On Saturday, November 3, over 2000 people will fill the Holland Civic Center to witness the 78th Annual Nykerk Cup Competition. Nykerk is a competition between the freshmen and sophomore classes in song, play, and oration.
Though the general format of the Nykerk competition has remained the same since 1936, much has changed in terms of costumes, techniques, and traditions. If you’ve ever wondered what Nykerk might have sounded and looked like in decades past, you’re in luck: the Van Wylen Library has made available audio and video copies of past Nykerk competitions.
Most competitions from 1970 to 1985, and then from 1992 to 2010, are now available for check out. Competitions from 1970 to 1985 are available as audio recordings only. You can now enjoy Nykerk all year round and experience the changes over the years right from your living room couch!
If you’d like to find out more about Nykerk’s history, the Joint Archives has a collection of historical items. Programs, photos, play scripts, musical scores, speech transcripts and recordings from past competitions are included in the collection. A digital collection of historic Nykerk photographs is also available.
Tickets for Nykerk are $5 and are available at the Hope College Ticket Office in DeVos Fieldhouse or by calling (616) 395-7890.
–Madalyn Muncy, Library Student Blogger