1St Flemish Dutch International Fulvia Meeting
Saturday 3th September 2005
1st Flemish – Dutch International Fulvia Meeting
Program
10.00 AMWarm welcome at Huib’s Workshop “Casa Fulvia” with Flemish breakfast (by Bart) and delicious apple-pie made by Christel according to a century-old mother-to-daughter recipe.
The address is Wolfslaardreef 51, Breda.
Look also at
At Casa Fulvia as well as at the Castelhoeve, there is plenty of opportunity to look under bonnets and into boots. Also, swapping and / or sale of parts is encouraged.
11.30 AMTour on country roads, mostly on paved roads, some parts on dirt roads, through the most beautiful part of the Netherlands. Via Chaam to Castelré via “Ginderdoor”, Heaven, Purgatory, Ulicoten and the “Hollandsche Bossen”
“The Chamates were the first tribe in the Netherlands. They selected the most beautiful part of the Low Lands. Long before the Bataves and Caninefates entered the Lowlands A.D. 400, the Chamates were already living in the Chaam-area. Soon after arriving the Chamates started the practice of banning the scum (called Ulecuters) to an outpost which became the village Ulicoten. Today Ulicoten is a decent rural community. In fact the women gymnastics team of Ulicoten has a high international standing.”
Leaving Ulicoten, in the direction of the “Hollandsche Bossen”, crossing the Reutsche Loop (small creek) you see at your left side a newly built farm. A few hundred meters further on, the paved road turns to the left. The more adventurous are invited to take the bumpy, dirt road straight ahead and turn left later taking the Castelsch Baantje (clearly sign posted). This is a grass road with big holes, rabbits, hares and pheasants. Not too long ago Annabel and Huib caught a poacher there who had just bagged a wild rooster as large as kangaroo. A century ago the Castelsch Baantje was the main road between Baarle Nassau and Castelré. The vicar of Baarle Nassau cycled on this road to swim secretly in the river ‘the Mark’. Where it forms the border between Belgium and the Netherlands it used to be a wide stream before the canalisation’s. If your Fulvia does not have a healthy suspension, it’s better to avoid the Castelsch Baantje.
There are several protected area’s with flora and fauna which is officially extinct in the Netherlands. Huib promised solemnly not to reveal the exact locations. Alas! But, carefully check out the sky, often you can spot quite large birds of prey circling around. If you are patient and lucky, you may see them dive for their prey. An unforgettable sight!
Finally we arrive in the picturesque hamlet Castelré. Participants of the 1998 Tulpenrallye will recognise it. Route control A was right in the centre next to the lawn. Castelré was founded in the same century in which the Chamates settled in what is Chaam today. It was founded by a Celtic tribe of which the largest group later on migrated to Wales and Cornwall. Today Castelré is the most English looking hamlet outside Great Britain.
When these Celts crossed the North Sea, they took with them the habit to banish their Ulecuters, which led to the foundation of Australia. Australia has always been a “Lancia country”. The bi-annual Lancia rally of Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia has made Castlemaine the Lancia capital of the southern hemisphere. Castlemaine was named after Castelré, where the forebears of the founders came from. It is befitting that we are clearing the path to make Castelré the Lancia capital of the Northern hemisphere!
There is another story connected to the Tulpenrallye 1998. Huib participated with the Flaminia. Daughter Charlotte navigated. The first time control was in Ulicoten. As they where 45 minutes ahead of schedule, they both paused on a bench at the crossing of the road Strijbeek – Baarle Nassau and the road Chaam – Ulicoten. Charlotte had returned from Australia just a few weeks before. While they sat, an Australian couple stopped their car, obviously they were lost, and asked for directions. When Charlotte was in Australia she had asked the very same people for directions!
2 PM Arrival at “De Castelhoeve” in Castelré for lunch. Around the back there is a large parking. When the weather is good, we sit on the nice terrace. If not, in the canteen.
See
4 PM Part II of tour in border region. The route soon takes us to a settlement of an extraterrestrial civilisation. Huib has discovered this by coincidence after drinking a few Trappist Beers at the pub of Jos, which is right on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. Some centuries ago, creatures from the Pleiades landed there with their flying saucers and built the settlement. After leaving Wortel in eastern direction the road narrows. At our right hand side, we see three landing sites for flying saucers and other space crafts. Immediately after that is the settlement. The settlement appears to be abandoned now. Drive slowly but firmly. If you want to stop and have look, it’s at your own risk! At the slightest smell of danger, run or drive away in eastern or western direction. Definitely not to the north or the south. However, along the road to the south there are some mighty peculiar dwellings. The southern road is safe for about 300 metres. So, by all means take a look. Certainly worth the trouble. But after 300 meters MAKE A U-TURN!!
Also we pass Dree’s house. Untill a few years ago Dree lived on the Dutch side of the border, now at the Belgian side. In the sixties and seventies Dree competed in the large international rallies. Many on Fulvia. Dree is the fastest Fulvia pilot of the Netherlands. He is on Fulvia certainly as fast as, if not faster than Sandro, who naturally had the advantage of having a works car. If there are brave Fulvisti who want to experience how fast their Fulvia can go over winding dirt roads, we can try to talk Dree into a demo. It is certainly twice as fast you possibly thought.
If you think that you saw quite strange buildings in the settlement of the Pleiades, then you are in for a few more surprises. We come along quite peculiar houses, as well as a train station without rail road. They are indicated in the road book.
7.00 PM Dinner at “Den Heibaard” in Loenhout. “Den Heibaard” has a trout pond. You can rent a fishing rod and catch the trout yourselves. Or you can take a seat and order, the fish is freshly caught for you. The other dishes are excellent too. Naturally there is a dance floor and music from the time of the Fulvia.
Tip for the Dutchmen and other non-Belgians: as a first course you can choose the cheese croquettes. A typical Belgian dish, only to be found in Belgium. Huib and Annebel take a detour for it. If they ever are going to live in Belgium, it is because of the cheese croquettes.
See or
Please subscribe for the day program and/or dinner with Bart (, +32485884442) or Huib (, +31.653458044). Clearly state the number of people and let us know if “Saskia” is the name of your partner or your car (or both)