- Several northern beaches were reopened during this first post-containment weekend.
- In Malo-les-Bains, near Dunkirk, the sand and the embankment were sparse.
- You could sit on the benches, but it was forbidden to remain static on the beach.
On the (almost) abandoned beach… The prefect of the North authorized, as an exception and under conditions, the reopening of several beaches on the northern coast, like that of Malo-les-Bains, near Dunkirk. Despite the sun and against all odds, it was not the rush to rush to the sea. 20 Minutes went to take a look, failing to put a foot in the water.
On this sunny Saturday, the first since deconfinement, we were convinced to witness a massive migration of northerners towards the beaches. But quickly, many clues made us understand that we were missing the plate. On the A25, no traffic jam or even slowdown when approaching Dunkirk. Same observation on the main artery that leads to Malo beach. Strange. Even better, there are free parking spaces close to the seafront.
"We didn't know what to expect"
On the dike which runs along the immense expanse of sand, there are a few people, of course, but we are far from being on top of each other. "We brought people back on purpose for this weekend because we didn't know what to expect in terms of population flow. But there, it is rather calm, recognizes captain Stéphane Pichon of the municipal police.
However, the town hall did it right. On the sea dike, traffic directions have been traced so that walkers do not meet. Certain rules, such as barrier gestures, are recalled on large signs and generally respected. However, other instructions seem more obscure, such as the ban on landing on the beach. "The police came to ask us to leave, we didn't know it was prohibited," regrets Benoît, who came from Lille with his two children and all the equipment to make sandcastles. However, a few meters away, you can calmly squat on the seafront benches. "It is true that it is not very logical," admits the municipal police officer.
At the water's edge, Laurent, 45, teases the plaice. "It felt good to go back to fishing, I missed it. I hope that people will not do anything and that we will not find ourselves still confined, "slips this construction worker, dismissed because of the epidemic.
"It was excruciating this period"
In her little shop, which sells everything but ice cream, Afida is smiling. "It was an excruciating period, especially financially, because the season here is quite short," she said. Afida does it alone with her husband: “Usually, we have two employees at that time. We are waiting to see how it will go. "
In the distance, towards Zuydcoote, a dozen kite surf sails flutter in the sky. We meet some sand yachts, some windsurfers. Walkers prefer the dyke to the strip of sand, which is all the wider when the tide is low. The latter becomes more populated as the afternoon progresses. "The air is cool, there may be more people tomorrow," predicted the policeman.
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- Deconfinement
- Sea
- Coronavirus
- Beach