MAASEIK MEETS XI'AN - Eyes-e-tools

6 July: Old Limburg
Shooters’ Festival
The biggest shooters’ festival in Limburg, ‘De oaje
Limburger’, returns on the first Sunday of July as per tradition.
This 6 July we will see more than 160 rifle clubs and
guilds march through the streets of Opoeteren-Maaseik,
after the local Sint-Dionysius Royal Rifle Club won last
year’s meet. Experience suggests that the festival will
attract some 40,000 people. Including you, we hope!
Prayer and parade of flags
The official opening of the festival is scheduled for noon. After the obligatory
speeches and the moderator’s short prayer comes the gorgeous parade of flags.
Every rifle club sends a delegation to honour the European, national and provincial
flags.
Procession and march-past
The participants then begin a two-kilometre procession, a colourful pageant you
won’t want to miss! Shooting clubs and guilds from all over Limburg march in military
get-up, guild costume or imaginary uniform as the traditional protectors of the
church, the people and the mother country. A jury of experts judges whether rows
are straight, and arms and legs are in accord. At the end of the procession, in front
of the seats of honour, the shooters march in the traditional parade step.
Who’s the best?
The clubs compete in various disciplines on the competition grounds around the
party marquee, including drilling, drum bands in the ring, the solo contest and flagwaiving,
under the watchful gaze of the jury.
Cherry on the cake
The pinnacle of this unique historical cultural event is of course the shooting contest
on the festival field. Each club nominates a team of six shooters, who shoot
three times at a target made up of small black squares at the top of a pole using
a heavy rifle. The team that hits the most squares wins the contest and is entitled
to organise the Old Limburg Shooters’ Festival next year.
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The draught beer is served by the metre in
the refreshments marquee, while live music is
offered in the party marquee. There is plenty
of food on offer too, and even a dance floor
for those that feel like limbering up.
VZW OLS 2008, OLS centrum
Schoolstraat 13
3680 Opoeteren Maaseik
Tel +32 89 86 46 03
olsopoeteren.2008@hotmail.com
www.ols2008.be