Barrel clubbing has been played in Noordwijkerhout for more than a century. The first photo dates from 1896. The simplicity is also the power of the game. Whoever throws the last bat and makes the ball or (knitted) cat fall out of the barrel wins. The game is played every Wednesday morning during our Orange celebrations in the first full week of September, formerly in honor of our former princess and Queen Wilhelmina. In recent years, around 675 men and women between the ages of 18 and 86 have gathered, and in the afternoon up to sometimes 90 children between the ages of 6 and 12 to throw batons at the barrels. Fighting for the ball or the knitted kitten, for eternal fame and the brotherly coziness. Even when it rains, almost nobody drops out and the game continues.
The game: There is a barrel hanging on a rope under a rack. which has a ball. This used to be a living cat with the men and a knitted cat with the ladies. That is why it used to be called cat clubbing.
We purchase the wooden barrels, which we prepare extra and provide with a ball. We nail the barrels for the ladies and children together with wooden rings, 60 cm long slats and rope for hanging. These barrels are provided with a knitted kitten. Which is a trophy in itself for many!
For each course, the participants throw their wooden bat or old bowling pin one by one at the barrel. This continues until someone throws the bat or pin on which the ball or knitted cat falls out of the barrel. He then has the first prize of that barrel. The people who throw before or after get a 'mispoes'. That is a delicious smoked sausage that is cut and eaten immediately. There are currently a total of 9 men's, 3 women's and 3 children's courses and there are 4 courses per lane.
With a large dose of fun, entire generations of family and friends are watching the clubbing together. While enjoying a snack and a drink, and with increasing tension as a ball or cat almost comes out. Under that pressure, many fail by missing! As a result, the release is often very large if you are the one who finally hits.
