out for the whole family.

The Willy de Maayer Trophy

A market without a stand worker competition is also unthinkable. The best of the Dutch and Belgian championships come to Koewacht to offer their wares. The stand workers are assessed by an independent jury. Those who offer their product the best, but above all in a fun and attractive way, are eligible for the Willy de Maayer Trophy.

The Ton Huiskes Award is presented to the most striking stall, judged by the independent jury.

Filip Anthuenis

This year, the municipality of Moerbeke is the host municipality for the last time. Guest of honor is Mr. Filip Anthuenis, mayor of the municipality of Lokeren. Lokeren has grown into a pleasant, modern provincial city. From January 1, 2025, Lokeren will merge with the beautiful Moerbeke, and Lokeren will become a city of 50,000 inhabitants with many assets. Lokeren is the city where Filip Anthuenis was born, raised and is deeply devoted. Filip graduated with a degree in computer science in 1986, and was active as an IT analyst in various companies for about 10 years. He is the son of honorary mayor and honorary senator Georges Anthuenis and the nephew of Aimé Anthuenis, former well-known trainer-coach of Sporting Lokeren, RC Genk, Anderlecht and the Red Devils, among others.

Filip became active in politics in 1994 during the municipal elections in Lokeren. Was elected as a Member of Parliament in May 1985 and served as a representative in Brussels for 19 years. He was successively a federal member of parliament, senator and Flemish member of parliament. Has been mayor of Lokeren since January 1, 2001. He will, together with the deputy mayor of the host municipality of Moerbeke, Mr. Koen Mertens, the mayor of Terneuzen Mr. Erik Merrienboer and the mayor of Stekene Mr. Stany de Judge and the chairman St. International May Fair Market Koewacht, Mr. Etienne van Waes, officially open the market at 10.45 am at the border.

The fair market is an ideal day out for the whole family