Belgian Woman’s Daily Walks with Geese and Ducks Delight Village
Cécile Blauwblomme from Wijtschate in Heuvelland, West Flanders, has become a beloved local fixture by walking through the village every day with her four geese and five ducks. Using white blind canes to teach the animals to stop at zebra crossings and cross safely, the unusual daily parade has captured the hearts of the community.
The “pluimenbende” (feather gang), as Cécile affectionately calls her animals, has grown into a genuine local attraction in just two months, drawing residents and visitors alike to watch the feathered procession make its way through the streets of the small West Flemish village.
How It All Began
The story started with a failed hatching attempt. “I hatched a pigeon egg for my daughter, but it failed,” Cécile told VRT NWS. “To comfort her, we went to get a duckling.”
That duckling, named Coco, quickly became inseparable from Cécile’s daughter Cécilia. “Day and night they are together,” Cécile explained. “When my daughter goes to the toilet, Coco follows her. Same when she goes to the playground or further. It inspired me to get more ducks and also geese. Now the group has 9 animals: Coco, Zorro, Bebe, Pinguin, Calimero, Teddy, Kiki, Pluim and Ange.”
Cécile recalled how Coco’s devotion became apparent during a trip to the playground. “I said to her: we’re going to the playground. We’ll see if Coco follows us,” she told Focus-WTV. “It was just like a little dog: it just came along. I never had to teach it, not to any of the animals. They just come along, but they always get a reward: dried worms.”
Traffic Safety with a Creative Twist
Cécile takes the animals’ safety seriously. She uses two white blind canes to make the animals stop at zebra crossings. “When I stop walking, they stop too,” she said. “Only when I indicate that it’s allowed again, they walk on.” On one of the canes, she attached a flag so Coco can find her from the air when he occasionally takes flight.
The group walks once a day, sometimes twice. “Walking makes them happy,” Cécile said. “Just like dogs run to the door when their owner says they’re going for a walk, my geese do that too.” When the smallest animals get tired, Cécile places them in a buggy to continue the journey.
A Show in Itself
The feather gang has become remarkably popular in Wijtschate and beyond. Residents of the Sint-Medard care home in Wijtschate came for a joint walk with the animals. “I found it wonderful that those people took the trouble to come here,” Cécile said.
Cécile receives invitations to flea markets in Ieper and Poperinge, as well as a fair in Oostkamp. For these special occasions, the family wears old-fashioned farm clothing, and Coco sometimes flies above the crowd on command. The animals travel in a converted bike trailer or by car.
“That’s like a show actually,” Cécile said. “People sometimes go to Bellewaerde or Plopsaland to watch a show. When we pass by, we are a show in itself.”
Cécile does not charge for appearances. If people want to give something, donations go toward animal feed. The animals receive dried worms as rewards for their good behavior.
A Village Embraces Its Feathered Celebrities
Wijtschate, a village of about 2,000 inhabitants in the rolling hills of Heuvelland, is known primarily for its World War I heritage, including the Bayernwald site and several British military cemeteries. But now, the village has a new claim to fame: the daily parade of geese and ducks that has become an endearing symbol of community spirit and the special bond between humans and animals.
The story of Cécile and her feather gang serves as a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the most unexpected companions can bring the greatest joy — and that a simple daily walk can turn into something truly special. As the pluimenbende continues to grow in popularity, one thing is certain: in Wijtschate, the geese and ducks are here to stay.