#441 Erkenningsnummer P708816

august 3, 2016 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ rEad morE at www.flandErstoday.Eu currEnt affairs \ P2

Politics \ P4

Goodbye Quick The new owners of Quick fast-food chain are turning all the outlets into Burger King, to the dismay of some – and the delight of others \7

BusinEss \ P7

innovation \ P9

Horrors at sea

Flemish midwife Dominique Luypaers helps get refugees from rickety, overcrowded boats to safe shores: “It’s a testimony to complete inhumanity” \ 13

The road to Rio

Education \ P10

art & living \ P11

LivinG tHe dream

Owner of a French vineyard or book author? Both are fantasy jobs, but Flemish crime-fiction scribe Koen Strobbe does them both \ 14

© Courtesy team Belgium

flanders’ finest athletes set their sights on olympic glory in Brazil leo cendrowicz More articles by leo \ flanderstoday.eu

Four years ago, Flemish athletes brought home a single bronze from the Olympics. This time around, the rising stars and the medal hopefuls are looking to make their mark at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

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hey are the fittest and finest that Flanders can fling at the world. They are sailors and swimmers, athletes and archers, gymnasts and golfers, cyclists and canoeists, tennis players and taekwondo fighters. And they are in Rio de Janeiro to test their speed and strength against the greatest in the world in that four-yearly festival of sports, the Olympic Games. From cyclist Greg Van Avermaet to golfer Nicolas Colsaerts to Yanina Wickmayer in tennis to the four (count ’em all) Borlée runners, there are a plethora of real medal chances. When the 109-strong Belgian squad marches out in Rio’s Maracanã Stadium for the 5 August opening ceremony, they will be hoping to seize their moment. They know the odds are stacked against them: there is only ever one champion

in each discipline, and two other medallists on the podium. And despite its success at fostering top level footballers, tennis players and cyclists in recent years, Belgium has underperformed at the Olympics. It’s eight years since Belgium brought back a gold medal from the games, when Tia Hellebaut won the high jump in Beijing in 2008. London 2012 was a miserable experience, with only two bronzes, one for Flanders’ Evi Van Acker in the Laser Radial sailing and one for Charline Van Snick in judo, and a silver for Lionel Cox in the 50m rifle prone. Van Acker, who also competed in Beijing in 2008, took bronze in the 2014 World Championships in Santander. The other sailors with her in Rio are six-time Belgian champion Wannes Van Laer in the Laser and Yannick Lefèbvre and Tom Pelsmaekers in the 49er. Four other Belgian judokas will be in Rio this summer with Van Snick, including two Flemings: Dirk Van Tichelt, who won the 2008 European Championships and came fifth at the 2008 Olympics, and Jasper Lefevere.

One of the strongest medal contenders will be Moroccanborn, Wilrijk-trained Jaouad Achab in the taekwondo, who won the 2014 European Championships and the 2015 World Championships. Iranian-born Raheleh Asemani, a bronze medallist in this year’s European Championships, is also in with a chance in the women’s taekwondo. In cycling, the road race includes Greg Van Avermaet, who came eighth in this year’s Tour de France green jersey ranking for sprinters, won stage five and led the race for three days. He is supported by Serge Pauwels, who was sixth in the polka-dot climbing ranking and 13th in the points. Recent Tour of Poland winner Tim Wellens and 20-yearold Laurens De Plus will also be in the road race team, with Wellens competing in the time trial as well. Three Flemish women are competing in the road race: Ann-Sophie Duyck, Lotte Kopecky and Anisha Vekemans, with Duyck and Kopecky also going for the time trial. But those are far from the only Flemish riders in Rio. In track racing there are two in the omnium, a six-race event over two continued on page 5

\ CuRRent aFFaIRs

Leuven scientists end doubts about King Albert I’s death team examined blood-stained leaves from site of fatal 1930s climbing accident alan Hope Follow alan on twitter \ @alanHopeFt

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cientists from the University of Leuven have identified an 82-year-old blood sample as that of King Albert I, confirming once and for all the official version of his death. The king’s death in a climbing accident in 1934 has long been the source of conspiracy theories. Albert took the throne of Belgium in 1909 on the death of his uncle, Leopold II. He became Belgium’s most popular king during the First World War, which he spent in the army while members of the national government were in exile in Le Havre, France. A monument in Nieuwpoort was later raised to him by his troops. He died while climbing alone in Marche-les-Dames in Namur, on the banks of the Maas. Since there were no witnesses, conspiracy theories began to spread claiming the king had died – or been killed – elsewhere and had been brought to the

scene later. At the same time, dedicated supporters and residents of the area collected souvenirs from the scene of the king’s death. One of these relics – blood-stained leaves – was recently purchased by a reporter from the VTM programme Royalty. These were passed on to forensic geneticist Maarten Larmuseau of the University of Leuven. His team tracked down two of Albert’s surviving blood relatives: King Simeon II of Bulgaria, who is related on his father’s side, and Anna Maria Freifrau von Haxthausen, a German baroness related on the maternal side. Genetic comparison confirmed that the blood on the leaves (pictured) was indeed Albert’s. “We can never dismiss all speculation,” Larmuseau said. “But this research was one of our last opportunities to gather new data. The authenticity of the blood traces supports the official version.”

© Maarten larmuseau/ku leuven

Residents pluck free fruits and vegetables in Ostend

Brussels Airport has busiest weekend ever

The city of Ostend has planted some 6,000 fruit and vegetable plants, including lettuce, mint, tomatoes and strawberries, in the public garden boxes across the city. Everyone is free to harvest what they would like when the produce is ripe. The town council of the coastal municipality wants to bring the food chain closer to the people and profile itself as an “edible city”, Nathan Blondé of mayor Johan Vande Lanotte’s office told deredactie.be. “People in the city often lack the space to garden, and we’re thinking of creative ways to deal with this issue.” We hope to

Brussels Airport saw 90,000 passengers last Friday, a record for a single day at, the airport in Zaventem reported. Friday was the beginning of the summer’s biggest travel weekend, as one set of passengers setting off on August holidays crossed paths with those returning from July holidays. Over the course of Friday to Sunday, the airport handled more than 253,000 passengers, another record. Brussels Airport told passengers not to turn up earlier than usual to check in, despite the numbers. The standard two hours was sufficient, a spokesperson said.

encourage residents to also plant more herbs or vegetables themselves.” The vegetables and fruits were planted a few weeks ago, and some of them are ready to be picked. “It smells like mint at city hall, and also the tomatoes are as good as ripe,” said Blondé. “We still have to wait for the strawberries to be ready.”

The city council is not concerned about misuse, he said. “We ask everyone to pick with moderation and think of others. Because the edible plants stand between non-edible flowers, we also advise to only pick fruits or vegetables that you recognise.” \ Andy Furniere

“Since the start of the holidays, Brussels Airport has been measuring the average time it takes to pass through, from which it appears that passengers take an average of one hour from the A201 checkpoint on the Brussels Ring to their gate, including passport control,” the airport said in a press release. “At peak times, that goes up to one hour and 15 minutes.” This year’s most popular destinations are Spain and the Canary Islands, accounting for 17% of all departures. Other popular destinations include Italy, Greece, Portugal and the south of France.

