The Belgian coastal municipality of Knokke-Heist is taking measures to cope with large crowds on busy summer days, including deploying police to check cars entering the centre.
On 1 May, Knokke-Heist was one of the coastal municipalities where crowds caused problems. Parking and traffic issues, in particular, led to frustrations at the time. As many as 40,000 cars drove into the municipality.
"The crowds were too fast for us," said Knokke-Heist mayor Cathy Coudyser (N-VA) on Friday afternoon. "We were in the midst of drawing up measures when 1 May became an absolute peak day due to a confluence of circumstances."
Now, the municipality has prepared a plan to deal with the crowds. For instance, tourists coming by car will be diverted to peripheral car parks. These are located at AZ Zeno, among other places. "Especially one-day tourists looking for parking in the centre of Knokke-Heist will cause traffic problems."
Closing the centre
"We are also considering setting up temporary peripheral car parks at the station," said Coudyser. "There will be traffic guides at the roundabout so that people know where to drive."
Between the roundabout and the station, extra police will be deployed to check vehicles on peak days. "The idea is for the police to check cars here and there to see if everything can go safely. This also has a discouraging effect."
At the busiest time of the day, the municipality plans to close the centre to cars. "At that time, everything in the centre is full and saturated. Then the periphery will be closed. There will be three entrances where police and community guards do a form of triage. Residents and traders are of course still allowed in at that point."
The new plan will be reassessed as it is rolled out.
