European Mustache Club Antwerp prefers new Mustache Cat: “We have good taste, don’t we?” (Antwerp)
Mustache cat Lizzie Goedené and Willy Dupon, president of ESA † © Jan Van der Perre
The European Mustache Club Antwerp (ESA) has appointed a new Mustache Cat, the female counterpart of their Mustache van ‘t Stad. The choice fell on Lizzie Goedené, the manager of café Tram 3 on the Oude Koornmarkt. The accompanying ceremonies took place on Saturday.
ESA -of course- gathered in Tram 3, where they were reinforced by a delegation from the West Flemish Snorrenclub. The 34-year-old Lizzie was short of hands to have the necessary Bollekes approached.
“We came here a while ago with Duncan Vandael, the current Mustache of ‘t Stad, for a beer and Lizzie and I started talking,” says ESA President Willy Dupon. Lizzie: “He was wearing his Snorrenclub coat and I know it from Kiekeboe, my favorite comic series. When Willy later asked me if I wanted to be the new Mustache Cat, I was of course honored. Oh my God!”
![Lots of Mustaches in Tram 3](https://img.gva.be/UQejb-cfIKEhi5TUztVOzLZ2JXk=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F03%2F19%2F38e221d5-650a-43fc-8f85-53c19daffe67.jpg)
Lots of Mustaches in Tram 3 † © Jan Van der Perre
Beautiful active woman
What are the selection criteria for a Mustache cat? Women have no composition facade. Willy: “It just has to be a beautiful, active woman. There really isn’t much more to it. But admit it: we have good taste, don’t we?” “It’s not bad either,” adds Lizzie. “The members of ESA are often very old and in my election they may be able to take over a new generation of mustache wearers so that the club can continue to exist. I am already going to organize a few activities around the theme of ‘mustache’.”
![](https://img.gva.be/8CYasQE4BjBUTAhp1UUbzLphnIE=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F03%2F19%2F33cbc484-48cc-4750-8a38-74f652114c76.jpg)
© Jan Van der Perre
Big mustache party
From Tram 3 it went in procession – including bagpiper – to cafe Den Engel on the Grote Markt, where they were met by Merho (the artist of Kiekeboe), Ludo Van Campenhout, alderman Peter Wouters (N-VA) and deputy Luk Lemmens (NVA). Lizzie could only be there for a moment: “Unfortunately I have to go back to work in my cafe. But later in Tram 3 there will certainly be a big mustache party.”
Willy concludes: “It is a pity that a mustache is not so popular these days, it has been a bit supplanted by the beard. But hey, everything always comes back. And with Lizzie, our future is secured.” (mibl)