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Red Cross calls for blood donations as stocks run low The Flemish Red Cross has issued a call for blood donors, as stocks of blood and blood products are “under pressure”, it said. Groups AB- and B- are in a particularly critical state. The problem extends to platelets, which are extracted from donations of whole blood and help to control bleeding. Demand from hospitals for platelets was 8%

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stolen from parking meters by a director of Antwerp-based parking company Apcoa. He collected coins from the meters, ostensibly for spot-checks, then took it home, covering the loss by manipulating records

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higher in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. The growing demand was one of the reasons the Red Cross last month switched to using larger blood bags for donations, which contain 450ml or 470ml instead of 400ml and allow the extraction of platelets and plasma. However, the decision to increase

the volume donated meant some smaller, thinner donors, mainly women, were no longer allowed to give blood. Platelets are only kept for five days, so stocks need constant replenishment with new donations. The summer is typically a time of shortages, as many regular donors are on holiday. However, the need for platelets remains

© Courtesy Rode kruis Vlaanderen

constant: they are also used for cancer and leukaemia patients

1,044

12%

g k 8.6 cases of pickpocketing in trains and railway stations in 2015, down from 2,429 in 2011, a reduction of 57%, the rail authority NMBS said, largely thanks to an increase in security cameras and police officers in stations

having chemotherapy, which lowers the number of platelets as a side-effect, sometimes leading to spontaneous bleeding. Donations of whole blood can be given at the Red Cross’s permanent centres, or at mobile centres that tour Flanders constantly. Donations of platelets alone can only be given at one of the 11 permanent centres. \ AH

of ivory seized by Customs in 2015, as well as 40 objects made of ivory, in breach of international rules. That’s slightly more than the 8kg and 38 objects seized in 2014

1.82m

average height of Belgian men, making them the second-tallest in the world after the Dutch, with an average of 1.83m. A century ago, Belgian men were 15cm shorter and stood in 33rd place in the world

fewer visitors for this year’s Gentse Feesten compared to last year. The amount of rubbish cleared away by the city’s cleansing department was also down, by 12.8%

august 3, 2016

Week in brief The rare corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) at the Botanic Garden Meise normally only blooms every three to eight years, but bloomed again last week for 72 hours, following a bloom period last March. The garden remained open late to handle the number of visitors that line up to see the short-lived tubular flower, which reaches heights of more than two metres. Train drivers have been warned by the NMBS to stop using smartphones and tablets while driving trains, after an increase in the number of incidents of trains passing signals on red. All mobile devices are now banned from the driver’s cabin, even if they are turned off. Last year saw 26 more incidents of passing signals on red than the year before, with inattention the main cause. “We find ourselves forced to make the rules tougher,” said CEO Jo Cornu in a letter sent to all 3,800 train drivers. The deployment of extra police and military personnel against a terrorist threat is affecting the daily duties of the police and is no longer tenable, according to Jean-Marie Brabant, chief of the Montgomery police zone in Brussels. He says there will never be enough resources to remove the threat altogether, and people must learn to live with an increased level of danger. The government’s idea of allowing police zones to co-operate more by sharing personnel is “no longer achievable”, he said. “We have to make do with the staff numbers we have. We can’t keep cancelling leave for our officers to help out other zones at major events.” The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has ordered the Belgian government to seek repayment of tax benefits allowed to multinational companies including AB InBev, Atlas Copco and BP. The excess profit rulings allowed companies tax relief on part of

face of fLanders their earnings in Belgium, in a system the Commission declared was illegal state aid in January. Belgium appealed to the European Court and lost. The government will now have to recoup some €700 million in unpaid tax. The government of the Brussels-Capital Region has agreed to reduce the number of lanes on the E40 as it enters Brussels from the direction of Leuven from six to four. The two lost lanes would make room for cycle paths, footpaths and nature. A final decision will be taken when the results of an impact study are known.

The charity will continue to collect clippings brought to container parks. A new project called Wind in de haren (Wind in Your Hair) from Antwerp cycling blog Antwerpenize makes cycle rickshaws available to volunteers ready to take elderly people out on a trip in the city. The idea – and the rickshaws – come from Copenhagen. The project aims to organise 50 outings by the end of the year and is financed by the 10% of the Antwerp district budget set aside each year for citizen initiatives. \ facebook.com/antwerpenize

Sixmonthsonfromitsofficialintroduction, the smart cash register for food and drinks service businesses, intended to combat the use of undeclared labour and income, is well-integrated in the industry in Flanders, according to figures from the federal finance ministry. While Flanders accounts for 60% of all food industry businesses in Belgium, the region has 71.5% of all smart cash registers.

Unizo, the organisation that represents the self-employed, has lodged an objection to the change in the city’s plans for the Neo complex at Heizel in Brussels, which now includes a shopping centre as well as a conference centre, park, stadium and hotels. “The shopping centre offers no added value to tourists, and is anything but a reinforcement of the trading function of the city centre,” Unizo said.

The Antwerp tourism agency Visit Antwerpen has launched an arrangement that offers a free Antwerp City Card to anyone booking a room in a participating hotel. The City Card offers free or low-cost entry to a number of the city’s main attractions, including the MAS, Rubens House and Cathedral, as well as free use of the Hop On-Hop Off city bus tour.

Flemish public broadcaster VRT will not join in an action supported by a number of media calling for photographs of terrorists or terror suspects not to be shown in the media, so as not to glamorise terrorist acts. “I think the identity of someone who carries out a terrorist attack should be made known,” said news bulletin editor Björn Soenens.

\ discoverantwerp.be

The charity Vergroot de hoop (Increase Hope) has stopped its annual collection of hedgeclippings from taxus hedges, because of the growth of fraudulent businesses competing with it. The companies present themselves on the doorstep as partners of the charity, but then collect the clippings – which contain a compound used in chemotherapy to treat cancer – and sell them on.

Betterfor.Brussels, an initiative of the bank KBC Brussels, is looking for bright ideas from members of the public to make city life better for residents in mobility, housing and enterprise. Ideas can come from anyone and should be achievable within one year. A jury will select 12 projects to put to a public vote, with the winner taking away €30,000.

© Memesvault

older and more experienced inspector and one young-looking. The older inspector melts into the crowd at clubs and bars; the younger keeps an eye out. The National Lottery, meanwhile, recruits actual youngsters to accompany inspectors and trap retailers into selling them tickets.

david dehenauw In his day-job, he presents the weather forecast on VTM. On the side, he helps adventurers travel around the world, in hotair balloons or in solar-powered aircraft. David Dehenauw is actually an employee of the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI), so the description of day-job and sidejob is not entirely accurate. VTM and others contract with the KMI. Dehenauw does it, he says, because he loves it. Dehenauw was born in Blankenberge in 1970 and studied at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), later working there. He joined the KMI after graduating and became the VTM weatherman in 2003. His latest triumph was the arrival in Abu Dhabi of Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane that had completed a flight round the world without using a single drop of liquid fuel – a trip of 42,000km which started on 9 March last year and ended last week. Belgian chemical company Solvay provided 15 compounds used in the aircraft to reduce weight, optimise power consumption and store energy. Dehenauw’s job was to send regular weather bulletins based on analyses carried out at the

KMI. “The team wanted me to take part, but that would have meant spending six months of the year in Switzerland, which wasn’t possible with my job at the KMI,” he told De Morgen. “So now I send my calculations through twice a day, which the engineers use to steer the plane.” It was his sixth successful roundthe-world flight, though his own feet don't leave the ground. Just days before, another partner, Russian Fedor Konyukhov, claimed a new world record when he made the circumnavigation in only 11 days, two fewer than the late Steve Fossett. Dehenauw started in 1999, forecasting weather for the Belgian team at a balloon festival in Albuquerque in New Mexico. Then he received a call from Fossett himself. “He’d already made five failed trips around the world in a balloon and wanted me to help him,” he said. “And it worked out. After that he wanted me in his team for the next three record attempts with an aircraft in 2005 and 2006.” Fossett disappeared while flying over the Great Basin Desert in the US in September 2007. No remains were ever found, and he was declared legally dead by a court the following year. \ Alan Hope

\ betterfor.brussels

offside inspector Babyface The federal health ministry is looking for new inspectors. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, be socially outgoing, prepared to work nights and look under the age of 18. The job: watching out for illegal sales of cigarettes or alcohol to anyone under 16. Inspectors who look young get good results in catching out shopkeepers and bar staff prepared to sell to minors. Any seller who thinks the customer is under age can demand to see ID or refuse the sale. The inspectors have to catch the seller in the act, then take action. They travel around in twos, one

© VtM

flanders today, a weekly English-language newspaper, is an initiative of the flemish region and is financially supported by the flemish authorities.

