Welcome to the internet site of the Carnival association “De Tempeleers”. This site is  bi-lingual, Dutch and our dialect “Mestreechs”.
On this page we will try to summarize what is going on in Maastricht during the Carnival season. 
Carnival is a festival for everybody, all ages.
Carnival is a festival of fraternization.
During this period everybody is like one family. In the four weeks period before Carnival all kinds of activities will take place. The start is on Sunday January 17, 2010 with the proclamation of the Prince of Carnival. The Prince is a very important person in the Carnival season. He will “lead” the people during this period of feast.

We will give you a summary of the events for the coming period, and hope you have a really good time in Maastricht. 

Agenda of Carnival 2010
 
Sunday January 17, 2010
Proclamation of the Prince of Carnival 2010 on the market square at 3.11 pm.

Friday February 12, 2010
Carnival at all schools in Maastricht.

Saturday February 13, 2010
1.11 p.m. Arrival of Prince of Carnival at the Central Railway Station.
Parade between Railway Station and the City Hall at 1.55 pm.
3.00 p.m.
Reception at the City Hall where some ministers from the Central Government of the Netherlands, the Provincial Commissioner of the Queen and the Mayor of Maastricht are present. (invitation only).
8.11 p.m. Reception at the “Bonbonnière”

Sunday February 14, 2010
10.33 a.m. Ceremony at the "Palace" (home) of the Prince.
12.11 p.m. Official Opening of Carnival with eleven gunshots on the "Vrijthof"
1.44 p.m. Big parade in the city center.
After the parade Carnival in all streets and all pubs of the city center, up to 03.00 a.m.

Monday February 15, 2010
Parade of the children and families in the city center. During and after the parade, Carnival in all streets, squares and pubs, up to 03.00 a.m

Tuesday February 16, 2010
2.11 p.m. Contest for all bands, brass-bands, etc. (up to about 5.00 p.m.)
3.11 p.m. Costume contest for children in "Bonbonnièree".
During and after these events, Carnival in all streets, (see Sunday and Monday)
11.55 p.m.” Official" end of Carnival, but pubs remain open up to 02.00 a.m.

For more information from day to day activities in the city please contact the site of the tourist office: http://www.vvvmaastricht.nl/ or send an email to info@tempeleers.nl

More info about our organization is provided by Marleen Vara via Crossroads, a web magazine for expatriates in Maastricht:
http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/de-tempeleers-guardians-of-the-maastricht-carnival/