A "drunk man's" lock of a traditional house at the medieval alley named "Vlaeykensgang" (1591) in Antwerp, Belgium
This photo : tradition has it that the owner of this house used to get drunk quite often and in order to be able to find his way to the keyhole late at night he had a blacksmith make him a very special lock. At the side there are metal bars that lead/assist him downwards towards the keyhole, so he wouldn't have to aim precisely to find it. The alley was created in 1591 and was originally inhabited by shoemakers. The name is presumably derived from the Flemish word 'Vlaai', a local kind of pie. At the end of the 19th century, there were many of these alleys in the city center. They may look idyllic now, but at the time only the poorest were housed here. Living conditions were often abysmal, with many of the large families crammed into small spaces. Sanitary conditions were poor with often just one pump providing water for a whole alley. During the 20th century, many of these alleys were demolished and redeveloped. By the 1960s the dilapidated Vlaeykensgang was also slated for demolition, but fortunately a local antique dealer purchased the houses in the alley and restored the whole complex. Today the Vlaeykensgang is a quiet refuge from the hectic city center and a popular spot to listen to the cathedral's carillon concerts that are held every Monday evening during summertime. You can also have lunch or dinner here in an authentic historic atmosphere. One of the entrances of the Vlaeykensgang is at the Oude Koornmarkt, a former corn-market. The entrance, at number 16, is no wider than a doorway, so make sure you don't walk past it.
Size: 3840px × 5760px
Location: Vlaeykensgang, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, Western Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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