Arjum, a small town with a strong community

Looking for a place to camp the night a miscommunication between the driver and navigator meant we took a wrong turn and passed through the town of Arjum on the Northern coast of the Netherlands. As we drove through the edge of town we noticed every house was decorated with coloured bunting and every street pole was decorated with a clover leaf and a lady beetle or a Disney fairy tale theme.

Later, after parking in the next town we asked why the houses of Arjum were decorated and were told there was to be a street festival that evening. We cycled back to Arjum, arrived at the pub to the smell of sizzling ham steaks, onions and potatoes on the grill. Amstel beer was on tap and appeared to be the only drink to be consumed. 

We sat with some locals who told us about their town and the festival we were about to see.

Arjum is a town of approximately 1000 people. It is in Dutch Fresia, on the North Sea. The primary industries in which it's residents are employed are maritime (offshore and inland waterways), commercial fishing, and agriculture. 

In the early 1970’s a local farmer decided to help build community by giving local children a hay ride on his tractor and trailer through town. He did laps of the main streets and people came out to cheer and be part of the fun. 

Since then, every four years a street parade has been held to celebrate this event and each time it is held the event grows. Now everyone from the neighbouring villages is involved with making floats or being part of the 8,000 or so spectators.  

 This years theme was "Hollywood, Movies and Music". In total there were 63 floats, each one made by a street, family or community group. The floats ranged from a decorated paddock bomb to huge trailers towed by tractors with large generators to power the booming music, lights and smoke machines. A number of the floats were of a standard to rival the floats in say the Sydney Mardi Gras, Moomba Festival or New Orleans Mardi Gras. 

It was obvious, based on the interactions between the spectators watching that that this event helps bind an already close community. Everyone was talking to everyone else, young children were talking and playing with adults who were not their parents and every float received a large cheer. 

The spirit of the community was demonstrated when a girl who obviously is special received the loudest cheer as she rode by dressed as a fairy in her pink car.