Tilburg fair's 'face' builds final ride while battling cancer

Niek Moonen, a familiar face at the Tilburg fair, is facing his toughest challenge yet, battling advanced stomach cancer while overseeing the final preparations for his family's new attraction, 'The Jester.' Despite his illness, Moonen is determined to be involved, even as he requires assistance, sitting in an office chair with a feeding tube connected.

The construction of 'The Jester,' a 20x20 meter thrill ride named after court jesters, is in its final stages. Moonen, who bought the ride for his 21-year-old son Niek, is receiving constant updates and requests for help from technicians and suppliers. He is supported by his son and two friends of his father, highlighting the strong bonds within the fairground community, where families have been building attractions for decades.

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That bond is very strong. I would do the same for them.

Moonen's health struggles have been significant. Two years ago, he weighed 123 kilograms and struggled with basic tasks like tying his shoelaces. After losing weight, a serious accident occurred last year when a 14-year-old girl fell from his previous ride, the Energizer, breaking her arm. This incident, coupled with the stress of ongoing checks by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), led to further weight loss. Moonen weighed 86 kilograms at the start of last year's fair and dropped to 76 kilograms by its end. He initially attributed his symptoms to stress but was diagnosed with metastatic stomach cancer on September 1st.

Despite his diagnosis, Moonen is present, making his way to the lunch tent and chatting with old acquaintances. He is one of the key figures of the Tilburg fair, a tradition where generations of families come together. The strong sense of community is evident as other families helped build 'The Jester,' a testament to the mutual support within this unique profession.

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I can't enjoy watching birds at home.