Dutch driver follows Waze onto historic Belgian staircase, gets stuck atop Kerkstraat steps in Blankenberge

The incident

Shortly after 9 am on Sunday, 2 August 2026, a 74-year-old Dutch motorist drove his car off the Zeedijk, Blankenberge's seafront promenade, and onto the Kerkstraat stairs. The man later told police he had been following the route suggested by his Waze navigation app. Instead of continuing along the road, he turned into the Kerkstraat, a street that terminates in a broad flight of stone steps leading down to the beach. The Zeedijk runs parallel to the North Sea, and the Kerkstraat connects it to the beach, but the last stretch is a pedestrian staircase, not a vehicular route. The vehicle came to rest at the very top of the staircase, its front wheels hanging over the first step but without tumbling further. Local police received the call at around 9:10 am and arrived to find the car in a precarious position. No other road users or pedestrians were involved, and no one was injured.

Driver's condition

Police commissioner Jan Maertens of the Blankenberge/Zuienkerke zone said officers quickly established that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

He was just distracted.

The man, a tourist from the Netherlands who was visiting the coast and had no prior knowledge of the area, was cooperative and told police he had simply trusted the app's directions. It remains unclear whether Waze explicitly routed him onto the stairs or whether he misinterpreted a turn instruction. Commissioner Maertens described the driver as "verstrooid" – distracted – and noted that such navigation errors, while unusual, are not unheard of in unfamiliar towns.

Renovation backdrop

The Kerkstraat stairs are an iconic landmark in Blankenberge, a popular Belgian seaside resort. They are currently in the middle of a renovation project with a total budget of €660,000. The Flemish government is contributing approximately half of the cost through a heritage premium, reflecting the staircase's historical significance. The first phase of the works was completed at the end of June 2026, and the stairs had only been accessible to the public for a few weeks before Sunday's incident. The second phase is scheduled to begin in September. The timing is particularly awkward for the municipality, as any damage to the newly restored stonework could lead to additional repairs and potential delays.

Aftermath and damage

Towing the vehicle proved to be a difficult operation. A specialised tow truck was called to the scene, but the angle and the narrow steps complicated the recovery. The car remained stuck on the steps for several hours after the incident. Commissioner Maertens said that a full assessment of any damage to the staircase would only be possible once the car was removed.

We will have to measure the damage to the stairs once the car is towed.

As of Sunday morning, the extent of the harm to the steps was still unknown. The city now faces the prospect of unplanned repair costs on top of the ongoing renovation, though officials have not yet issued a statement on the financial implications or any possible impact on the September timeline.