Updated April 13, 2023

They're on the front page!

By Shana Devleschoudere
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This week, our escapade to Knokke-Le-Zoute continues with a presentation of those who "make" the seaside resort on a daily basis. But be warned, our selection is far from exhaustive and, let's face it, rather suggestive...
 
Like all fashionable places, Knokke has its share of characters, inseparable from its image. And these people are world-famous... in Zoute! Often unknown at the outset, they have become unavoidable thanks to their ingenuity at work and their talents. So, here's our little anthology... not exhaustive!
 
One of these names, known to everyone on the coast, is Anthony Wittesaele. The man, a notary by trade, is above all a CD&V alderman (for Tourism) for Knokke-Heist and President of the ASBL Toerisme Knokke-Heist. In this capacity, he has been behind a number of decisions that have endeared him to many. One of these was to ban all new high-rise buildings in the municipality. As for the casino, Wittesaele announced that work would be completed by 2030 and, very importantly, that there would be no change in size. This last point was the subject of lively debate. He was also, in part, behind the Gault & Millau edition devoted 100% to the resort. But of all his achievements, one remains a dream: the construction of a pier in front of Heist, like those in Ostend or Blankenberge. As we all know, dreams are made to be realized, and anything is possible in this unusual commune. So, who knows?
 
Antoine Geerinckx has also recently made a name for himself in the "Belgian Saint-Tropez". Perfectly bilingual (he's what we call a Flanders francophone), he's a nature enthusiast. He is also Managing Founder of CO2LOGIC, which helps companies calculate and reduce their environmental impact. When asked about his favorite place to be, he naturally replies , "A natural place, of course. The ocean - wherever it is - and forests. Les Landes, for example, combines these two dimensions. So it was an obvious choice to appoint this fan of the films Gladiator and Avatar as Knokke-Heist's alderman for the environment.
 
Deeply committed to his new role, Antoine Geerinckx even decided to put himself in the shoes of a garbage collector for the duration of a tour, just to get a feel for the magnitude of the task. And his conclusion is clear: "Lifting the bags can be compared to crossfit training. In just 2.5 hours, we collected 7.5 tonnes of garbage...".
 
Another character, perhaps better known to the general public, is sputnik Marc Couke. With his partner Bart Versluys, they bought the famous La Réserve hotel, opposite the Casino. "Today, La Réserve is an iconic Knokke hotel. It's a story of continuity and renewal. Continuity because the hotel is very well managed by Eddy Walravens' team, in whom we continue to place our trust. There's also an innovative aspect. The hotel and catering industry has been under pressure recently, but everyone is sensing a new momentum right now, and we want to give this hotel another dimension in terms of quality and experience," commented Coucke at the time of the takeover. Since then, renovation work has begun and the old contents have been sold at public auction. Along with Paul Gheysens (GHELAMCO), our two friends currently form the trio of largest investors in the municipality. And in Knokke, that's no understatement!
 
See more of Knokke-Le-Zoute's iconic characters in the Spring issue of Zoute Paper magazine HERE.
 
In the meantime, did you know that our national Stromae recently came to Knokke to sample the delights of... shrimp tomatoes? When we tell you that this is where it's all happening...? Let's dance!