A special environment with special Traditions.
Besides the huge number of historic buildings, streets and house fronts, many traditions and old customs have been preserved. Each New Year’s Eve the night watch makes his tour of the town Ootmarsum, accompanied by the inhabitants of Ootmarsum and their guests. The new year is celebrated by singing the night watchman’s song at certain historical places. On Palm Sunday the children of Ootmarsum and Denekamp parade the town centre showing their traditional decorated Easter Palms. The numerous Denekamp and Ootmarsum Easter traditions are always attended by the so-called ‘Poaskearls’(Easter Lads). On Easter Saterday ‘Easter wood’ is collected for next day’s bonfire. In Ootmarsum at Easter and on Easter Monday the Poaskearls make two tours of the town and in the afternoon many people join in “Vlöggeln”(winging of flying). Preceded by the Poaskearls and the lead singer, the people walk through the centre singing Ootmarsum Easter songs. In many places in Twente a bonfire is lit in the night of Easter Sunday. On three consecutive Thursdays in summer in Ootmarsum the ‘Siepelmarkets’ are held, folk markets that attract many thousands of visitors tot the historic town centre every year. The art fair ‘Art in Ootmarsum’ is organised every last weekend of August. The last funfair of the season, the Koale Kermis (‘cold Fair’), can be visited in Ootmarsum early November every year. During Advent the war echoing sounds of midwinterhorns can be heard al around Ootmarsum-Dinkelland and on New Year’s Eve the traditional new year’s cookies are baked in the open air museum Ootmarsum.
For a complete list of all the events in Ootmarsum-Dinkelland you can click here.