"tourists for a day" are no longer welcome in several towns and seaside resorts of the flemish coast of Belgium. In recent announced Sunday the ban of the "tourists for a day" during the heat wave after incidents caused by the non-compliance with the measures against the pandemic.
The municipalities of Knokke-Heist and Blankenberge have taken this decision to " ensure public safety ", indicated their fathers. Several people were arrested Saturday in Blankenberge after clashes between groups of holiday makers on the beach. A group of young people was asked to leave the beach after he refused to comply with the security measures imposed against the pandemic. A fight broke out between holidaymakers and turned to riots with police intervention.
"We need a dead time"
On footage filmed by witnesses and posted on social networks, you can see umbrellas thrown by the youth against the police officers on the beach. The troublemakers arrested were forbidden to stay in the municipality and the tourism day has been banned. "We need a time out ", explained the mayor of the city, Daphne Dumery. "Anyone who comes to Blankenberge must have a valid reason to access it. With this measure, we are trying to restore calm ", she stressed.
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The municipality of Knokke has made an order similar to the result of "dozens of incidents, both during the day and the night," says a press release. The municipal council was, therefore, " felt compelled to take drastic measures. To ensure safety of the public, the day tourists won't be able to make " in the seaside resort. Controls will be put in place as early as Sunday to the inputs of the common and newcomers will need to have "proof" to justify their presence : live in the city, reside in a rental or hotel, work there.
"This is not responsible"
" All vehicles will be controlled. Anyone who does not have a valid reason to be in Knokke will have to make a u-turn immediately ", warned the elect. The nmbs / SNCB informed the passengers of the trains in the direction of the belgian coast of the measures decided by the authorities of Blankenberge and Knokke to " check if their destination is permitted ".
The Belgians flocked to the coast on Saturday, looking cool while temperatures above 35 °C. The city of Ostende, is related to the two cities seaside to ask the SNCB to no longer allow trains additional to the coast. "Saturday, the trains have arrived on the coast, filled to 115 %. This is not responsible, " protested the governor of the province in a press release.
" The police will monitor strictly all of the coastal cities to ensure that they meet all the guidelines. Violators will be severely punished ", he warned. Belgium is affected since Saturday by a heat wave expected on several days with temperatures above 35 °C.
