Today marks the 41st edition of Dinant's beloved folk-sport tradition, the International Bathtub Regatta, which sees dozens of bathtubs cruise the Meuse every year on 15 August.
Around 40 boats will today attempt to stay afloat in the Walloon city, with this year's theme being 'the farm'. The long-awaited International Bathtub Regatta at 16:30, regional broadcaster Matélé reports. Around 15,000 people are expected to attend.
"It was a neighbourhood committee that came up with the idea 41 years ago," Julien Dolhet, chairman of the non-profit Les Baignoires, told Matélé. "They had heard on the radio that someone in Italy had crossed a river on a bathtub. So they said to themselves: 'Come on, let's do it!"
Credit: Les Baignoires
The committee bought several bathtubs from a scrap dealer, sold them in front of the shops and the Les Baignoires tradition was born. Every year since, participants have come up with increasingly imaginative and originally decorated floats to create a parade on the water.
There are just two rules: "The baths must be in contact with the water and there must be no motor!" Dolhet said.
For the regulars, the regatta is an opportunity to show off to the public and other participants. The event is more of a parade than a race: the participants dress up and sometimes fall overboard, drenching spectators as they pass by, who form crowds on the banks of the Meuse.
Credit: Les Baignoires
For a few years now, the organisers have offered a kit bathtub race, which starts at 15:30 before the main regatta, RTBF reports. Members of the public have to pair up to assemble a kit created for the occasion in just 45 minutes, before jumping into the water and embarking on a frantic race. There are only a limited 15 kits up for grabs, but it nevertheless provides spectators with a thrilling opportunity to compete against each other.
Each year, participants are given a theme and must decorate their bathtubs accordingly. After 'The American Dream' in 2021 and 'The Great Carnival of Dinant' in 2022, the theme for the 2023 edition is agriculture. "The theme is not compulsory but rather a suggestion. But in any case, we wanted to highlight the world of agriculture this year."
Credit: Les Baignoires
Prizes are awarded at the end of the day for the most beautifully-decorated tubs and those which best correspond to the annual theme.
To find out more information about the regatta, see here.
