Valentine's Day? Time for an orgy!

- A French-language advertisement from three Belgian coastal municipalities has led to mischief throughout Belgium because it invites an orgy. With the campaign, the municipalities want to attract tourists for the romantic Valentine's Day (February 14).

The campaign is being conducted under the slogan 'Triootje on the West Coast'. In Dutch everybody understands the wink, but the French translation says something very different. 'Une Partouze à Trois à la Westkust', is the French translation. Apparently the joint tourist services of the municipalities did not realize that 'une partouze à trois' has the meaning 'an orgy with three'.

The French translation has led to a stream of comical commentaries. The French-speaking Belgian broadcaster cheerfully stated: 'Because tourist sites usually focus on families, we suspect that this free translation was not really intended. '

It concerns the coastal towns De Panne, Koksijde-Oostduinkerke and Nieuwpoort. The De Panne seaside resort is also known to Dutch families, partly due to the presence of the Plopsaland theme park.

After the fuss, it was decided to come up with a new French-language slogan. What that slogan is is still to be decided. Peter Bruneel of the tourist office in Koksijde sees an advantage in any case: 'Our campaign has already reached many people in Wallonia. And they are all more than welcome to spend the coming Valentine's Day with us. '