Dutch traditions as top-class entertainment

The folkloristic troupe ‘De Losser Böggelrieders en Daansers’ is an esteemed visitor throughout the world. Anyone who has ever seen the group perform will understand why. Old Dutch traditions go hand in hand with top-class entertainment. Music and dance from the rural area of Twente, cheer ful traditional costumes.... all combined with a unique bicycle show!  

Dance, cycling and laughter

The colourfull and merry company cycles into the spotlight far and wide. While the accordionists give sway to their cheerful tones and the Daansers (dancers) clack their clogs, the Rieders (cyclists) perform all sorts of stunts on original bicycles. For example the Böggels: splendid authentic penny farthing bicycles from the last century. In total there are 20 böggels, and also a bike without pedals, a carrier bicycle and a child’s tricycle.  

Pleasure for young and old

Appearances by the ‘Losser Böggelrieders en Daansers’ are a guarantee for the entertainment, pleasure and hearty laughter of the public. The group consists of about 60 members;  senior group of 40 ladies and getlemen and a 20 strong junior group. They form 16 dancing couples that can be accompanied by 3 accordionists. And wherever this company performs there is nothing but enthusiasm: amongst the group and amongst the public!  

Cycling contests

• Races for prominent people

• Twente evenings

• Adding lustre to events such as fairs, opening ceremonies, etc.

• Audience participation

• Dance performances

• Country weddings

• A world-wide reputation...

By now ‘De Losser Böggelrieders en Daansers’ have enlivened many major events, such as:

The engagement party and coronation of Queen Beatrix

The opening of the A1 ( Amsterdam - Berlin )

The start of the Tour the France in the Netherlands

Council Festival Hong Kong  

Performances throughout Europe and much further afield: including Moscow , Toronto , etc.

The opening of the world rowing championships in Amsterdam

‘Tradition ensures continuity in culture and is the basis for folklore’.  

Markelo, an agricultural community, situated on the boundary of Salland and Twente, understood this as long ago as 1934 when the folkloristic society ‘Folkloristische Vereeniging Markelo’ was founded.  

The object of this society is to study, preserve and, if necessary, re-establish the regional customs.  

Nowadays, still true to these original principles, the society unfolds the following activities:  

•         to research into and publish about the rich history of Markelo.

•         to preserve and stimulate old customs, for example traditional                            Easter-customs.

•         to present complete costume shows in which, among other things,                     historical clothing from the nineteenth century is shown.

•         and in particular, to perform ancient Twente folk dances in authentic                  costumes (anno 1840), with which the society has obtained an excellent         reputation at home and abroad, within and outside Europe .  

Last but not least, the society has at its disposal a children’s group which was founded in 1957. The children, in the age of 4-7 years are also dressed in historically justified costumes and are famous for their spontanuous way of performing their dances.  

Further particulars may be had from the secretaryship.

“The Needse Havezathe Dansers” is a group of 37 dancers and 4 musicians.

They play the accordion, musical leader is Henk Landkroon.
The village Neede is in the East of the Netherlands near the German border.

In the past, about 1900 it was a very poor part of the country.
Most people were farmers. This you can see in the cloth our folk-dans-group wear.

The men in black and the women have a little color in the dresses, because it are the old Sunday cloth who they wear now during the day.

No luxuery,ore gold or silver ornaments for the women, only a silver watch on a chain for the men. We all dance at wooden shoos, called “klompen”.

Our group started in 1998 with about 10 couples.

The performances we give are mostly in the senior –homes, dance festivals, shopping centers, and hospitals and naturally at the International Dutch Jam-market, which every year is organized in Neede, by the local-government.

The dances are authentic. We have a dance-teacher who comes every Wednesday to learn some new-old dances.

Some are very difficult, and some are easier to learn. Just as the music.

“The Needse Havezathe Dansers",

Gerard Siebelink. (Secretary)