On horseback to fish for shrimp: Preserving one of Belgium’s oldest traditions
The image of the fisherman Stefaan Hancke on the back of his mare Dina as the latter dodges the first waves with her legs raised, strained by the effort of dragging fishing nets along the sand with a chain that vibrates so that the shrimp jump and get caught, pulling a total weight of around 3,000 kilos (6,600 lb), advancing parallel to the coastline with water up to the animal’s chest, is one that is fixed in memory, as with some of the flavors of childhood. In 2013, UNESCO recognized shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. It is a tradition that is still maintained by a community of 12 families in this Belgian village on the North Sea coast. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:46
What a fantastic article. In this day and age we need more like this!