Flanders' Heritage Minister, Matthias Diependaele, is expanding efforts to identify and protect historic chip shops as cultural monuments. Acknowledging the significance of "Frietkot culture" and

the craft of frying chips, Diependaele aims to safeguard the experience and tradition associated with these establishments. While chip shops and kiosks selling fries are a common sight throughout Belgium, only a fraction of them are standalone kiosks deserving of special recognition.

Initially, Diependaele called upon local authorities to nominate worthy chip shops by mid-June. However, recognizing the broader public's interest and appreciation for these iconic establishments, he has extended the nomination deadline to 11 July and invited the general public to submit their favorite "frietkot" for consideration.

Belgium boasts over 4,500 chip shops, with nearly 1,000 of them being standalone kiosks, according to industry federation Navefri. However, many of these cherished establishments have had to yield to urban development, road construction, or other infrastructure projects over the years.

Diependaele, a member of the N-VA political party, has expressed his intent to protect Flanders' oldest and most authentic chip shops. Considering the weekly tradition of enjoying chips as a cherished part of Flanders' cultural heritage, he believes it is only logical to preserve some of the region's most emblematic chip kiosks alongside churches and castles.

To nominate a local "fritkot" for heritage protection, individuals can submit their suggestions via email. By engaging the public in this initiative, Diependaele aims to ensure that the selection process is inclusive and representative of the widespread affection for these historic chip shops. Photo by Wouter Hagens, Wikimedia commons.