Gazing at the Groninger canals during Winterwelvaart

The tourist gaze is a phenomenon described by John Urry. There is no such thing as ‘the’ tourist gaze, because it depends on the time frame and the society someone lives in. The tourist gaze is about the way people view the sights they visit as tourists out of the everyday life. The visual elements play a more important role here than in everyday life. The view can be passed on forever through the pictures that are taken for instance, or postcards. The view is often associated with something ‘typical’ for the area that has to be captured. Here, you could mention the ‘typical Dutch’ of ‘typical Groningen.’

Where I experienced this tourist gaze was at Winterwelvaart, a festivity that takes place at the end of December during one weekend. Part of the Groninger canals was filled with old boats that you could enter and they all had lights attached to the boat which gave the stunning view that you can see on the pictures. On both sides of the canal, market stalls were placed which sold food, but also knitwear or jewellery for instance. What added to the atmosphere in my opinion, was the music that could be heard at several places which added perfectly to the cosy atmosphere of people eating and drinking together. Plenty of people were taking photographs on the bridges, with their mobile phones or large professional cameras. I noticed plenty of different languages around me, which suggested that I wasn’t the only tourist here. Everyone was staring at the view of Winterwelvaart at night and was capturing the view which in their opinion showed ‘the typical Groninger canals during the winter.’ You could say that all were influenced by the tourist gaze in their own way.

The Groninger canals with the A-Kerk tower on the bakcground

Together with many people gazing at the beautiful view

Reference:

1) Urry, J. (2002). The tourist gaze. London, SAGE, pages 1-3.