Giant Jas de Keistamper in Boxtel

The Stichting Boxtel Vooruit (Boxtel Forwards Foundation) is the owner of the giant and holds the responsibility for all activities that take place in association with Jas de Keistamper. There is a permanent team of four carriers and four escorts. Whenever Jas performs, the twelve ladies of the dance group De Keigoeikes and the twelve musicians of the Jasband De Keiknoepers are present. The Boxtel business club, as well as the shopkeepers association and the hotel and catering association are closely involved. The Boxtel municipality plays a facilitating role by rending services like PR and marketing, licensing and storage.

The current giants tradition in the Netherlands derives from the religious processions that are still held today, in Belgium in particular. In the Southern Netherlands, where the Reformation was repulsed and the processions could go on in the streets, giants remained a well-known phenomenon. Jas de Keistamper from Boxtel was created in 1949. His character refers to the nickname of the people from Boxtel. At the end of the fourteenth century road paving works were done in Boxtel for the connection Den Bosch-Boxtel-Eindhoven-Liège. Giant power was needed for the construction. All boulders had to be tampered with a boulder tamper. The nickname ‘boulder tampers’ for the people in Boxtel turned into a badge of honour, a symbol of diligence and perseverance. After World War II the Stichting Boxtel Vooruit was founded. Guus van de Meer, from this foundation, created the giant Jas de Keistamper. On Queen’s Day 1949 Jas de Keistamper appeared for the first time. After this he was present at special occasions in Boxtel, like the kick-off of the restoration of the Church of St. Peter and the opening of the Keulsebaan, the road from Den Bosch to Cologne. As promoter of the municipality Jas took part in giants parades in the Netherlands. Around the eighties of the last century he got company. The Keinderküpkes were the first, a group of children in traditional costumes. They were followed by the Dance group De Keigoeikes and the music group De Keiknoepers. During the celebration of his sixtieth birthday, in 2009, Jas was given a girlfriend, the giantess Hannemi de Moor, who symbolises Liempde, that was added to Boxtel in a municipal reorganisation.