The Ghent town crier also knows that the Dutch Ambassador has already mastered the typical Ghent party humor.
The emergency services, including D'Haemers and his colleagues from the Brandweerzone Centrum, are fully present for the safety of visitors. They carry out thorough checks, from the stability of the stages to the correct connection of gas and electricity. “An accident can never be completely ruled out,” said Lieutenant Alain D'Haemers in the local media.
However, while the fire department deals with safety, another kind of incident is in the works. The Dutch ambassador to Belgium, Pieter Jan Kleiweg, has expressed his concern with a wink about the stereotyping of the Dutch as stingy in the 'Ten Commandments of the Gentse Feesten'. The first Commandment reads: “Buy your pints at the bar. Only Dutch people buy cans in the night shop.” A statement that, according to Kleiweg, the Dutch no longer find funny.
In a tweet to mayor Mathias De Clercq, Kleiweg announced that he would personally come to Ghent to stifle the diplomatic incident. “I will take a closer look in Ghent on July 17 to nip this diplomatic incident in the bud!” he tweeted.
It is known that the Dutch flock to the Gentse Feesten every year. Also this year, the Dutch police and the Ghent Flikken will work together to maintain order. Despite minor incidents, the atmosphere at the Gentse Feesten remains positive and excited. The event promises many more days of music, dance, food, drink and fun, which both residents of Ghent and visitors from neighboring countries look forward to.
incidents
The Gentse Feesten, the largest city festival in Europe, officially started on Friday evening. The first day was not without incident, however, as an acrobat fell hard during the opening performance of the French company La Doux Supplice. She was immediately taken to hospital. The accident happened during the sold-out performance 'En attendant le grand soir', part of the MiramirO festival.
How do you get there?
It is recommended to come to the parties on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. Additional bicycle parking will be available, and for those who want to go home safely after a beer or two, there will also be additional taxi ranks, including on Ottogracht.
As for public transport, De Lijn will function, but with some adjustments. Everything will be normal until 13 pm, but after this time the trams will be banned from the center for safety reasons. However, tram 1 will run 24 hours a day and will have final stops at Veldstraat and Burgstraat from 13 pm. In addition, there will be 12 Party Buses that run at night from the South at 0:30 AM, 02:15 AM and 04.00:XNUMX AM to almost all directions.
So put on your party outfit and come to the Gentse Feesten – a ten-day festival full of music, culture and fun. It promises to be an unforgettable experience in the heart of Ghent.
