In Orvelte, a plough cuts into the autumn field
Editors ·
On Sunday 18 October, draft horses return to the Noordes for the twentieth Day of the Plough Horse. A free autumn market will also take place on the Brink, from 10:00 to 17:00.
A plough does not make a straight line because someone drew one on paper; horse, handler and soil respond to one another. In Orvelte, draft horses will plough part of the archaeological Noordes on 18 October, in competition and using traditional methods. The organisers expect ploughing to begin around 11:00 and finish around 14:00.
According to the village website, this is the twentieth edition of the Day of the Plough Horse. A three-person jury assesses the competitors; the winner receives the Fokke Steen trophy. The number of horses and participants has not been announced.
The ploughing takes place behind the sheepfold, at the junction of Brinkstukken and Schapendrift. The competition is not about maintaining a fixed pace: the organiser says the work is limited to what is responsible for the live horses.
At the same time, an autumn market will be held on the village Brink from 10:00 to 17:00. Admission is free. Het Brokantien organises the market; Anita Melessen organises the ploughing.
Visitors are asked to park at P1 or P2; according to the market organiser, parking fees help keep events free. Parking by the Noordes is reserved for participants with horse trailers. Sandwiches and coffee are sold from a converted horse tram.
That day, Orvelte offers two ways to look at the land: from the Brink among the market stalls, or from the edge of the Noordes where the soil is actually turned. The AI images are generic autumn illustrations and do not depict the event or Orvelte’s horses.