Het Nieuwsblad reported on auditions to find new mystery shoppers aged 15 and 16. Many applicants were rejected for looking too grown-up, including 15-yearold Emily, who for the occasion had left off the blusher she usually wears. The youngsters are always accompanied by an adult inspector. Matthias, 15, is one of 28 who got through, in his case for the second time. “This is a lot more fun than washing dishes in a restaurant,” he said.” “You hardly have to do anything. And you spend a lot of time in the car, so you can be busy with your smartphone.” \ AH

The logo and the name Flanders Today belong to the Flemish Region (Benelux Beeldmerk nr 815.088). The editorial team of Flanders Today has full editorial autonomy regarding the content of the newspaper and is responsible for all content, as stipulated in the agreement between Corelio Publishing and the Flemish authorities.

Editor Lisa Bradshaw dEPuty Editor Sally Tipper contriButing Editor Alan Hope suB Editor Bartosz Brzezi´nski agEnda Robyn Boyle, Georgio Valentino art dirEctor Paul Van Dooren PrEPrEss Mediahuis AdPro contriButors Rebecca Benoot, Derek Blyth, Leo Cendrowicz, Andy Furniere, Lee Gillette, Diana Goodwin, Clodagh Kinsella, Catherine Kosters, Toon Lambrechts, Ian Mundell, Anja Otte, Tom Peeters, Senne Starckx, Christophe Verbiest, Denzil Walton gEnEral managEr Hans De Loore PuBlisHEr Mediahuis NV

Editorial addrEss Gossetlaan 30 - 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden tel 02 467 23 06 [email protected] suBscriPtions tel 03 560 17 49 [email protected] or order online at www.flanderstoday.eu advErtising 02 467 24 37 [email protected] vErantwoordElijkE uitgEvEr Hans De Loore

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5tH coLumn thing global, act local

World affairs have led to some bitter fights in Flemish politics. Recent events in Turkey, for instance, have put a number of politicians with Turkish backgrounds in a difficult position, as a vast majority of people with the same background support president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking out against Erdogan may have electoral consequences, but openly supporting him will get them in trouble with their parties. So most are preferring to keep quiet. One exception is Limburg provincial councillor Ahmet Koç, an ardent Erdogan supporter who is accused of having a hand in recent riots in his hometown of Beringen. SP.A will now most likely throw him out. N-VA’sZuhalDemir,anoutspoken MP of Turkish-Kurd descent, also commented on the situation, saying Belgium should abolish double nationality, making citizens choose between Belgian or Turkish. That landed her in the middle of yet another battle between N-VA and CD&V. CD&V party president, Wouter Beke, pointed out that criminals cannot be extradited to their country of origin if they only hold a Belgian passport. That was just the beginning of a dire war of words between the two coalition parties. After German chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her contested words “wir schaffen das” (we can handle it), Beke praised her as a world leader. N-VA president Bart De Wever, on the other hand, called Merkel and her “open borders policy” responsible for “the mess we are in”. The difference of opinion escalated on Twitter, when N-VA senator Louis Ide linked Merkel’s words to the recent murder of a French priest by IS supporters. Beke called the reaction “rancid”. Both parties also argued about Youssef Kobo, an aide to Brussels secretary of state Bianca Debaets (CD&V), whom De Wever accused of anti-Semitism; about CD&V vice-prime minister Kris Peeters, deemed “hyperactive” by N-VA; and about an equivalent of the Patriot Act, which Antwerp mayor De Wever has called for. One might wonder how coalition parties that engage in such public criticisms can co-operate much longer. And the liberals? Open VLD party president Gwendolyn Rutten spent last week in the US, attending the Democratic National Convention – possibly learning a lesson or two about political antagonism herself. \ Anja Otte

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SP.A: ‘Extend abortion law’

opposition party proposes increasing legal abortion period to 20 weeks andy furniere More articles by andy \ flanderstoday.eu

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ocialist party SP.A has proposed a change to Belgim’s abortion law that would extend the period a woman may seek an abortion to 20 weeks after conception. The current limit is 12 weeks, unless the pregnancy seriously endangers the woman’s health or if the child is certain to be born with a severe and incurable condition. SP.A, currently in opposition, wants to raise the limit to 20 weeks to combat “abortion tourism” to the Netherlands, where abortion is allowed up to 22 weeks. Each year, about 600 women from Flanders go to the Netherlands for an abortion. Flemish abortion centres are in favour of the

© Ingimage

proposal. Carine Vrancken of umbrella organisation Luna says there are various reasons why women sometimes need abortions at later than

12 weeks. “Some women initially don’t have pregnancy symptoms or interpret them differently, while others just hesitate over the decision,” she told VRT. “A woman’s domestic situation can also drastically change during a pregnancy.” Vrancken says she realises the discussion brings up emotional reactions, but feels it is important to talk about the issue as women sometimes risk their lives to have an abortion. Gynaecologist Hendrik Cammu of UZ Brussel doesn’t oppose the proposal but says there must be certain conditions. “We need to record the data and use it for more targeted prevention campaigns,” he said.

Muyters endorses EU statement on doping in sport

€1.4 million for exhibitions on Flemish Masters

Flemish sports minister Philippe Muyters has issued a statement in support of a pledge by EU sports ministers to uphold the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency and to continue “our support for the rights of clean athletes to perform in a doping-free environment”. The statement coincides with the decision by the International Olympic Committee to set up a panel to check every Russian athlete wanting to take part in the summer Olympics, based on evidence of state-sponsored doping. “We call upon all relevant sports organisations to use their existing rules and regulations to fully comply with their obligations in line with the World Anti-Doping Code,” read Muyters’ statement, “and to proactively promote initiatives and measures to protect the integrity of sport, the credibility of the World Anti-

Flemish tourism minister Ben Weyts has approved €1.4 million in subsidy to Toerisme Vlaanderen for two projects designed to present the Flemish Masters to visitors from around the world. The projects emerged as the strongest contenders from an invitation for proposals issued earlier in the year. The two projects come from the Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA) in Antwerp and M Museum in Leuven. “Flanders is the cradle of a great deal of European art and culture,” Weyts said. “That’s something we can be proud of, but there are too few people at home and abroad who realise it. The Flemish Masters are timeless icons that speak to people from every corner of the world,” he said. M HKA will receive €650,000 for a project to create a permanent exhibition of top works to turn the museum into “an international ambassador for Flemish visual culture”. The museum will continue to host temporary exhibitions next to this permanent

© MaXPPP

Russian athletes arrive in Rio de Janeiro

Doping Agency and the vast majority of clean athletes performing to their maximum potential without the use of prohibited performanceenhancing methods or substances.” “As sports ministers, we support honest and healthy sport, in every sense of the words,” Muyters said. “We are the defenders of honest athletes and the supporters who want to believe in their heroes. And let no-one misunderstand this signal from Europe: We take the fight for honest sport very seriously indeed.” \ AH

