Chocolatiers Dominique and Julius Persoone have created a special display in their shop window to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bruges (West Flanders) by the Canadians. The window display includes Canadian flags and personal family photos, all in chocolate, but the eye-catcher is undoubtedly the 100-kilogram chocolate bison.
80 years ago Canadian troops liberated Bruges and its surroundings. To mark this anniversary a lot of activities are being organised in the city next weekend. Local shopkeepers too have been asked to put their best foot forward.
Canadian liberators honoured throughout the city
Chocolatiers Dominique and son Julius took a request to celebrate the liberation in shop windows to heart. They transformed their shop window especially for the occasion and created a chocolate bison - or buffalo as they are called in the US - just like the one on Canada Bridge. It was on that spot that the Canadians marched into Bruges on 12 September 1944. ‘Local people call it Buffalo Bridge, but the animal is really a bison,’ says Dominique Persoone. ‘We took the statues from the bridge as an example and sculpted one out of chocolate. It was a job that took us a week!’
This showpiece can now be admired in The Chocolate Line’s shop window on the Simon Stevinplein. ‘It weighs around 100 kilograms. It was no easy feat to get it in place, especially in these temperatures.’
Besides the bison, there are many other WW2-related objects in the window. ‘There are images of real people too. My grandfather and my wife Fabienne's grandfathers were all in the army at the time. Take a look and you will find their photos.’
The bison will stay in the window until Halloween. And after that? ‘I have promised it to my good friend Eddy Van Belle, who will display it in his chocolate museum Choco-Story.’
Commemoration of the liberation
Bruges is celebrating the liberation of the city by Canadian troops next weekend. Look forward to the liberation march with authentic military vehicles and on the Kruisvest you can visit an army camp with a field hospital. Concerts are planned on Saturday and Sunday as well as a photo exhibition in city hall.