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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Welcome to the Pukkelclub: Pukkelpop's childcare service for staff since 1998

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Pukkelpop festival has operated its own childcare service, the Pukkelclub, since 1998.
  • The club provides care for children of festival staff working during the event's setup.
  • Many children who attended the Pukkelclub have grown up to work at the festival themselves.

For over two decades, the Pukkelpop music festival in Belgium has offered a unique service for its dedicated staff: a dedicated childcare facility known as the Pukkelclub. Established in 1998, this initiative ensures that parents working on the festival's setup can do so knowing their children are well cared for.

My dad worked in shifts and my mom worked backstage at Pukkelpop. I was 6 months old then, so they needed childcare for me so they could work at the festival.

— Sofie BervoetsExplaining her personal history with the Pukkelclub and the reason for its creation.

This year, the Pukkelclub is managed by Sofie Bervoets, who has a personal connection to the service. She was one of the first children to attend the Pukkelclub when she was just six months old, as her parents were both working at Pukkelpop. The festival's organizer, Chokri Mahassine, initiated the club to support crew members who needed childcare.

This year, we look after 30 to 36 children daily during the festival setup.

— Sofie BervoetsDescribing the current scale of the Pukkelclub's operations.

Currently, the Pukkelclub looks after between 30 and 36 children daily during the festival's setup period. The activities are varied, mirroring those of youth groups like the Chiro or Scouts, and include outings, swimming, bowling, games, and crafts. Children like Lore, whose mother handles drinks for Pukkelpop, and Lou, who enjoys sliding down festival-related structures, express their enthusiasm for the club.

We made slime. I chose the color purple with glitter. It sticks everywhere.

— LoreA child describing a craft activity at the Pukkelclub.

The Pukkelclub is based at the cafeteria of the football club RC Hades in Kiewit. Many children who grew up attending the Pukkelclub, like Laïs and Mauro, have aspirations related to the festival, though some, like Mauro, prefer the fun of the club over the hard work of festival operations. Louise, however, looks forward to working alongside her father, who manages catering for the festival crew, highlighting a generational connection to Pukkelpop.

I hope we get to play water games again. Last week we got to slide down Pukkelpop sails. That was really fun!

— LouExpressing enjoyment of activities at the Pukkelclub.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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