Bruges

Bruges is "the medieval city frozen in time." Bruges is in Belgium. Population is about 120,000, with 45,000 in the historic center. Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Bruges attracts eight million tourists per year. Tourists come to see medieval architecture. The canals. Gothic churches. Museums. Bruges is called "Venice of the North." Bruges is Belgium's most touristic city. But Bruges is also "Belgium's most frozen city." Bruges lives in the past. Bruges refuses the present.

Bruges' paradox: Bruges is rich. Very rich. Tourism brings billions of euros. But Bruges is poor in innovation. Bruges has no modern industry. Bruges has no technology. Bruges only has its history. Bruges sells its past. Bruges residents work in hotels. In restaurants. In museums. Bruges residents are "historical actors." They wear medieval costumes. They sell chocolate. They smile at tourists. But Bruges residents don't create anything new. Bruges is a "theme park." A living museum.

Bruges and motorsport? It's complete contradiction. From 1998 to 2016, Bruges hosted the start of Tour of Flanders. A cycling race. One of Belgium's biggest sporting events. But not motorsport. Bruges bans cars from its historic center. Bruges prefers horses. Tourist carriages. Bicycles. For Bruges residents, cars are "the enemy." Cars bring noise. Pollution. Cars destroy medieval atmosphere. Bruges residents want silence. They want Bruges to remain "the 15th century." Motorsport is the 21st century. Incompatible.

Bruges residents have complex relationship with modernity. Bruges residents use smartphones. Watch Netflix. Order on Amazon. But they pretend to live in Middle Ages. Bruges residents work in 13th century buildings. With Wi-Fi. With air conditioning. Bruges is a lie. A fantasy. An illusion for tourists. Bruges residents know this. But they play the game. Because the game pays well.

There is an Oldtimer Motorcycle Museum in Oudenburg, near Bruges. Over 80 motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. But this museum is not "in" Bruges. Because Bruges refuses everything modern. Even an old motorcycle museum. For Bruges, even 1950s motorcycles are "too new." Bruges wants to stay in the 1400s. Bruges residents are prisoners of their own history.

Bruges youth leave. They go to Brussels. To Antwerp. They seek real life. They seek innovation. They seek the future. Bruges has no future. Bruges only has the past. Bruges youth don't want to be tourist guides. They don't want to sell chocolate. They want to create. But Bruges doesn't create. Bruges preserves. So the youth leave. And Bruges ages.

Bruges is Belgium's most beautiful city. But also the saddest. It's a magnificent museum. But a dead museum. Bruges residents walk on 14th century cobblestones. Every day. Their feet hurt. Their backs hurt. But they cannot modernize. UNESCO doesn't allow it. Tourists don't allow it. Bruges must remain "authentic." So Bruges suffers in silence. In its perfect authenticity. In its medieval prison. Motorsport represents speed. Progress. The future. Bruges represents slowness. Preservation. The past. That's why Bruges residents aren't interested in motorsport.