NCL Cruise Day 2 - In Bruges - What Do You Do With Witches?

On boarding the tour bus to head to Ypres, we passed through the commercial area of the port.

Bruges is a major car import/export  port.  The thousands of cars in this lot were, per the guide, supposed to be exported to Ukraine and Russia and have been stuck in this lot since the outbreak of hostilities.

We then drove by the military area of the port

 

In the port, a Royal Netherlands Navy minesweeper - M864,  HNLMS Willemstad was visiting.

We then hit the road for Ypres.

On the way we passed through the Village of Beselare.

Curious things were afoot.

Beselare, it seems, was having an infestation of witches:

 

 

This occurs annually. 

Businesses and households place an effigy of a highly decorated witch, mainly made of straw, outside of their doors in July.

Them, on the last Sunday in July, the effigies are all gathered and a great parade of the witches is held.

Then, what do you do with witches?

Yes, you burn them all in a great bonfire.

Apparently Beselare has a very, very, negative opinion of witches dating back to some unfortunate business in the 17th century.  

This has now become an annual festival of witches that draws quite a number of visitors to the town annually for the festivities.

In addition to the annual creation of the straw witches, there's a permanent bronze statute of a witch in the town square as well:

Leaving the bewitched town of Beselare, we continued on the road to Ypres.