Artigenda
Roze Maandag (Pink Monday)
When: Annually, the first Monday of the Tilburg Fair in July.
On the first Monday when the Tilburg Fair starts at the end of July, it is Pink Monday. That sounds pretty complicated. It has everything to do with when exactly the Tilburg Fair takes place. Those are the last 10 days until the last Sunday of July. On Pink Monday, the Tilburg Fair is dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The largest fairground in the Benelux1
The fair in Tilburg is the biggest fair in the Netherlands and in the Benelux1. De Tilburgse Kermis(The Tilburg Fair) has been around for quite a long time, since 1567. Nowhere else in the world is there a fair with a day entirely dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community and that is very special.
Origins
It all started as a joke in the nineties. Hans van de Velde worked for the Dutch Gay Krant2 and was responsible for the administration of the page for gay people on NOS Teletekst3. In 1990, he decided to pull a prank on the editor-in-chief of the Gay Krant, Henk Krol. The latter was present in Tilburg that evening and thus, by way of a joke, Van de Velde made it a “Nichtenavond.” This evening would be part of the nostalgic fair. This made it busier that night and led to an impromptu party. It led to something else: a sequel, the following year. This is despite a possible fear of violence.
The first edition - 1991
The announcement was a joke, but the sequel wasn’t. The first edition took place back in 1991. It was such a great success that more and more visitors came. On 22 July 1991, the first official Pink Monday took place. Due to the visitor numbers, the NS4 even used the Pink Monday Express until 2015, but the transport company stopped doing so. The reason had to do with the high costs involved.
Inspiration
Meanwhile, Roze Maandag has become an important event. Not just for the fair or the city of Tilburg. Also for the LGBTQIA+ community. It has gained a place in numerous events that have been influential and inspired yet new expressions and events. There is not only a need for this today. It is also a pure necessity.
