Autoloze Zondag

1572 Map of Brugge by Braun & Hogenberg clearly shows

the Egg shape still intact today. Autoloze Zondag took place

chiefly within this Egg.

Car-free Sunday. I think that this started only last year when 42 cities and towns participated and I decided this year to wander round Bruges, sampling the various delights on offer. It is a marvellous idea; no cars within the Egg that is old Brugge, between 10.00 and 18.00 and instead, pedestrians, cyclists and 'events' occupy the streets and squares. A host of activities had been provided and the sun obligingly shone on happy crowds in search of the free, outdoor entertainment.

There was far too much for any one person to visit all and in any case, not all was static. True, in the Vismarkt, there was a queue for mussels and another for oysters plus the usual wait for a beer, while the large central area of the Fish Market was filled with tables and chairs for sitting, eating and drinking while a small group of musicians played. In the Burg nearby, there were lots of stalls publicising conservation, electric cycles, and ordinary bikes, plus the work of various public bodies while in the Markt, a short walk away, were many tables and chairs, all occupied, in answer to the open invitation of the Burgemeester to tourists, to picnic there. Despite the grumbling about this from restaurant and cafe owners, all the bars and bistros were full, with diners [and passing pedestrians] listening to the live music from a small stage in the middle of the Markt while the attraction of a young woman singer dressed in an impossibly long skirt, drew crowds of toddlers to sit on the huge circle of her train.

All these attractions were relatively fixed, but in addition, there were penny farthings rolling majestically up Vlamingstraat, a six piece Scottish bagpipe group, no doubt all Belgians, [there being a local Scottish Society here of men who dress authentically and enthusiastically in the kilt and sporran etc]. There was another uniformed marching band, and music could be heard from Sint Jakobstraat where a Cultuurmarkt was in progress in several different locations in the one street. I happened upon Egyptian belly dancers in authentic costume in Jan Van Eyckplein nearby while there was dancing for older people in front of the Stadtheater in Vlamingstraat; Argentine tango in Simon Stevinplein; Salsa in Guido Gezelleplein; fencing in Kruispoort; lace-making in Jerusalemkerk; street parties in several different neighbourhoods; cycle rides from 't Zand; a nature ramble in Baliestraat. In twelve different parks and open spaces, there were children's activities like swings, go-karting, picnicking, interactive workshops while around the Cafe Vlissinghe [500 years old and still open!] were opportunities to play old-fashioned games like wooden skittles etc. In a crowded Hoogstraat and Langestraat, was a long, long line of stalls in a Rommelmarkt [a flea market, always popular!] with music blaring and

much good-tempered haggling in process. I watched a young South Korean man tentatively pricing several 1940's items for sale with his eye clearly on the 1950/60s telephone but without quite enough courage to barter!

The illustrated publicity booklet [delivered to each letter box in the centre of the city] described four different guided cycle rides, from 25 to 75 kilometres and six guided walks from 6 to 25 kms so reasonably healthy people plus keen sporty types were all catered for. It was a remarkable example of enlightened thinking behind the project and extraordinary imagination and planning in the realisation of the day's activities. I was impressed, though exhausted, despite the modest scope of my sampling. I subsequently discovered that on September 22^nd, World Car-Free Day was happening so I suppose Autoloze Zondag here was an early part of that.
 

 Egyptian belly dancers in Jan Van Eyckplein