This year’s Bruges Christmas market will look very different. After six years, the black containers – which were criticised for their ‘cold appearance’ – are being phased out. They are making way for new stalls made from traditional materials with a contemporary design. The city is investing 1.8 million euros in new structures.
“As everyone knows, last year was the last time the black containers were used,” explains Minou Esquenet, alderwoman for Work and Enterprise. “We set out to find a completely new concept. The result is these wooden huts. For the front, we’ve opted for a traditional wood colour, and for the edges, sides and rear, a darker shade.”
“A major advantage of these huts is that they are fully equipped with LED lighting and electricity connections. The roof can be removed, and they can then be folded up, which makes stacking them much easier,” said the alderwoman. “Incidentally, these stalls are not just intended for the Christmas market. They can also be used for events at other times of the year.”
A new shelter, a new name
“As this is a completely new product, specifically designed for Bruges, we’ve also come up with a new name. We settled on ‘Bruges Kaban’, written and pronounced in the ‘Flemish way’,” laughs the alderman.
‘Cabane’ is the French word for cabin or hut.
Price tag
Bruges has spent 1.8 million euros on 95 new stalls. “The expected lifespan is 10 years. Anyone using them will have to pay a rental fee. That way, we’ll recoup part of the costs.”