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Children's crossing in Belgium
Mariakerke (O-Vl), 1998 Lier, 01.IV.2007; pict. J. Torfs
 
This is the most common children's sign in Belgium. The drawing is rather static and the design hasn't degraded too much during the times. There is reason for worry though. The find from Lier proves that most signs are already way down from what's possible. The detail shown there is amazing. The only thing that urgently needs an aesthetic intervention is the head of the girl. In most countries, to the contrary, this is just one of the best parts (see Monsieur Jean's showcase.) Some thoughts:
  • Both children wear knee-high socks. Usually, when socks are available, it's only the boy who gets them.
  • The facial expression of the boy is extremely serious; it's not a boyish complexion at all. Is he a schoolguard maybe?
  • The boy's headgear is peculiar. It's an exotic look; I've never seen it in the streets. I wonder what this thing might be (our scientific adviser keeps quiet when we need him, naturally).
prov. West-Vlaanderen, 1996 prov. Hainaut, 1996 prov. Luxembourg, 1996
 
Belgium may be small and crowded, but some spots are over­looked by the future. That's good news because it means opportunities to expand our collection.

The first two panels are very similar. The girl wears some old-fashioned dress. Besides that, the poor child seems to be born with an old face. Don't miss the white patches on the boy. The left perforation certainly is odd.

The children on the second sign hover above the ground: quite some performance.

The third sign is different in several ways. It features vividly pictured young people. The girl seems eager to arrive at school.

 Notice how the boy holds the hand of the girl. This doesn't happen often; usually he grabs the arm at the elbow. (See Italy for a modern hand-sign and Brazil for more grab examples)

She carries a satchel (Denmark is another example). She holds it with her free hand in front of herself: the satchels are on the outside. This is also the case in f.e. Italy, but not in Madagascar (Port-Dauphin sign) where one day or another the girl will have lost her things.
The first road signs show the normal situation. The girl's box is between both persons when the boy holds the arm. (Not so in Zimbabwe!)
 
prov. Namur, 28.IX.2003;
pict. H. De Meyer		 St. Pieters-Voeren, VII.2005;
pict. B. Hoeyberghs		 Pollinkhove, 19.VI.2011;
pict. H. Van Herck
Thanks to the weather the drawing also emanates good old —almost forgotten— past times by the way the children are dressed.
It was a bit chilly that day. The wind plays with the girl's dress and the boy wears his long trousers and a trench-coat.

Find other sweet fashion memories on the Azores.

 The design still adheres to the general convention. We recognize the scene we've seen on most other finds. But the drawing is going down­wards. It's best visible in the heads which aren't real heads anymore. The boy carries a boxing glove and the girl has lost her face. But as she is wearing a new hairstyle at least Monsieur Jean is happy. Beware
Children cycling

No bicycle in sight and this wrong combination just confuses the driver. And confusion is bad in traffic.
 
Lier, 2000; pict. L. Nederlof
If you would like to study the effects of (natural?) selection, this is the place. Only the most swift-footed survive a speed limit of 90 km. Speed limits in other countries are covered in Australia.
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More roadsigns from Belgium: Men at work - Falling rocks