De Lijn 5935 (1967 P) at Mechelen - 1 Feb 1993

Monday 1 February 1993 (approx. 1105) – In 1991 Belgium’s national bus and tramway company was split, the northern part serving Flanders became De Lijn. This photograph shows bus 5935 (1967 P), a DAF powered Van Hool A120 integral that had been new to NMVB in April 1982, loading at Mechelen for the 1105 service 51B to Heist-op-den-Berg and Herentals. Similar bus 5920 (467 P7) is in the adjacent loading stand. Both carry NMVB livery.

I took a 40 minute ride on 5935 to Heist-op-den-Berg, the driver was quite a fast lad. The little urchin in the red scarf just about to board the bus kept his mother well occupied with his mischief making all the way to the small town of Putte.

Note the bus stop sign, it shows the abbreviated name for the village of ‘Onze Lieve Vrouw Waver’. Onze Lieve Vrouw is the Flemish for ‘Our Lady’ in this predominantly Roman Catholic area.