The nativity of Zondereigen during the night from old to new immense damage sustained after a heavy fire. The fire was almost certainly caused by a (stray) vuurwerkpijl. The animals were but just in time to be saved from the fire. “We do not give up and next year they are there again”, sounds resolutely to the volunteers.
The nativity of Zondereigen is one of the gems of the noorderkempen (antwerp). The nativity scene is unique because they are around a part of the church is built and there is also a lot of attention to the décor of the surroundings of the barn. The roof is always straw used that the year before single-handedly represented. The barn is re-built by a large group of young and older enthusiasts. But their new year is in a minor key started. “It’s a disaster”, sigh responsible Frans Van Gils who is struggling just as other volunteers the tears can contain. “The damage to the roof is really great. Supposedly the cause was a stray rocket. Conny, that the images created, it was shortly after midnight outside her ass a little to reassure. Then she heard a sudden popping at the barn and they go and have a look. There were young people with fireworks involved. Somewhere we knew that it would happen. Every new year’s eve, we have over the past twenty years, our hearts held, but never something happened. So now unfortunately.”
New images
When the fire broke out, there were soon many local residents to help where they could. Some of them stomped out the door in order to deliver the animals out of the barn. There were a donkey, sheep, chickens and pigeons. “That really didn’t have much longer to last, or they had been dead”, says one of the volunteers heavily afflicted. “We had this year for the anniversary edition, especially new images. Fortunately, we can fight it.”
Future
The nativity of Zondereigen, each year thousands of visitors. Sometimes groups even special with a great coach to the Baarlese hamlet driven. The barn is also one of the three attractions for the kerstwandelingen between the stables of Merksplas, ’t Zwart Goor and Zondereigen. “We will certainly continue. We give the courage not to”, says Frans Van Gils. “We put the kribbehut (where something can be drunk, red) further out of respect for the many visitors and walkers. We will have a sign put in order for them all to make it clear. Would normally the barn until 6 January. We now have to wait on the insurance and then see what we can recover, and then with the demolition to start. The roof panels we will all need to be replaced. We hope We will have them next year at the same location can build up, because now will, of course, the discussion or they still at the kerkmuur should be built and that we still live animals may use. Hopefully it does, because that makes this box so special and unique.”
