The Inventory Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the Netherlands contains ICH of which the communities, groups or individuals involved have written a safeguarding plan. Those plans are reviewed by an independent review committee. Every three years an evaluation of the safeguarding takes place.

Description

Every King's Day the giant Jas de Keistamper (lit.: Jas the Boulder Stamper) appears on the marketplace in Boxtel. When the burgomaster has called him: ‘Jas, waor bende?’ (dialect for ‘Jas, where are you?’) he addresses the locals. Jas is a more than 11 feet tall giant. There is no other giant in the Netherlands whose heavy body and head are carried by a strong man. Jas’s head can turn. He can bend forward and shake hands. He even has a voice. Next to his performance on King’s Day he is present at the so-called Autumn Festival on the marketplace in Boxtel each year. He also visits, as ambassador of Boxtel, places at home and abroad.  On behalf of the municipality he acts as advocate of the Boxtel interests both in provincial and national politics.

 

Community

The Stichting Boxtel Vooruit (Boxtel Forwards Foundation) is the owner of the giant and holds the responsibility for all activities that take place in association with Jas de Keistamper. There is a permanent team of four carriers and four escorts. Whenever Jas performs, the twelve ladies of the dance group De Keigoeikes and the twelve musicians of the Jasband De Keiknoepers are present. The Boxtel business club, as well as the shopkeepers association and the hotel and catering association are closely involved. The Boxtel municipality plays a facilitating role by rending services like PR and marketing, licensing and storage.

 

History

The current giants tradition in the Netherlands derives from the religious processions that are still held today, in Belgium in particular. In the Southern Netherlands, where the Reformation was repulsed and the processions could go on in the streets, giants remained a well-known phenomenon. Jas de Keistamper from Boxtel was created in 1949. His character refers to the nickname of the people from Boxtel. At the end of the fourteenth century road paving works were done in Boxtel for the connection Den Bosch-Boxtel-Eindhoven-Liège. Giant power was needed for the construction. All boulders had to be tampered with a boulder tamper. The nickname ‘boulder tampers’ for the people in Boxtel turned into a badge of honour, a symbol of diligence and perseverance. After World War II the Stichting Boxtel Vooruit was founded. Guus van de Meer, from this foundation, created the giant Jas de Keistamper. On Queen’s Day 1949 Jas de Keistamper appeared for the first time. After this he was present at special occasions in Boxtel, like the kick-off of the restoration of the Church of St. Peter and the opening of the Keulsebaan, the road from Den Bosch to Cologne. As promoter of the municipality Jas took part in giants parades in the Netherlands. Around the eighties of the last century he got company. The Keinderküpkes were the first, a group of children in traditional costumes. They were followed by the Dance group De Keigoeikes and the music group De Keiknoepers. During the celebration of his sixtieth birthday, in 2009, Jas was given a girlfriend, the giantess Hannemi de Moor, who symbolises Liempde, that was added to Boxtel in a municipal reorganisation.

 

Contact

Stichting Boxtel Vooruit
Huygensstraat 52
5283 JM
Boxtel
Noord Brabant
Netherlands
Website