A man claiming to be the masked attacker who assaulted Dutch guide Pascal Gerritsen in Bruges last week has spoken with VRT News via email. He explains that he pushed the Dutchman into the waters of a Bruges canal because of the lack of respect the guide shows for the architectural heritage in this tourist hotspot.
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Bruges guide pushed into canal for “setting bad example and not respecting architectural heritage”
Colin Clapson
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The Dutchman was involved in a guided tour and was sitting on the side of the historic Bonifacius Bridge, when he was pushed into the water. At the time it seemed without a clear reason.
"When I was sitting on the bridge, someone popped up behind me and pushed me into the water using both his hands," explained Pascal, who used to live in Bruges city centre but has now moved out to nearby Zedelgem. "I climbed out of the canal, wrung out my clothes, put my shoes in a hedge to dry, and then finished the tour!"
In an email received by VRT News from somebody calling himself the "Masked Lover of Architecture" a man claiming responsibility for the attack motivates his actions by saying Pascal has "no respect for architecture".
The "Masked Lover of Architecture" says he deliberately pushed the guide into the water last Thursday and was annoyed by the guide sitting on the historic Bonifacius Bridge in order to address his group.
"Masked Lover" objects to guided tours that become circus acts
According to the putative assailant guided tours should not be turned into circus acts. "It is forbidden to use street furniture, e.g. benches, dustbins, lampposts, to address tour participants," he writes. Unchallenged, the guide is allowed to climb onto our medieval architecture. He is destroying our cultural heritage by setting an example to thousands of tourists that this can and may be done by a guide," the email states.
Until now it was entirely unclear who pushed Pascal into the water. The attacker was able to flee the scene immediately and escaped on a bicycle. Last week Pascal speculated to reporters: "Maybe it is someone who does not like tourism in Bruges and thought I will push someone into the water at the busy Bonifacius Bridge. I have absolutely no idea who pushed me."
Pascal then filed a complaint with the police.
Bruges Guides Association has no powers to sanction "over-enthusiastic guide" Pascal
Jo Berten, the president of the Royal Guides Association of Bruges, understands where the masked man's frustration comes from. "Pascal, the guide with roots in the Netherlands, takes a theatrical approach to guiding. We have spoken to him about it in the past. A public bench or a quay wall, should not serve to address a group. Imagine five guides standing on a quay wall giving their explanation. This is not supposed to happen!"
"We can't discipline him ourselves because he doesn't actually belong to the official guides' association. I know these things happen due to his enthusiasm. But to take the law into your own hands and throw someone into the water, that's a step too far! Of course, I’m not saying the police have the right to throw someone into the water!" Jo laughs.