The annual Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest (OLS) shooting competition began on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Melick, Roerdalen municipality.
A total of 131 shooting guilds are participating.
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The event spans a 15-hectare site with tents, a large festival tent, and seven beer taps.
Over 20,000 visitors are expected, and around 1,800 volunteers are involved. Local residents have hung 850 facade flags throughout the village.
Among the participants, 127 guilds are eligible to compete for the prestigious trophy known as d'n Um. The winner earns the right to host the next edition.
Last year's champion, Sint Andreas from Melick, is hosting this year's event.
Regional breakdown shows Central and South Limburg each contributed 42 guilds, North Limburg sent 18, Belgian Limburg supplied 24, and one guild represents North Brabant.
The day's schedule started with grounds opening at 9:00 a. m.
, followed by official ceremonies at 10:00 a. m.
, and a flag parade with jury competitions an hour later.
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The main parade featured all 131 guilds marching a two-kilometer route through the village, ending with a defile before dignitaries.
Last year's organizing guild, Sint Nicolaas from Heythuysen, led the procession out of competition alongside three other non-competing guilds.
Weather conditions were optimal with partly cloudy skies, dry weather, gentle to moderate southwestern winds, and temperatures around 26°C.
Shooting operations begin in the late afternoon. The corps shooting starts at 4:45 p.
m. , where six shooters per guild must target 36 wooden blocks called bölkes.
A single missed shot eliminates a guild. A supply of 9,000 blocks has been prepared across 35 shooting trees.
After the elimination round, the primary thinning process called kavelen is estimated to start around 7:00 p.
m. , requiring six targeted blocks per round.
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Shooting will continue until about 30 guilds remain, who will advance to the final round on Saturday, July 11, 2026, to determine the next OLS host.
