Wool March
Walk with us!
On Saturday 21 December, a large flock of sheep will be present on our premises for a walk through the centre of Tilburg. Everyone is welcome to join this woolly walk, which calls attention to wool, sheep and shepherding.
The Wool March is an initiative by designer and wool researcher Cynthia Hathaway and shepherd Bart van Ekkendonk. Their aim is to raise awareness on the revaluation of wool. Unfortunately, wool is worth close to nothing in the Netherlands these days and is even considered a waste product. It costs more to shear a sheep than what the farmer gets for its wool, which is often just cents per kilo.
We need to change this! So get out your finest wool jumper and sign up for this march for free.
Practical info
- Programme: The Wool March starts at 12.00h p.m. at the TextielMuseum. After a brief opening word, the flock will set off towards the city centre, led by the shepherds. The exact route will remain a surprise for a while, but it will not be a loop. So we will not end the march at the TextielMuseum. Of course, we invite all walkers to return to the start, to warm up in our café or the exhibitions.
- For whom: Everyone is welcome to join the Wool March. Keep in mind that sheep are enthusiastic and walk briskly. So feel free to join us for only part of the walk.
- Dress code: To celebrate wool, wear your best wool jumper, hat, or socks!
- Sign up: Participation is free, but please let us know you are joining by filling out the registration form. You will soon receive an e-mail with more information.
- Please note: Bringing dogs to the Wool March is not allowed, even if they are on a lead. This disturbs the sheepdogs and the sheep.
About wool and the sheep
In the Netherlands, sheep are kept mainly for meat or grazing. Their wool is considered unusable and the vast majority is discarded, sent abroad, stockpiled or incinerated. Fortunately, more and more companies, artists and initiatives are recognising the value of this wool. Just think of Marjo van Schaik and Dasha Tsapenko whose woollen artwork was recently featured in ‘Makers on materials’ or The Knitwit Stable which makes beautiful yarn from Dutch wool.
The flock of sheep walking along on 21 December comes from the farm de Lachende Ooi from Loon op Zand. They specialise in landscape management through the use of sheep flocks. Sheep grazing is a natural and ancient process that has many benefits for nature.
The Wool March is inspired by transhumance, the ancient practice of moving livestock by foot to pasture. An additional consequence of this migration is that sheep carry seeds in their fleece, among other things. These are spread unintentionally and unnoticed during the journey, contributing to biodiversity.
According to Cynthia, the Wool March is a local and global activation of feet, hooves, hands and hearts to learn how we can move more lightly across the planet and create pastures for humans and animals.
