Let’s zoom in deeper on that bag of lavender. Apparently, the great helmsman of the right-wing political party Forum voor Democratie, Thierry Baudet, said something about this during the summer holidays. He was staying in southern France musing about the intoxicating scent that rose from the lavender fields. Those who registered with the LFVD as a member were not only allowed to smell it, but actually received a bag. Smells like roses.

De Jonge Democraten, the youth association of political party D66, distributed earplugs, among other things. Perhaps a playful reference to the real club that is part of the coalition and sometimes has to keep a little deaf to criticism from its grassroots?

The youth department of the CDA, the CDJA, pushed something in the hand of a Cursor editor that initially was associated with a device for artificial insemination and a knuckle-duster, but it turned out to be a bubble blower. Whether this is a hint towards the bubbles that its big brother lets go of sometimes, they couldn’t tell.

Condoms

In the 'safe sex' category we have the supply of condoms, which were offered by various clubs and associations. The Eindhovens Studenten Corps managed to get Christine le Duc (sex shop) willing to add one to their goodie bag. Sense is an organization that provides information about making love, having safe sex and if that is not successful, you can be checked for a wide range of STIs there. De Jonge Socialisten distributed them under the motto: 'Keihard de Sociaalste', a pun where the closest translation woulde be ‘adamant the most sociable’. That must be something to please the helmsman of its socialist mother party, Lilian Marijnissen.

The most unexpected condom supplier: Tuna Ciudad de Luz, or our own singing and guitar playing heroes in black capes. Apparently they have even more to offer besides their musical talents. The Tuninas at their turn distributed fans. For the flaring away of the heat after the action perhaps?

Fans

Fans came in many variations, with the round fan of the Wervingsdagen being the most innovative by far. This copy is based on the technology of the disposable tent, which can be set up in a few seconds. After you’re done sweeping, it can be folded back to a manageable size. And indeed that is just as annoying as folding up those tents where you often also mess around for an hour to get them back in the bag.

Tile wisdom

The 'tiles' of Siriz ('the specialist in unintended pregnancy') were fun. The friendly lady at the booth of this national organization could assure us that this also happened to students. They would probably have missed the associations handing out free condoms.

Just really practical

But how about things that are actually useful, weren’t those there? Of course, first of all a very handy repair kit for the bicycle handed out by Stehven, the new name for the Eindhoven Student City organization according to the crew at the stand.

Or a handy light for illuminating all those dark spots that you still have to discover during your student days. Those were plentiful.

And pens of course also came in abundance, but that of blood bank Sanquin really stood out.

And why not, here is also a small selection of the sunglasses that you could bring home.