Carnival Winner Awarded €2,350 Jewel, Students Assist Flemish Minister
A young carnival participant, just 11 years aged, was awarded a jewel valued at €2,350 during the Aalst Carnival celebrations on Monday, February 16, 2026. The prize was presented as part of the Ajuinworp, a traditional candy toss event, according to reports. The event underscores the cultural significance of the Aalst Carnival, a major regional festival.
The winner secured the coveted golden jewel, designed and crafted by Goudsmidatelier Claessens, by finding a special candy within the Ajuinworp. Prins Sjalen oversaw the distribution of thousands of candy onions to the crowd.
In a separate event during the carnival, students from Sint-Jozefscollege assisted Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir by pulling her carriage with a rope. Demir currently serves as the Flemish Minister for Education in the Diependaele Government, having been sworn in in September 2024, following her previous roles as Flemish minister for Justice and Enforcement, Environment, Energy and Tourism in the Jambon Government. She was previously Secretary of State for Poverty Reduction from 2017 to 2018 and a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 2010 to 2017, as detailed in her biography.
The second day of Aalst Carnival also featured the Bezemdans, where participants tossed small brooms into the audience, and a grand parade through the city center. Police reported 8 administrative detentions and 3 judicial arrests, along with 11 immediate fines for drug offenses and 24 violations related to e-cigarette use. Medical personnel provided assistance throughout the day, with 50 staff members on duty.
The prize distribution for the various carnival groups also took place, with De Schoitkitten winning in the small groups category, Dest – Goe Schief taking the prize for medium-sized groups, and Krejeis winning in the large groups category.
