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Blankenberge closed to day tourists on Sunday after heavy …


Blankenberge will be closed on Sunday for day tourists to “restore peace”. The reason is a massive brawl on the beach. Checkpoints will be set up along the approach roads. Only residents, second-time residents, overnight tourists and people who work in the city will be allowed to enter Blankenberge. In addition, the mayor asks the “higher authorities” to cancel all trains between 9 am and 4 pm.

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“Our city needs a time-out,” wrote Mayor Daphné Dumery (N-VA) in a press release after a massive brawl broke out near a beach bar on Saturday. She had previously announced that she would take drastic measures. Now she is putting her money where her mouth is. “That means that we want to keep day tourists out of Blankenberge as much as possible tomorrow, Sunday 9 August.”

Only residents, second residents, overnight tourists and people who work in the city will be allowed to enter the city. According to the mayor, there will be police checks along the approach roads to enforce this. “So anyone who arrives in Blankenberge will have to have a valid reason to gain access to the city. With this measure we try to restore peace. ”

© Danny Van der Weehe

“No trains between 9am and 4pm”

In addition, the mayor asks the “higher authorities” to allow all trains to arrive on the territory of Blankenberge between 9 am and 4 pm. NMBS says it has not yet received that question. “We are not going to anticipate this, but if the question comes from politics, then it is possible,” said spokesman Bart Crols.

“We have taken all possible measures locally to continue to guarantee safety within our powers. The higher authorities bear a great responsibility in this, we expect a clear signal. We noticed a lot of solidarity from bystanders, the police received massive support. This is greatly appreciated, ”said the mayor.

For the time being, Blankenberge is the only coastal city to take such drastic measures. In Knokke, where there were also some fights, such measures are not yet on the agenda. “I predicted that such things would happen,” says Mayor Lippens. “We are not going to take such measures in Knokke-Heist, but we will be evaluating in the coming days. We have issued dozens of corona fines, but people laugh at us. We will not pay for it, they say. Yes, the situation is serious. ”

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