Putte, a small village on the Dutch-Belgian border, was unexpectedly assigned a new name by the French government: 'Whore'. This amusing blunder occurred during the issuance of environmental stickers for France. These stickers are necessary in France to enter certain city centres and departments that have established low-emission zones. While applying for the environmental stickers, residents of Putte noticed something peculiar: the French government website mistakenly changed the name of their village to the non-existent place 'whore'.
Revelation on the Radio
The story was uncovered by the Belgian automotive news site Gocar.be. David, a resident of Putte, spotted the mistake when he attempted to apply for his French vignette. To his astonishment, he saw that the vignette would be sent to 'whore'. He shared his findings on Belgian radio, emphasising that he hadn’t enabled any translation function in his browser. Other residents of Putte experienced the same issue.
The Cause of the Comical Error
The source of this mix-up appears to stem from the fact that the French word 'Pute', with one 't', literally means 'whore'. When using Google Translate, the word 'Putte' yields the same result. It's possible that the French government agency used the same translation tool. Well, we Dutch are quite unfazed by translation errors. Just ask our former national coach Louis van Gaal, who is known for phrases like ‘That’s another cook’ and ‘One swallow does not make a summer’.
Why Environmental Stickers Exist in France
But why did David actually apply for this environmental sticker? The answer is straightforward. Environmental stickers are mandatory for gaining access to low-emission zones in France. A total of nine major French cities have implemented permanent low-emission zones, which are also applicable during weekends. Anyone visiting these cities will need a sticker. Check out the link to see which cities currently require an environmental vignette in France.
Tighter Regulations for Environmental Zones in France
Regulations in France are becoming increasingly stringent. By 2025, all cities with more than 150,000 residents are expected to have a permanent low-emission zone. Only Paris will retain its existing environmental zone. Failing to display an environmental sticker can result in a fine of €68.
Easy Ordering of the French Vignette
The Crit'Air vignette typically costs €4.91. The official website for ordering the vignette is www.certificat-air.gouv.fr. However, many people prefer to use our application service to avoid a lengthy application process in a foreign language. While there is a small additional fee, you can pay securely with Ideal or Paypal, saving you a significant amount of time.
