Bruges (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Bruges celebrates the 80th anniversary of its liberation by Canadian soldiers with parades, reenactments, exhibitions, guided tours, and special menus inspired by Canadian cuisine.
This weekend on 7th September, Bruges will celebrate 80 years since it was freed by Canadian soldiers. There will be parades with old military vehicles, reenactments, and ceremonies to remember the soldiers who helped liberate the city. Exhibitions will show historical photos, personal stories, and war artifacts, giving visitors a look into the city’s history. Guided tours will also be available at important historical sites, and there will be musical performances with swing bands and military music to create a fun atmosphere.
What special activities are planned in Bruges to celebrate the liberation by Canadian troops, and how are local businesses participating in this event?
Local businesses have been invited to join the celebration by adding a liberation theme to their shops. Many stores are putting up Canadian flags and old wartime posters in their windows. Cafes and restaurants are also offering special menus inspired by Canadian food. These decorations and menus help everyone feel connected to the history of the city’s liberation, making sure it is remembered and shared with both locals and visitors. It has been said that the weekend will be a lively mix of learning, nostalgia, and community participation, showing Bruges’ appreciation for its liberators.
Chocolatiers Dominique and her son Julius did something special for the celebration. They changed their shop window and made a chocolate bison, just like the one on Canada Bridge, where the Canadians came to Bruges on September 12. Dominique said that even though people call it the Buffalo Bridge, the animals are actually bison. They looked at the statues for ideas and took a week to make their chocolate sculpture. People can see this piece in the window of The Chocolate Line on Simon Stevinplein. It weighs about 100 kilograms, which makes it hard to move, especially in the hot weather.
There are other WWII items in the window along with the bison, like posters of Dominique’s grandfather and Fabienne’s grandfather, who were in the army. The bison will stay there until Halloween, and then it will go to Dominique’s friend Eddy Van Belle for his chocolate museum, Choco-Story. This weekend, Bruges is celebrating the liberation by Canadian troops with a march featuring real military vehicles, a camp with a field hospital at Kruisvest, music performances, and a photo exhibition at the city hall.
