Victim of Its Own Success

As temperatures hit 30 degrees or higher, thousands of visitors head to the beaches around the Upper Sure Lake to cool off. But residents in the neighbouring villages are suffering from the influx of cars and people, calling for a national concept to lessen the impact on the environment.[1]

Since this weekend, the council of Esch-sur-Sure has taken measures to assist residents. The municipality has put up barriers and engaged security staff to keep the village's roads clear in Lultzhausen. Pierre Wolff, a lifelong resident who has lived in Insenborn and then Lultzhausen for 30 years, says it is a step in the right direction: "The evolution has been such that we have increasing number of visitors coming here, mimicking the country's development and population growth. But the infrastructure and signage around here is still the same as 30 years ago."[1]

The season is getting longer. As soon as temperatures rise, from May to September, people begin flocking to the lake. Not just residents, but tourists from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The issue arises with people unfamiliar with the local area, resulting in crowds alongside the dangerous N27. Wolff notes that the first car park in Insenborn is called "am Keilert". He is in favour of the Luxembourgish language, but does not think the car park should be called that. Foreigners, particularly French speakers, will be looking for a "plage" car park.[1]

The lake is the largest body of water in the country. It is also the drinking water reservoir. The lake is where the drinking water comes from. The farmers are pouring drinking water on the apples because there is no other water. The lake is where the other water is, and the lake is full of people. Thousands of people. Tourists from Belgium, the Netherlands, France. They come because it is 30 degrees and the lake is cool and the beaches are free. They park on the N27 and they look for "am Keilert" and they do not find it because the sign is in Luxembourgish and they speak French. The barriers are up in Lultzhausen. The security is there. The infrastructure is from 30 years ago. The population has grown. The country has grown. The lake has not grown. The lake is the same size. The people are more. The cars are more. The water is less. The apples are burning. The fourth heatwave is coming on Tuesday. The lake will be full again.[1]