During ‘Vastenavend’, a special tradition occurs: young and old dress up in so-called mop costumes. Deeply rooted in the history of carnival, this special attire, with the red handkerchief as an essential part, goes back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Around 1890, the concept of 'mopping’ emerged. A group would perform at one ball, only to move on to the next one while dancing and singing through the streets. Today, this tradition continues.
Photographer Jildiz Kaptein set up a temporary photo studio in Krabbegat, Bergen op Zoom's carnival name, to photograph ‘mopping Crabs’ during this special Vastenavend. The portraits form a beautiful account of this age-old tradition in the publication 'Krabbegat'.