Brussels seeks ritual slaughter opinion from European Court of Justice Brussels’ court of first instance has turned to the European Court of Justice in a case about the ritual slaughter of animals outside licensed slaughterhouses. European rules state that slaughtering animals without stunning them – as happens in the halal and kosher traditions – can only be carried out by licensed slaughterhouses. The Brussels court is questioning whether this is in breach of the principle of freedom of religion, as part of a court case brought by a group of Muslim organisations. Last year, the Council of Theologians issued an order to the local Muslim community that the obligation to slaughter an animal during the feast of Eid Al-Adha was suspended for a year, as slaughterhouse capacity was much smaller than demand. The Brussels court has yet to offer its judgement and has requested an opinion from the ECJ on the question of religious freedom. However, it has shown some sympathy to

the applicants’ case. “Serious arguments have been presented that suggest the need to carry out ritual slaughter in a licensed slaughterhouse appears to be an unlawful breach of the freedom of religion,” the court said. The judgement would clash with EU law, which has supremacy, so the Brussels court has sought a ruling from Luxembourg. Only if those justices agree would a change have to be made. That decision could take a year, with Eid Al-Adha due to take place in September. “This move is not the sort of thing that will divert me from my path in my actions against ritual slaughter,” said animal rights minister Ben Weyts. He applies the rule in Flanders, while trying to convince his coalition colleagues to back a decree that would outlaw ritual slaughter altogether. “I call on my fellow animal welfare ministers to come together with us in this matter.” \ Alan Hope

© sailko/wikimedia

Detail from “Portrait of Maria Magdalena by Quentin Metsys, 1517

collection and also introduce new digital and multilingual information aimed at a broad and diverse public. M is getting €770,000 for the major exhibition In Search of Utopia, which will present works by 15th-century masters Quentin Metsys and Jan Gossaert for the first time in the region. The exhibition, which runs from 20 October to 17 January, also includes a walking route with information points along the way, and a documentary explaining the basis of humanist philosophy. \ AH

Bruges considers hosting Memorial Van Damme athletics competition The Memorial Van Damme, one of the country’s most prestigious sporting events, could find a new home in Bruges, after local politicians raised the possibility of a move from Brussels. The city of Brussels plans to build a new national stadium on the Heizel site, entailing the demolition of the Koning Boudewijn stadium, the event’s current home. The new stadium will not have space for an athletics track. Bruges-based senator Pol Van Den Driessche has floated the possibility of bringing the Memorial to Bruges when its contract with the Koning Boudewijn stadium expires in 2020. City authorities will commission a study to see if the Jan Breydel stadium (photo), now home to Club Brugge, can be

converted into a multi-purpose stadium. “I was pleasantly surprised by the lifeline the city of Bruges offered us,” said Memorial organiser Wilfried Meert. “Of course, we still hope for a renovated Koning Boudewijn stadium. The Memorial has built up a solid reputation, and Brussels represents an international presence.” \ AH

\ COVeR stORy

august 3, 2016

The road to Rio

flemish athletes look for redemption after a poor performance four years ago continued from page 1

days: Jasper De Buyst for the men and Jolien D’hoore for the women. Ruben Scheire and Jens Schuermans are in the men’s mountain biking, with Githa Michiels in the women’s. And Elke Vanhoof is competing for a BMX medal. Two of Belgium’s most recognis-

It’s been eight years since Belgium brought back a gold medal able sports stars will be on the tennis courts: Kirsten Flipkens and Yanina Wickmayer are hoping to emulate Justine Henin, who took gold at the 2004 games in Athens. The timing is particularly good for Wickmayer, who reached a respectable third round in this year’s French Open, and last month won her fifth career WTA tour title when she clinched the Washington Open. Perhaps the most promising medal prospects are in the Borlée family from Brussels: twins Kevin and Jonathan are running in the 400m and are joined by younger brother Dylan in the 400m relay. Add to that their sister, Olivia, running in the 200m, who already has a silver medal from the 100m relay in Beijing in 2008. The extraordinary family is based around Brussels’ Stade Fallon but has spent time at Florida State University, a prestigious athletics college where Kevin studied physiotherapy and Jonathan economics. Led by the Borlée boys, the relay team is dominant in Europe: they are the 2012 and 2016 European relay champions, and the 2015 European indoor champions. They came an agonising fourth in London in 2012. In the 400m individual final, Kevin came fifth and Jonathan sixth in a race in which – bar an Australian – the other runners were all from the Caribbean. The track team includes Bashir Abdi, a Somalian-Belgian athlete now based in Ghent who is competing in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. Koen Naert, who finished seventh in last year’s Berlin marathon, is running the marathon along with Willem van Schuerbeeck. And Pieter-Jan Hannes, the 2013 European under-23 champion, is competing in the 1,500m. Among the women, Anne Zagré, who broke the national record with a time of 12.92 seconds in the 100m hurdles, is competing in her second Olympics; Veerle Dejaeghere, who

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ran in the 1,500m in the 2000 and 2008 games, is in the marathon; Renée Eykens is running the 800m; and Axelle Dauwens is in the 400m hurdles. The Borlées are not the only siblings competing: Lianne and Yuhan Tan, born to a Bilzen mother and an Indonesian father, both dominate the Belgian badminton scene, and both competed in London four years ago. Belgium is sending 10 swimmers to Rio, but there is tension among the men in the 100m and 200m freestyle relay teams. Pieter Timmers, who holds nine Belgian records and seven national titles, has announced he will not compete in the individual 200m, as he wants to concentrate on the relay team. Relay teammate Louis Croenen is not following suit, and is competing in both the 200m individual freestyle and butterfly events. Timmers has lashed out, saying, “Louis is not a team player.” Timmers himself is competing in both the 100m freestyle relay and individual events, while 200m relay teammates Glenn Surgeloose and Emmanuel Vanluchene are also competing in the individual 200m freestyle events (with Surgeloose in the 100m as well). If they can overcome their tiff, they could be in with a good chance in both the 100m and 200m relays. For the first time since 1948,

© Fabrice Coffrini/aFP

Belgium can name a full team to compete in women’s artistic gymnastics at the Olympics. The five-woman team includes twotime individual Olympian Gaelle Mys, three-time World Championships team member Laura Waem (she will turn 19 on the day of the opening ceremony), first-year seniors Nina Derwael (16) and Senna Deriks (15), as well as Rune Hermans.

While the gymnasts are the youngest, the most senior Belgian competitor is 53-year-old Joris Vanspringel in individual equestrian eventing. Karin Donckers is in the women’s eventing, while Nicola Philippaerts (son of fourtime Olympian Ludo Philippaerts) is competing in the jumping. Other notable Olympians include Claire Michel and Katrien Verstuyft in the triathlon; Robin Ramaekers

in archery; and Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters in golf. Finally, the men’s hockey side will be hoping they can maintain their steady rise through the ranks. The Red Lions have emerged in recent years as a new power in the game and were runners-up in both the 2013 European Championships and the 2014–15 Men’s FIH Hockey World League.

© Christophe ketels/Belga

evi Van acker (top) is looking for a repeat from london 2012, where she won bronze in laser Radial sailing; for the first time since 1948, Belgium is bringing a full team to compete in women’s artistic gymnastics, including two-time Olympian gaelle Mys (above)

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\ POlItICs

A man of culture

minister sven gatz on the media, advertising and citizen participation alan Hope Follow alan on twitter \ @alanHopeFt

I Have Nothing to Say About the Media, claims Sven Gatz in the title of his new book. But the Flemish media minister has plenty to say about the importance of culture to both him and society.

