Less car, more bar: Ghent cafes react to new traffic plan
Bars and restaurant owners in Ghent have had mixed results so far since the city made Oudburg car-free
On food and drink in Flanders
One of the few streets lined with bars and restaurants that was full of traffic a few weeks ago is now car-free. And Oudburg is working to adapt.
Oudburg is a nice stretch of cobblestoned street between the Leie canal and the medieval Paterschol neighbourhood. It’s home to countless bars and restaurants, and only residents and permit holders can access the street by car under the new traffic plan. This means there’s now space for patrons to sit out on cafe terraces this summer.
Oudbar is a cosy retro-style bar that opened just last autumn. Owner Sira Kane says the new plan has created more room for outside tables. The new large terrace faces east and catches the sun until 15.00; Kane says she hopes it will attract customers this summer.
In response to the new circulation plan, bohemian-chic restaurant Mima added white wooden benches to its front terrace. According to owner Ekram Talbi, the traffic plan is a nuisance for them, and she believes it has deterred locals and tourist from making the effort to drive in to the centre and search for parking, which is now limited. She’s not a fan and hasn’t yet noticed an increase in customers wanting to sit outside.
Situated at the top of the street, Jiggers cocktail bar (pictured) might be Oudburg’s most famous spot. Having been here for five years, its staff has witnessed Oudburg’s transformation to an eatery hot-spot. Owner Olivier Jacobs says that two years ago it was more of a through-street and was much busier. But as the years have passed, the city has focused more on tourism, making it more pleasant.
He says April was his best month for business, and he’s optimistic about the new terrace in front of his bar this summer.
