Slanging match between Bruges and Kortrijk over European Capital plans
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Loading... - Henrik Farkas
- 16 Jan 2023
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Eight Belgian cities are now in the running to become European Capital of Culture in 2030. Bruges announced its candidacy just before Christmas, while Brussels, Liège, Ostend and Kortrijk earlier also revealed similar ambitions.
Rivalry is particularly intense in West Flanders where Ostend, Bruges and Kortrijk all hope to land the title and it’s especially between the cities of Bruges and Kortrijk that the fight is threatening to turn nasty.
Becoming European Capital unlocks a wealth of subsidies with which to organise concerts, exhibitions and performances that appeal to a European audience. Bruges served as European Capital of Culture in 2002 and knows the benefits this brings. The Bruges concert hall was built on that occasion and Bruges Mayor De fauw says this time round investment won’t have to go on infrastructure.
In Kortrijk they are a little peeved by Bruges’ late intervention in the race. “We’ve been preparing our candidacy for four years now” says Kortrijk alderman Axel Ronse. He believes West Flanders is an “attractive and dynamic region” and fears energy will now be sapped “by fragmentation”.
Mr Ronse speaks of turning Kortrijk’s candidacy into a West Flemish story, but this appeal has clearly fallen on deaf ears in the provincial capital. Bruges Mayor De fauw notes Kortrijk suggested its city bid could become a West Flemish bid a year and a half ago, but since then nothing has been heard of a West Flemish dimension. Read More…
