Bikinis in the church and a walk with 133 Dalmatians: five unmissable regional stories of the weekend (inland)

1) Fashion show with bikinis is filling church: « My daughter is a nun, and even she would have no problems with this »

The fashion show of sixteen Wetterse traders in the Sint-Gertrudiskerk has been held praised. The church was packed with spectators of all ages and also of neighboring congregations. Even when models in the bathing suit and bikini walked over the catwalk, nothing but applause sounded. « This is a very stylish show. » Read the full story here.

2) After 30 years, childdream of Liesbeth (42) will come out: “No fewer than 133 Dalmatians! I could not control the tears”

Liesbeth (42) has been dreaming of a walk with 101 Dalmatians all her life. As a child she spoke to the dream factory about 30 years ago, but then they didn’t find enough dogs. « I couldn’t control the tears, » She tells our reporter.

3) Ronny (61) and Alain (50) see the last remnants of ‘their’ zoo disappear: « We still played here as little boys with lions cubs »

With the demolition of the buildings of the zoo on the Gentsesteenweg in Lokeren, a definitive end to a lump of local history. Almost half a century the Staelens family on the domain received tens of thousands of people from all over Flanders, in their own zoo and adjacent dance hall. Ronny (61) and Alain (59) Staelens, grandsons of the founders, keep beautiful memories of that time. Discover them here.

4) « When we arrived, I saw a clean table. Around it: five people, dead »: the forgotten story of a serial killer

A hopelessly failed Eddy Merckx on amphetamines. That was Michel Van Wijnendaele (28), a bank clerk from Denderwindeke who could not even follow the amateurs. In May 1987, he focused his Long Rifle on seven innocent people on three farms in May 1987. Our reporter dived into the story.

5) Nowhere in West Flanders are the chains more boss than here: « In the past, all small traders knew each other personally »

Nowhere in West Flanders do the independent traders get more under pressure than in Nieuwpoort. Large chains palm more than a third of the buildings and half of the retail space. « In the past, all traders knew each other personally. At the chains I don’t know who to achieve »,  » It sounds to the shopkeepers in the seaside town.

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