The Corsokoepel is a joint initiative of all Dutch flower, fruit and allegoric parades in the Netherlands. About Thirty in total spread throughout the country.
Objectives
- Share knowledge
There are a lot of similarities between the parades and they face similar issues. As the parades are all finding their own solutions and opportunities it is a great opportunity to share that knowledge. We can learn from each other: health & safety issues, ways to involve and interest children and young adults, insurances and so on.
Currently there are ten parades on the Dutch inventory for intangible cultural heritage. These parades have all created their own heritage care plan. The content of these plans will be shared among the parades so they may also benefit from it. The Corsokoepel itself is inscribed on the national register of good safeguarding practices of intangible cultural heritage.
In addition one of the larger parades organizes the annual corso parade, with workshops and lectures on float building and parade organization.
2. Promoting the Dutch corso culture
People may have heard of flower parades, but they generally know little about the modern interpretation of the parades nowadays. Most people also know little about the way in which parade floats are built. The corso culture extends beyond the procession. It is a social network, a way of life.
3. A mouthpeace to the Dutch corso culture
Flower parades are all over the world, but the specific corso culture is nowhere as strong as in the Netherlands. A fact unknown to society, even within the Netherlands. Media may cover one parade, or one individual story, but it is a tradition that is supported by many volunteers and visitors.
Some numbers:
- Approximately thirty corso’s, of which ten are recognized as dutch intangible cultural heritage.
- 35.000 parade builders/volunteers
- 1.000 volunteers in the float boards and parade organizations.
- over a million spectators each year
The corso culture is an important part of the dutch identity.
4. Safeguarding the corso culture
In order to safeguard the corso culture for the next generations to come. we try to keep a close eye on the opportunities and threats of the corso culture. Together with the parades involved, we look for activities and opportunities to strenghten our tradition for the years ahead.
UNESCO
We feel that corso’s as intangible cultural heritage are extremely valuable. And that they are a textbook example of intangible heritage as described in the 2003 Unesco convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. Intangible heritage bonds people and generations and it creates social cohesion. We are proud to share that the Netherlands has nominated the corso culture for a place on the International Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
Our file (number 1707) will be presented during the 16th session of the intergovernmental committee:
Nomination form ICH-02
Consent of communities
10 pictures of corsocultuur
Nomination film ‘corsoculture’
We are very gratefull to the Kenniscentrum Immaterieel Erfgoed Nederland who supports us in this journey.
History
The Corsokoepel association (stichting) was officially founded during the fourth corso congress in Lichtenvoorde on may 26th 2018. The cooperation between the parades exists much longer.
The Netherlands officially recognized the UNESCO-convention for intangible cultural heritage in 2012, Corso Zundert appeared in oktober 2012 as the first Dutch tradition on the national inventory. Within a year Eelde, Vollenhove, Tiel, Valkenswaard, Lichtenvoorde and St. Jansklooster also enlisted. Drogeham, Giethoorn, Winterswijk en Bollenstreek followed in the next years.
As of 2012 the cooperation between the parades, until that point mainly around the flower trade and judging, evolved. With the corso congress as an important event. As of 2018 the cooperation was formalized in an association, involving both the parades on the national inventory and the ones that chose not to register.
Board
The board of Stichting Corsokoepel:
- President Paul Bastiaansen (Zundert)
- Secretary Claudia Lassche (Vollenhove)
- Treasurer Miranda Eiting (Zundert)
- Committee member Herman ter Haar (Lichtenvoorde)
- Committee member Fred Eggink (Tiel)
The corsokoepel organizes two update-meetings a year to which all corso’s are invited.
Contact
You can reach the Corsokoepel via e-mail: corsokoepel@ bloemencorso.eu.