KMG

This mural was created in collaboration with the Kielegat Foundation, which has been organising Breda’s carnival for 88 years in 2024. Thanks to a crowdfunding with 323 contributors, we were able to immortalise this festive event.

Adriaan van Bergen was partly responsible for the recapture of Breda during the 80-year war. As a boatman, he smuggled 75 soldiers, hidden under peat, into Breda. In the middle of the night of 3 March 1590, the soldiers left the boat and captured the castle in a surprise attack. The chaos of carnival allowed Dutch troops to easily take Breda. Shortly afterwards, Prince Maurice was welcomed to the city as liberator. This ‘List with the peat ship’ is also known as the Brabant Horse of Troy.

These and other historical events have been chronicled by John van Ierland in the book ‘Kielegat: the oldest and most exciting carnival story.’ In it, historical facts are interwoven with the Breda carnival story.

In the mural, we see, among others, Prince Maurits as Prince Carnival with the key to the city, Adriaan van Bergen as jester on his peat barge, Thuur Piek as ‘opperpliesie’ and guardian of the fun and, of course, carnival music in the form of a brass band could not be missing. A colourful polonaise formed on the pillars in the middle; symbolising the festive Breda people.

Photo by Edwin Wiekens

Photo by Edwin Wiekens