VTI Bruges students help restore Fort Napoleon

These are four students in the 7th year of restoration construction who can get a taste of the real work. “Normally we are always at school, but here it is reality. Our work also remains here. You can see it later and tell us that you helped with this,” explains student Keanu Roelandts. The VTI in Bruges is the only school that offers the course, but after the next school year it will also disappear there to become part of higher education.

“A regrettable decision,” says campus director Julie Houwen. “They may miss the practical component that we can offer very well. We have separate practice rooms, trained teachers, and that may not yet be the case in college.”

“Many beautiful projects”

In any case, students are assured of a job in the sector. “We benefit greatly from showing those students our sites. This way they see that it is an interesting job, and that there is a lot of variety in many beautiful projects,” says Sander Hollevoet of Group Monument.