Knokke-Heist will close the center on the most impressed summer days: « Compare us with a festival such as Tomorrowland » (Knokke-Heist)

Anyone who was in Knokke-Heist on 1 May understands why the municipal administration presented a new crowds plan on Friday. Because when the temperature rises, the atmosphere in the fashionable seaside town also goes to a boiling point. Traffic infarctions, wildlife parking and even fights in the shopping streets: a new plan of action for summer days was much needed. Residents had again massively expressed their frustrations last week.

Crisis mode

Mayor Cathy Coudyser (insight) also realizes this. « To sketch: On May 1, around 40,000 extra cars entered Knokke-Heist. After the cars of residents, second people or regular visitors, » says Coudyser. « There were also 150 police interventions. That is why we want to offer the center of Knokke oxygen. »

Coudyser was joined by Steve Desmet, chief of police of the local police. « The problems have been dragging on for several years. When the center is saturated, there is a different atmosphere here. That is why we go a bit in crisis mode on top days. » With the crowds plan, Knokke-Heist follows the example that Ostend set on 1 May: in that city the center was closed to incoming traffic because of the large bustle.

Also view. Center of Ostend is stuck

Read too. Center of Ostend is no longer closed to incoming traffic, the largest crowded peak seems to be over

Knokke-Heist bases the new bustle plan on three pillars. « From the balcony roundabout in Westkapelle we will lead visitors to four peripheral car parks, including in ‘t Walletje and that of AZ Zeno, » says Coudyser. « In addition, we will provide extra police on the Natiënlaan towards Knokke’s station. There, cars will be checked there. That will not be a wet finger work. We are going to check in a targeted way because we want to know who comes in here. And that everything here will run safely. »

Tomorrowland

The biggest problem on busy days is situated in the perimeter between the casino, the Zoute and the Station of Knokke. « A semicircle where we want to keep the pressure manageable, » said Coudyser. « And when it is really full, we just close that perimeter. »

« Residents, family members, supplies for our traders: that will all work. But others will no longer be able to enter »

Cathy Coudyser

Mayor Knokke-Heist

You can take that literally. Coudyser and her chief of police even referred to the Coronaper period. « The police will provide men and material to define that zone for vehicles. They decide who will come in. Residents, family members, supplies for our traders: that will all work. But others will then no longer be able to drive in. » Those who are on foot can of course always continue.

Coudyser compares its municipality on top days with a festival. « You have Tomorrowland, but here you have the festival Sun, Sea, Beach, » she says. « And as the organizer of that event we also have to take safety measures. We also ask our festival goers to behave and respect the rules. A maximum cooperation and good cooperation can lead to a perfect festival. That is ultimately our goal. »

No hellhole

When does that plan take action? « That depends on various factors, » adds Desmet. « We hope that we will have to use this procedure as little as possible. This is an exception. But when it becomes 28 degrees in the interior, and people here come to find massive cooling, that is our lower limit. In combination with a number of other things, such as holidays or holiday periods. »

Striking: the municipality also provides a special e-mail address for residents with questions and frustrations. « Because we really understand them, » says Coudyser. « But if everyone throws his frustrations on social media, we don’t hang out a nice image of our municipality. Then it seems as if Knokke-Heist is a Hellhole where everything can and is allowed. Because that is really not the case. »