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media minister should take a back seat and allow the media to get on with what it does with a minimum of interference. That’s the view of Sven Gatz, media minister in the Flemish government, expressed in a new book, Over de media heb ik niks te zeggen (I Have Nothing to Say About the Media). Gatz has been media minister since he was called back from civilian life – he had left politics in 2011 to become the director of the Belgian Brewers federation – to take one of the two posts reserved for Open VLD in the new Bourgeois government. It’s his first ministerial post after a career of activity in the Brussels and Flemish parliaments, and he couples media responsibilities with youth, culture and Brussels. One of the main areas where, as minister for media, he does have quite a lot to say is the public broadcaster VRT, whose latest management agreement – the charter that governs what it must and must not do – he negotiated at the end of last year. Gatz describes himself as a left-liberal and he’s a member of a classical liberal party. How does he reconcile the liberal hands-off policy with the existence of a government-subsidised public broadcaster? “I could give a historical answer, but I think even as a liberal I can say it’s a good thing that there is a public broadcaster, because in these times of fragmentation of the media, it’s not bad that there is a platform that sets a standard, directly and indirectly, for content,” he says. “I’m not saying that private companies can’t make good content – they make very good content – but there is a certain degree of trustworthiness that will always be attributed to the public broadcaster. That’s not just my opinion; it’s been shown time after time.” Private interests in the United Kingdom, chief among them Rupert Murdoch, have made it an apparent crusade to undermine the BBC so as to favour their own media interests. Does he face anything like that sort of pressure from media moguls in Flanders? “The situation here is different. There is a more moderate approach towards the VRT from most of the private media players, whether it be radio, television or print. Of course, when it comes to

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© studio nunu

sven gatz: “I’m a cultural person and I love arts and culture”

advertising markets, you have to be more strict. “My predecessors put a cap on what the VRT could take in from advertising, and we have confirmed that. Now we’ve included the obligation in the management agreement that they have to order more programmes from private production companies, to create an ecosystem around the VRT. For us it’s not important where the jobs are; they don’t have to be only in that one building.” One of the questions where two of his portfolios merge is in a

any problem including one sports item in every bulletin. “That’s an interesting question, because you know that I’m also busy with citizen participation and my people’s cabinet. Out of the blue, at one of the conversation tables, this idea emerged at the end of the day. People said to me, ‘we are used to having one sports item at least in every news bulletin, and everyone thinks that’s perfectly normal. Why not do the same with cultural items?’ And I just said ‘yes, why not?’ “It was the right time, because we were in the middle of negotiations

gathered people from the media and asked them for their predictions 10 years into the future. Were there any surprises? “No, not really. I must say they kept their cards very close to their chests. I understand that, because some of them are really top-notch CEOs and the like and they’re not going to reveal their strategic decisions. The other reason is that they don’t know themselves. Things change much too fast. “The only thing that was quite reassuring is that they all said, even if we don’t know exactly where we’re going, we’re confident

Every five years someone has to make difficult decisions about cultural subsidies, and this time it was me new obligation on the VRT to include, where possible, at least one cultural news item in each main news bulletin. Isn’t it a sign of how cut off cultural affairs have become from the rest of society that such an obligation has to be imposed? They don’t seem to have

for the new management agreement. The VRT takes its cultural role very seriously, they have a new cultural manager in Chantal Pattyn, and I think they do a good job, but they should do just a little bit more.” In the second half of the book, he’s

that we will find ways to deal with new legal and technical issues, to be sure that in 10 years from now we will have a very lively media.” When the latest round of cultural subsidies was announced, the opposition referred to Gatz as “the Joke Schauvliege of culture”,

which wasn’t intended as a compliment. When his predecessor as culture minister first took office, she was caught without an answer to the “gotcha” question of what cultural events she had recently attended – her reply was an amateur dramatics production in Evergem, where she lives. So it seems only fair to ask him the same question. “I went to the Cactus festival in Bruges last Friday. This is my kind of festival because it’s not too big, and they still have the old-school system where they have one gig at a time. Lately I kept my distance from the cultural sector because I was in the middle of making decisions, and just showing up at one event and not another could cause all kinds of speculation. “In general, I try to go now and then to the bigger theatres like KVS, Toneelhuis and NTGent. And on Saturdays I’m regularly on tour to visit individual artists, whether it be in galleries or in their studios. “I’m a cultural person and I love arts and culture, but every five years someone has to make difficult decisions about cultural subsidies, and this time it was me. Perfection is not possible, but if we can ensure that everyone has had fair treatment, there’s not much more we can do.”

\ BusIness

august 3, 2016

Quick fast-food chain to be replaced by Burger King all local branches to be transformed to american burger outlet alan Hope More articles by alan \ flanderstoday.eu

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he fast-food chain Quick, originally founded in Belgium and with outlets across the country, is in the process of transforming into Burger King outlets, its new owners, QSR Belgium, said. QSR is a subsidiary of the investment fund Kharis Capital, which acquired the Quick chain from the French Groupe Bertrand for an undisclosed sum. Quick’s 101 restaurants in Belgium and Luxembourg have been on sale since the beginning of the year, after Bertrand said it wanted to concentrate on the French market, where it is the main Burger King franchise holder. The outlets in the French chain will also be converted, meaning that the red Q sign will soon disappear from the

streetscape altogether. Quick made a profit of €977 million last year, down 5.1% on 2014, as a result, the company said, of increased competition and of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November. Quick Belgium saw profits drop by 6% to €85 million. Of the 101 restaurants, 85 are operated under franchise. Burger King also now works principally with franchise holders. QSR has acquired its own licence to use the Burger King brand. “We are delighted to be able to launch the Burger King brand in Belgium,” QSR spokesperson Daniel Grossman said in a statement. “We are looking forward to a smooth transformation of the restaurants.”

© Illustra/Belga

It is not yet clear where Burger King will pop up first or exactly when, but the transformations are expected to begin after the summer.

Creative sectors pull together under new covenant

AB InBev, the biggest brewer in the world, has been forced to raise its bid for the number two, SABMiller, thanks to the fall in value of the British pound following the decision to leave the EU. InBev was offering £44 per share, which has now increased to £45, valuing SABMiller at £79 billion (€93.8 billion). SABMiller was originally a South African company, but is now based in London, which is why the bid was denominated in sterling. The increase will also apply pro rata to those shareholders who elected to take part of the price in cash and part in AB InBev shares. The call for an increase follow-

The government of Flanders has agreed to a new four-year covenant with Flanders DC, the nonprofit organisation that supports and promotes enterprise in Flanders. Since January, the organisation has included Design Vlaanderen. Flanders DC (short for District of Creativity) now covers all creative sectors: from architecture to visual arts, audio-visual production, new media, advertising and communications. Flanders Fashion Institute came into the organisation in 2009; under the new covenant, Flanders DC now also covers gaming. “We are bringing together all efforts working towards enterprise in the creative sector in one organisation,” economy and innovation minister Philippe Muyters

ing the fall of the pound was led by major institutional shareholders, who had more to lose. InBev stressed that the latest bid will be the last. Once the merger is complete, Dutch brewery Heineken, which also owns AlkenMaes in Belgium, will become the second biggest in the world. \ AH

Terrorist attacks cost businesses €150 million Brussels retail and food service businesses lost €122.5 million in trade as a result of the terrorist attacks in March, according to calculations by the federal economy ministry. Businesses in Flanders saw their takings drop by €33 million. The figures come from a detailed study carried out at the request of consumer affairs minister Kris Peeters. Brussels retailers came to the government for help after they saw a downturn in business even before the attacks at Brussels Airport and on the metro in March. The lockdown after the attacks in Paris in November last year had an initial effect, but the attacks here had a greater impact, with business representatives warning of bankruptcies and job losses for small retailers in the city and in sectors related to tourism and business

© tomas kubes/Visit Flanders

travel. Peeters, as minister for consumer affairs and employment, asked the government services to put a figure on the economic damage, and the total bill for the country comes to almost €180 million. The sectors hardest hit were hotels, with reservations down 25% compared to a year before, and restaurants and cafes, with business down by 11.3% and 18.5% respectively. Other businesses affected include taxis, clothing, shoes, butchers and cinemas. \ AH

air transport VlM airlines The administrator appointed to look after the affairs of the bankrupt VLM Airlines has reported 15 candidates for a takeover, after founder Freddy Van Gaever decided not to restart the business himself. Among the new bidders is Dutch taxi company Tinker.

