De Raoper

Who still knows where the name "the Raopers" comes from? Everybody knows that Lieshout is called Raopersgat during the carnival period and that the people are called Raopers and Raoperinnekes. But why are they called like that again? On the Heuvel in Lieshout, there is a beautiful bronze statue of the Lieshout Raoper on a stone plinth. It was donated by the carnival association "De Raopers" in 1985, on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Lieshout carnival association. Because in 1963, "De Raopers" were founded. In the sixties, carnival societies were created all over Brabant and Lieshout could not stay behind, especially after a carnival society was also founded in Mariahout. On 1 April 1963 the initiators Frins Klomp, André Knoop, Gerard van de Laar, Adri Martens, Harry Prinsen and Toon Vermeltfoort called for a meeting in café Slegers. Many Lieshouten people attended. But then there was the name. Inhabitants of Lieshout traditionally had the nickname 'Koestrontraopers'. At the suggestion of Adri Martens, the name 'De Raopers' was introduced. At the jubilee in 1985, this was confirmed with a beautiful bronze statue of the Lieshout Raopers, made by the Limburg artist Truus Coumans.