Belgian Frites: Fresh design for 'fritkot' chip shops to be rolled out

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Europe

01:57

Brussels is giving a futuristic makeover to some of the official stalls where its famous potato delicacies are sold to eager locals and tourists. Belgian "frites" represent the country around the world. Planners launched a competition last year to find a new design for what they call the "Fritkots of the Future".

Belgian "frites" are a signature of Brussels life. And the Brussels' chip shops or fritkots, are about to become even more iconic. A fresh design is about to be rolled out, one which city planners hope will put the humble fritkots firmly on the tourist map.

MARION LEMESRE SENIOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICIAL FOR BRUSSELS "We thought 'and what if we give a model?' A model that is identifiable just like the telephone booths of London. When we are next to a Brussels fritkot, we will be able to identify that we are in Brussels."

The winning design by Studio Moto -- Announced in January -- will replace the eight city owned fritkots.

THOMAS HICK STUDIO MOTO CO-OWNER "So we really had in mind we couldn't put something standardized and uh that would just suddenly lose the identity of each fritkot. So, for us that was one of the aspects, how could we make something affordable that looks good but every site be different."

Vusitema Kemal has operated this fritstand in Brussels for over 34 years. He says he's looking forward to the new look.

VUSITEMA KEMAL FRITKOT OWNER "What is good I think, is to unify all designs of Belgium, of all fritstands in Brussels. So the tourists, the foreigners who come, they can easily find them. And also the design is very beautiful."

In the meantime, tourists continue to enjoy the city's famous frites - which by popular demand - are staying just as they are.