Coffee starbucks

Brexit vote costs AB InBev in SABMiller bid

© Courtesy toerisme leuven

Week in business

said. “Flanders DC has the expertise, the network and the credibility within the sector. It continues to inspire and advise to bring more and more ambitious enterprise into the creative sector. We believe very strongly in its economic potential.” Flanders DC director Pascal Cools said: “We are happy with the trust the Flemish government has placed in us to act as the hub for entrepreneurship in the creative sector, and to promote it at home and abroad. Thanks to the enlargement of our team we can extend our advisory function to support Flemish entrepreneurs and set those starting out on the right path.” The new covenant starts on 1 January 2017 and runs until 31 December 2020. \ AH

Half of business people in Flanders favour road tolls Half of all business leaders in Flanders would like to see the introduction of road tolls for private vehicles, according to a poll carried out for Unizo, the organisation that represents the self-employed. However, their support depends on evidence that the toll would improve traffic congestion and the ensuing economic damage. At present, road tolls only apply to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes – commercial and road-haulage vehicles. More than half of business leaders said they were not in favour of tolls on private vehicles in general but would support them if it meant fewer tailbacks. “Belgium is one of the most sensitive countries to traffic jams in

Europe,” Unizo said. “The impact of all those tailbacks on business is huge. The more congestion, the more the economy suffers. So it makes sense that business leaders can get behind a road toll for private cars if that is the solution – even partial – to traffic jams.” The organisation is calling for the government of Flanders to introduce a test project. According to the region’s mobility council, traffic congestion costs the economy 1% to 2% of GDP, with the problem getting worse. The federal planning office estimates the average speed during peak hours on the country’s main roads will decrease by 23% by 2030. \ AH

American coffee-shop chain Starbucks is making further inroads into Brussels’ metro stations, with the opening of a new shop in Schuman metro, the third new opening in a month. The new branch joins its counterparts in Montgomery and Louiza, as well as the slightly older shop in Rogier.

Pharmacies Fagron Pharmacy supplier Fagron, based in Waregem, West Flanders, is facing a lawsuit for $20 million (€18.1 million) in the US, brought by one of the former owners of Anazao Health, one of the companies Fagron took over last year. Fagron said it would fight the claim in court.

Publishing sanoma Finnish magazine publisher Sanoma has announced growth of 2.6% in the Netherlands and Belgium. Sanoma publishes Libelle and Flair, but sold off a number of Belgian titles last year, among them Humo, Story and Vitaya. The company earlier merged its Dutch and Belgian interests under Dutch management, but retains an office in Mechelen employing about 300 people.

supermarkets ahold Delhaize Ahold, the Dutch group that owns Albert Heijn supermarkets, has completed its merger with Delhaize, marking the event with a new logo featuring a lion wearing a crown, both aspects of the former logos of the two companies. The logo will not be seen in stores, however, which will retain their different branding. One thing customers will notice, however, is the likely disappearance of Albert Heijn stores from Flanders, five years after the first one opened in Brasschaat in 2011.

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\ InnOVatIOn

august 3, 2016

Batteries not included

Week in innovation

vuB researchers are looking for ways to store surplus renewable energy ian mundell Follow Ian \ @IMundell

Burn-rEsEarcH.BE

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enewable energy is plentiful, but fickle. When the sun shines or the wind blows, there may be more than enough solar and wind power to go around, but when it’s cloudy or calm there’s a risk that the lights will go out. This is why coal, gas and nuclear power stations are still needed to fill the gaps. One solution to these fluctuations would be to store the surplus renewable energy during periods of high production and draw on these reserves when production drops. But this is easier said than done. “Most people think immediately of batteries, and they are very useful, but only up to a point,” explains Francesco Contino, professor in the department of mechanical engineering at the Free University of Brussels (VUB). “Their energy density is limited. You can only put so much energy into batteries, and we need to go far beyond that if we think about what is needed for a 100% renewable-energy world.” Contino is one of the leaders of a new research project that will explore options for storing renewable energy chemically, by creating simple fuels. In addition to VUB, the Free project (“Flexible energy vectors for the future”) involves researchers at Ghent University, the French-speaking Free University of Brussels (ULB), the Catholic University of Louvain and the University of Mons. The fuels they have in mind are extremely simple. For example, excess electricity produced by a wind farm might be used to split water molecules to create hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen could then be stored as a gas or a liquid. The energy could be recovered later by reversing the process,

© Ingimage

allowing the hydrogen to recombine with oxygen from the air to form water. “Although it’s very simple to produce, and not very expensive, you can’t store hydrogen very easily,” Contino says. “It is a bit better than batteries, but to get enough energy density you need to compress the hydrogen to very high pressure, or liquefy it and keep it at very low temperatures.” Alternative storage fuels include using surplus electricity to produce ammonia, methane or methanol. This last substance, the simplest of the alcohols, is particularly promising since it is a liquid rather than a gas under normal temperature and pressure. The idea of using these substances to store energy is not new, but more work is required on how that energy can be recovered efficiently. “We are doing research into small, decentralised units that will convert the energy stored in the fuels back into something we can use, such as electricity and heat,” Contino says. This decentralisation is important, since renewable energy production tends to be scattered.

Wind farms may be off-shore or in isolated parts of the countryside, while solar panels may be on agricultural land or even in the middle of towns and cities. But the electricity network that connects these energy sources would overload if you tried to move large amounts of power around for the purposes of storing it centrally. So the ideal would be to store renewable energy where it is

carbon source, such as biogas from the fermentation of waste. Carbon capture methods also need to be found to ensure that turning methane and methanol back into energy does not increase carbon dioxide emissions. Over the next four years the Free project will use lab facilities shared by the universities for proof-of-concept studies in these areas. “After that we want to move to a full-scale demonstrator, near a wind farm for example, or in a domestic setting where we have enough heat or power demand to demonstrate the application,” Contino says. That domestic demonstration might involve a city neighbourhood, with houses, shops and a school. “They would all have their solar panels and maybe a small wind turbine,” he goes on. “Then you would store and retrieve the energy locally, and distribute the heat and the power to the people as they need it.” The collaborating academics

Batteries are very useful, but only up to a point produced and trickle it back into the network as required, or use it locally. Another aspect of the research involves exploring how the creation of methane and methanol – both of which require carbon – could be used to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. In this case renewable energy storage might run hand in hand with using a fossil fuel, such as natural gas, or a more sustainable

will also be looking at the bigger picture of energy storage. For example, hydrogen and methanol can also be used as transport fuels, while ammonia is a raw material in the chemicals industry. Contino: “We are using this consortium of five major universities to have a forum on future energy carriers: how can we use smart energy carriers to exchange energy in the best way possible.”

