3. TRANSLATE.

Before GPS became our road-trip savior, many travelers had their share of "where on Earth are we?" moments. I had mine on my first journey to San Sebastián in Spain's Basque Country. Oddly enough, not a single sign pointed to it—because the locals call it Donostia, and that's exactly how it's written on the road signs. Perfectly logical… unless you're not from around there. 

Here are some of these Belgian cities .

1. Bergen - Mons

2. Liège - Luik - luttich

3. Doornik - Tournai

4. Eigenbrakel - Braine- L'alleud

5 Eupen - Néan

The question is: do all those place names really need to be mentioned twice or even thrice or more? Similar cases can be found in other countries too. For example, Aix-la-Chapelle, also known as the German city of Aachen. And then there's Basel (Switzerland) with an "S" and Bazel (Belgium) with a "Z." Apparently, a Belgian couple once received a wedding invitation addressed to Basel. When they arrived in Switzerland, dressed up for the occasion with flowers and gifts but unable to find the given address, their mistake quickly became clear. For anyone traveling to Hoboken in the province of Antwerp: be warned, Hoboken is also a city in New Jersey (USA), and there are plenty more towns and cities with duplicate names.

Then there are those words in other languages that are hard—or even impossible—to translate. One such word is saudade (Portuguese for an indescribable kind of longing or homesickness). Another is el llanero (Spanish for a cowboy from South America—but it's different, and I can't quite put it into words). And here at home we have that wonderfully juicy word 'goesting', which we love to roll around in our mouths.

Back to the political dispute: should the destination's language be included on our road signs, or does that go against the language laws? The government is working on a replacement, but due to budget constraints, it will take a bit more time. Still, it's a good start. Keep it up!

Let me know if you'd like to adapt it into something more formal, punchy, or poetic. I'm game! 😄

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Here's a more stylized version of your story in English—with a dash of flair and storytelling charm:

🚦 Of Duplicate Names and Misguided Journeys Do we really need to list place names twice, thrice, or more? Our politicians aren't the only ones facing this conundrum—just look across borders. Take Aix-la-Chapelle, the French name for Aachen in Germany. Or Basel in Switzerland, spelled with an "S," versus Bazel in Belgium, spelled with a "Z." That subtle twist in letters once led a Belgian couple astray: armed with flowers, dressed to impress, they arrived in Swiss Basel for a wedding... that was actually in Belgian Bazel. A misunderstanding made festive, if a bit embarrassing.

✈️ Travelers, beware! Hoboken isn't just a town in Antwerp—it's also a city in New Jersey. Mix-ups await the unprepared.

🔤 Then there are those delightful words that defy translation. Saudade—a Portuguese echo of longing that slips through language. El llanero—a South American cowboy with a soul not quite captured by the English "rancher." And in Flanders, the deliciously untranslatable goesting: a craving, a desire, a yearning wrapped in a single syllable that rolls so satisfyingly off the tongue.

🗺️ As for the signs on our roads, a political tangle unfolds: should destinations be displayed in the local language, or does that tiptoe over the lines of language law? The government has plans—though budget constraints mean they're inching forward, not sprinting. Still, progress is progress. A promising start, and dare we say... "Goe bezig!"