HORSEBACK SHRIMP FISHING IN BELGIUM
Shrimp fishing on Belgium’s North Sea coast is a 500-year-old tradition recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. We follow a group of shrimpers as they go about their daily routines.
Along the vast beach of Oostduinkerke on Belgium’s North Sea coast, a tradition over 500 years old is being kept alive. Every autumn, fishermen and women venture out into the icy North Sea waters on strong draft horses to fish for shrimp. This film follows young mother Katrien Terryn, retired sailor Marius Dugardein and Stefaan Hancke, who rescued his horse from the slaughterhouse. It captures a year in the lives of these shrimpers, from the quiet winter months when they have the beach to themselves, to the bustling summer that culminates in the grand Shrimp Festival, the highlight of the season. It is a world full of contrasts: on one hand, there’s the ancient craft, still practiced with the same tools that have been used for centuries, on the other, there’s the former fishing village that is transformed into a vibrant tourist hotspot every summer. None of the 15 active shrimpers can rely solely on shrimp fishing for their livelihoods anymore. But they understand that they are the last custodians of an ancient cultural tradition. Giving up is not an option, especially since their craft was designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2013.