The Flemish seaside resort of Oostduinkerke (Koksijde – West Flanders) now boasts two new fishermen on horseback: Ian Van der Stricht and Renzo Truwant. The two fishers passed their exams to become mounted shrimp fishermen at the weekend. The exam marks the culmination of an intensive programme: a two-year training course combined with practical experience and dedication. They are now the 14th and 15th active and certified horseback fishermen in Koksijde.
Two new horse-mounted shrimp fishers at Oostduinkerke: how do you become a mounted shrimp fisher?
Colin Clapson
Published:
Ian Van der Stricht, owner of the pub Estaminet De Peerdevisscher at the NAVIGO Fisheries Museum in Oostduinkerke, and Renzo Truwant, owner of eatery Eetboetiek Stoelez-Vous in Koksijde Village, may now officially call themselves ‘horseback shrimp fishermen’.
Although Ian did not grow up in a fishing family, he gradually became involved in the tradition through his wife Ella Casier and her family. ‘I got into the trade through my father-in-law Johan Casier, who is a mounted fisherman,’ Ian explains. ‘What above all do you need to be able to do? That’s handling your horse, heading out to sea with it, attaching a net to its back and fishing for shrimps.’
‘I’ve been doing this for four years now. Johan has been guiding me along the way. I’ve taken over his horse, Duke. And thanks to my mother-in-law, Corinne D’Hulster, I learnt how to cook shrimps. She taught me even more about the family and the tradition. The more I knew about it, the more my interest grew.’
Carrying on the tradition
The other new shrimp fisherman on horseback is Renzo Truwant, head chef and owner of eatery Eetboetiek Stoelez-Vous in Koksijde Village. “I only embarked on this adventure two years ago,” he says. “Together with my horse Cliff, who was two years old at the time. As a young lad, I was ‘obsessed’ with farm horses and always watched the horse-mounted shrimp fishermen with admiration. As I got older, I developed a greater appreciation for the fishing itself. A few years ago, my wife Daisy was the deciding factor. She said I shouldn’t wait too much longer if I really wanted to do it.”
It looks as though the tradition will continue in Renzo’s family: two of his four children have now joined the family business. Amalya (21) and Tybeau (18) are currently training to become horse fishermen.
How do you become a horse-mounted shrimp fisherman?
Since 2013, the tradition has been included on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. To ensure the preservation and protection of the craft, a safeguarding committee was established. This committee drew up a comprehensive procedure that candidates must follow:
The prospective horse-mounted shrimp fisherman undertakes a two-year training course with a horse-mounted fisherman recognised by the municipality. Ian Van der Stricht undertook his training with his father-in-law Johan Casier and the late horse-mounted fisherman Johan Vandendriessche. Renzo Truwant was mentored by Günther Vanbleu.
Throughout their training, the trainee horse-mounted shrimp fishermen attend a number of compulsory theoretical training sessions, including one on the history of the craft and UNESCO recognition at the NAVIGO Fisheries Museum in Oostduinkerke. Both trainee horse-mounted shrimp fishermen also attended an interview with the accreditation committee.
Trainee shrimp fishermen take part in a practical examination and that is the final stage of their training!