Q&a

uZa.BE

Patrick Van Reempts is in charge of the neonatal care department at the University Hospital Antwerp. He took part in a European study to monitor the application of life-saving interventions for premature babies and has described measures that significantly lower the mortality rate. What are the four life-saving measures you describe? Interventions occur in sequential steps. Firstly, the obstetrician, who determines if the premature baby will be less than 32 weeks of gestational age or weigh less than 1,500 grams, transfers the expectant mother to a specialised perinatal centre. Next, the mother should receive antenatal corticoids, or medication that helps mature the foetal lungs and lower the risk of respiratory problems. Immediately after birth, the baby should be kept sufficiently warm at a temperature greater than

36.5 degrees. Many very preterm infants, especially those who did not receive antenatal corticoids, are born with a breathing disorder known as surfactant deficiency syndrome, and should be given exogenous surfactant, possibly combined with an oxygen mask, which stimulates a positive pressure flow to the lungs. How long will it be before these measures are commonly applied? All these measures are relatively easy and simple to apply, but our study, which covered 11 European

It will take some time before everyone realises their importance. But the issue is already covered at medical conferences and in-service training. In our study, we also used data from five years ago, and I’ve noticed that there has been an improvement since.

countries and regions, showed that the measures were used in less than 60% of all premature births between 2011 and 2012. If all four were administered, the mortality rate would decrease by at least 18%.

Can expectant parents do more? When consulting with a gynecologist, they should be more articulate, but in a positive sense. In general, parents demand better care and treatment for themselves and their baby, especially if their health-care providers haven’t informed them of all the consequences of a premature birth. But that only happens, of course, if they are aware of the issue.

new plan to clean up the coast

The Flemish Public Waste Materials Agency (Ovam) and Flanders’ 10 coastal municipalities have developed an action plan to improve waste policy. Many tourists at the coast do not use recycling facilities when on holiday and more readily fill public waste bins. Those with a second residence at the coast don’t sort there as fully as they do at home, and much of this excess waste ends up on beaches, according to Ovam. The agency wants to set up underground collection systems, improve guidance for coastal municipalities, make events at the coast more low-waste and improve communications with citizens.

gPs lack info on hepatitis C

Family doctors should be more informed about the liver disease hepatitis C, according to a survey led by two professors from Antwerp and Brussels. About 70,000 people in Belgium are infected with hepatitis C but around half of them don’t know they have the disease, because there are no clear symptoms. The study, led by professor Sven Francque of University Hospital Antwerp and Yves Horsmans of University Hospital SaintLuc in Brussels, showed that one in five GPs thinks there is a vaccine against the disease, which is not the case. About half believe wrongly that a thorough cleaning of blood transfusion devices is sufficient to avoid infections, while two in five don’t know that the disease can be cured in 90% of cases.

Culture and neardeath experience

A Flemish neurologist has discovered that a person’s cultural background determines the way they perceive a near-death experience. Over two years, Steven Laureys collected about 450 testimonies from people who had had a near-death experience; 90% of them evaluated the experience as positive. Westerners tend to see a white light at the end of a tunnel, but this experience is not universal. In India, for example, people perceive this tunnel more like a river, while in the Muslim world, it is interpreted as a door. “This shows how the memory is partly influenced by philosophical or religious aspects,” Laureys told Het Nieuwsblad. \ Andy Furniere

\ Interview by Senne Starckx

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\ eDuCatIOn

Week in education 1 in 4 new doctors educated abroad Of the 1,715 doctors who were recognised by the federal government last year, 388 have a foreign diploma. The figures come from the medical insurance agency Riziv, reported in De Tijd. More than a quarter (27%) of new GPs have studied abroad, as have 19% of specialists. It was previously thought that specialists were more likely to have a foreign diploma, as there is not yet an education programme in Belgium for certain specialisations. Doctors’ union BVAS are unhappy that doctors who have studied in another European country can just start working Belgium, while local students must pass an entrance exam before they can start medical studies.

Professor calls for end to mass lectures

Economics professor Joep Konings of the University of Leuven has called for universities to end mass lectures and replace them with more digital and interactive ways of teaching. The success rates of first-years at university are low. Only 30% of first-years in applied economic sciences at KU Leuven, for instance, passed the core subject economy. In an op-ed for De Tijd, Konings said a major cause was that lecturing general courses to large groups of students in big auditoriums is not efficient. “Stop this insane form of university mass tourism,” he wrote. He has called for online lessons, chat sessions between professors and students and systems in which students themselves have to explain the results of exercises to their fellow students and lecturer.

students lack knowledge on gMOs

Secondary school pupils don’t know enough about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are easily influenced by media reports about them, according to research at the bio-engineering faculty of Ghent University (UGent). “Students know only a little about GMOs, and their knowledge has only improved moderately over the years, mainly concerning theoretic aspects of genetics,” said Professor Lieve Gheysen. The students didn’t know much about the commercial status of GMOs and how they are labelled. Only one out of 14 knew that GMOs are not indicated via E-numbers, the codes for substances used as food additives. \ AF

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Teaching the teachers

universities collaborate with education centres on new teaching degrees ian mundell More articles by Ian \ flanderstoday.eu

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niversities in Flanders are preparing to take on new responsibilities for teacher training, following a change in government policy. Though the full extent of the reform is still being discussed, plans are already being made so that new Master’s degrees in teaching can be introduced in 2019. At present, someone who wants to teach in a Flemish school follows a post-graduate programme of teacher training after a regular Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. These qualifications can be awarded by universities, university colleges and adult education centres (CVOs). The university colleges also offer Bachelor’s degrees in teaching, but only for those who want to teach in primary schools and the early years of secondary school. Students on these programmes learn both the discipline they plan to teach and pedagogical methods, in addition to getting practical classroom experience. Now the Flemish government has decided that teaching should be a degree subject for everyone. As CVOs cannot award degrees, this means they will either have to work with universities and university colleges, or give up providing teacher training altogether. University colleges will continue to offer Bachelor’s degrees in teaching, while universities have been asked to develop Master’s degree programmes to prepare teachers for the later years of secondary school. Flemish universities already include teaching modules in some Master’s programmes, but the idea of integrating them in a degree is novel. “The final requirements for such a programme will have to include a competence in both the discipline and in teaching outcomes, and that will be something new,” says Peter Lievens, dean of the science faculty at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and chair of its academic teacher programme. ForAntwerpUniversity,thisintegrationbecomes particularly important with the Master’s dissertation. “At the moment, if you take a master in history, the subject of the dissertation is normally research into history rather than how it is taught,” says Ann De Schepper, president of the university’s educational board. The challenge is to make the teaching of history a dissertation subject with the same academic rigour as in a research Master’s degree. “If we can organise this master dissertation so that the three components – the discipline, teaching methods and practice – come together, this will be a very strong part for the educational master,” she adds. Discussion is still under way about how focused these new Master’s degrees will be, but the

© Courtesy CVO Vivo kortrijk

general aim is to be inclusive. “The idea is that we will combine the different science disciplines into one programme,” says Lievens, “with the option to specialise in maybe two sciences, like physics and mathematics, or biology and chemistry, or engineering and mathematics.” Students would have to specialise in the same discipline as their Bachelor’s degree, but would also get a broader appreciation of the field. Another issue that has yet to be settled is the length of the Master’s programmes. Two years, amounting to 120 credits, is favoured by most

We won’t have too much time to waste universities, but options for 90 credits are also being discussed. Meanwhile, people who have already have a Master’s degree, including those hoping to move into teaching from another career, will be able to follow short “educative” Master’s programmes covering teaching methods and practice. Collaboration with the CVOs will be important in this respect. “It’s this short track that we want to develop with the CVOs, because this is where their expertise lies,” says Lievens.

