Veldeke Dialectwédstriêd 2026 winners to be announced in Weert

The winners of the 2026 Veldeke Dialectwédstriêd will be announced on Sunday, October 4, at Café-Zaal De Hook in Weert. The competition, organized by Veldeke Wieërt, received more than 40 entries consisting of poems and short stories from participants across Midden-Limburg.

This year’s theme, ‘Taal aanne Knaal’, commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, a 120-kilometer waterway connecting Maastricht and Den Bosch. The entries explore various anecdotes, memories, and reflections related to this historic canal.

The event will feature performances by local dialect artists, including Linda Smeets, Mark & Wilhelmien, and Esther Snijders & Rolph Brouns, alongside spoken word presentations. Additionally, the afternoon will showcase historical footage of the WSM Schieëpswêrf and the final bridge keeper of the Statterbrök. The presentation of the 2027 Veldeke Schuuërkalender will also take place.