The Cow Market is an annual fair and a proper popular feast that is celebrated throughout the inner town of Woerden at the Wednesday after October 20th. Town residents, people from the region and former inhabitants come to join in. With the Cow Market the ‘harvest’ of the cows is celebrated. At the same time it marks the moment that the cows go back to the stable for the winter period. During the fair, various activities take place and the visitors enjoy culinary delicacies like snert (pea soup), poffertjes (fried dough-balls with butter and sugar) and kristaljons (special currant rolls, only made in Woerden). During the night prior to the Cow Market, the inner town is the scene of the Night of Woerden. People first watch the international cycling field tour. Then they turn back to the town centre to party. There are DJs, and various bands and artists give their performances. The following morning, at 5 AM, the cows are brought to the Church Square. In the tent on the Church Square they are washed and prepared for the shows. One of the elements consists of the traditional handjeklap (a way of trading cows by clapping each other’s hand). This is a playful way to explain to children how trading was done at fairs. From 8 AM there is a (goods) market. The rest of the day is left for various shows, there is a prize for the most beautiful cow, children can get acquainted with farm life and, of course, there is a fun-fair too. The Cow Market ends as it started: with eating snert and gathering in the bars. School children and many employees of companies in Woerden traditionally have time off during the Cow Market.