To this end, KU Leuven has signed an agreement to collaborate with seven of the nine Catholic CVOs in Flanders. These are in Diepenbeek in Limburg, Geel, Antwerp, Ghent and Aalst, Kortrijk, Bruges, and Leuven itself. The two other Catholic CVOs may join at a later date. The idea is that prospective teachers would be able to study partly at the CVO closest to them, partly at home through distance learning, and also spend time in Leuven. “We would like to offer this in a very flexible way, with blended learning programmes and localisations with campuses all across Flanders,” Lievens explains. “There should not be too much travelling, but for some courses, such as content-specific teaching methods, it will be important to come here and join other student teachers in the same discipline, for instance for laboratory work in the sciences.” Antwerp University, meanwhile, has a more regional focus, and will build on existing collaborations with nearby university colleges and CVOs. “We are starting with the content, and then we will see what we will do to organise the programmes,” says De Schepper. Links between the universities and university colleges will also be important, in areas such as classroom management, team teaching and the organisation of school placements. But the main challenge, Lievens says, will be getting the new degrees accredited by 2019. “It is possible, but we won’t have too much time to waste.”

KU Leuven reaps financial benefits of pioneering research Last year, the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) earned €118 million through commercialising its research, equal to one 10th of its total income. The difference with Flanders’ other universities is immense, writes De Tijd, based on a report by government commissioners who monitor universities’ financial health. Flemish researchers can protect the rights on their research results via patents and then sell the rights

via a licence agreement to companies or governments. If a company turns findings into a commercial success, the university and researcher receive royalties. KU Leuven invested in this method by establishing the Leuven Research & Development team in 1972, to make scientists aware of the commercial potential of their work. In 2010, its income through commercialisation of research amounted to €52 million. The

increase to €118 million constitutes a growth of 125% in six years. Ghent is the region’s second-highest earner through commercialising research, with annual income of €1 to €2 million. The three other universities – in Brussels (VUB), Antwerp and Hasselt – make a few hundred thousand euros or less each year. KU Leuven’s largest commercial successes were the blood thinner t-PA, developed by Professor

© Courtesy ku leuven

Désiré Collen, and the antiretroviral drug tenofovir, developed by the Rega Institute for Medical Research. \ Andy Furniere

\ lIVIng

august 3, 2016

King for a night

Week in activities

aristocrat’s lodge opens to guests and potential buyers as pop-up hotel diana goodwin Follow Diana on twitter \ @basedinbelgium

diffErEntHotEls.com

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hat could be better than spending the night in a listed monument? How about sleeping in an aristocratic residence on the edge of Belgium’s only national park, with a bike path right outside the door? Throw in a cafe where you can gaze at the ruins of a medieval castle while sipping prosecco, and you’ve got Lanaken’s most luxurious tourist offering this summer: Pop-Up Hotel Pietersheim. The elegant, neoclassical mansion at Pietersheim was built in 1797 and served as the country residence and hunting lodge of its aristocratic owners, who had inherited the surrounding domain and its moated castle in the 15th century. In 1971, Prince Xavier de Merode sold the entire estate to the city of Lanaken. Pietersheim is now one of the six “entryways” into the Hoge Kempen National Park. The domain contains a children’s farm, restaurant and playground, as well as entry points for hiking trails and bike routes through the park and surrounding area. The old castle ruins have been restored and include a visitor centre where you can learn about the history of the site and view artefacts uncovered during excavations in the castle. While Pietersheim enjoys a busy second life as a popular recreational area, the 18th-century mansion has had more difficulty finding a new purpose. The building is up for sale, with an asking price of nearly €1 million. The trick will be finding a use for it in keeping with its status as a protected monument and its location next to a nature reserve. That’s where the pop-up hotel comes in. This is the second summer the mansion has been

Bike and walk Organised by Het Anker brewery in Mechelen, the 30km bike route takes you through the green belt around the city, and the 3km walking route wends through the city centre, with information on local points of interest and tips for kids. Both include a photo scavenger hunt. Until 2 October, see website for locations; €8 \ hetanker.be

Belle epoque Day For one day, costumed performers and musicians transform the picturesque coastal city De Haan into a turn-of-the-century seaside resort, with vintage bicycles and cars, an arts and antiques fair, historic tram rides, dancing and more. 6 August, De Haan city centre; free \ visitdehaan.be

water Festival the 18th-century Pietersheim mansion is on the market, and in the meantime it’s a pop-up hotel for the summer

turned into temporary, boutiquestyle lodgings. The Different Hotels group, which operates several upscale hotels in Limburg, is running it as an annex of its nearby Eurotel property. Pop-Up Hotel Pietersheim is offered as a “self-serve” hotel, with check-in and other services a few hundred metres away at Eurotel. The idea is to try out the hospitality concept and show interested buyers the potential of the property. Meanwhile, guests have the rare opportunity to stay in a beautiful, aristocratic residence and listed historical monument, with all the advantages of having a national park right outside your window. The 13 guest rooms have been styl-

ishly furnished and decorated. On the ground floor, the pop-up cafe is open from 11.00 to 17.00 every day, and the outdoor patio stays open longer when the weather is good. In addition to overnight guests, passing cyclists and visitors to the Waterburcht, or moated castle, can have a drink or light meal in the cafe or on the patio. With its grand architecture, prestigious past and bucolic setting, the building seems an attractive property for a potential buyer. However, the city has attached conditions to the sale. “The building has to remain a hotel and restaurant with a public function and access for the public,” says Wilfried Geraerts, city councillor responsible for tourism. “That’s

the main condition for the future owner.” Another problem is that any buyer will have to invest in extensive renovations to update the old building. Christianne Knaapen of Different Hotels says that while guests have been generally very positive about their stay, the main complaint is the lack of air conditioning. “When the weather is warm, they really miss it.” Negotiations with potential buyers are ongoing, according to Geraerts. Meanwhile, guests can experience country life until September: eating, drinking and sleeping in luxury, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the spell of the past.

bite immerse yourself in leuven’s Burgundian lifestyle As of last year, all Leuven’s big summer events are branded under the same name. Het Groot Verlof (Summer Holidays) captures all cultural and culinary activities in the city centre and beyond, including the revamped Beleuvenissen concert series and the new street festival Half Oogst, as well as the array of performances at the pop-up bars in the City Park and on Museum M’s rooftop. Only one event has remained unchanged. Holding on to the same (and very successful) formula of its early days, Hapje Tapje returns for the 28th time, tempting food lovers from afar with the local lifestyle. On the first Sunday of August, lovers of fine food and drink get a sample of the wide range of bars and restaurants in Leuven. Highlights include a gastronomic tour of the bustling terraces on Muntstraat and the beer market at Oude Markt, which will host a handful of concerts and the legendary barman’s race, an event that’s older

© Visit Flanders

than Hapje Tapje itself. Along the route, chefs serve up dishes for €4 or less. At the beer market, organised by 27 bars from the central square, visitors buy (or rent) a 15-centilitre tasting glass which they can fill up with more than 100 speciality beers, including 20 on tap.

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The traditional Trappist and abbey beers are sure shots, but don’t overlook the local favourites. Try one of the Wolf beers, brewed in nearby Aarschot and served by Farao, or the Luvanium Blond or Cuyt, offered by De Kroeg. Cuyt is made with 45% oatmeal and was inspired by a beer that was being brewed in the city as far back as 1440. Meanwhile, nine local restaurants will turn Leuven’s smaller square, Grote Markt, into an outdoor restaurant, offering €6 dishes with surprising flavours, including a mix of quinoa, cucumber, pepper, apple and fillet of beef, or salmon, trout, avocado, melon and tequila. \ Tom Peeters

Try sailing and stand-up paddle boarding, tackle the climbing wall or play challenging games for daredevils, plus there’s a bouncy castle and other activities for kids, live music, entertainment and more. The day ends with fire acts and a fireworks show. 7 August, Donkmeer, Berlare; €10 \ waterfeesten.berlare.be

neanderthal site visit This outdoor archaeological site in Limburg is unique in Europe for the way it shows the history of the land and its inhabitants. A winding path takes you back in time, explaining the evolution of the site, its geology, and its flora and fauna. The site will be open this Sunday, and a guide will be on hand to give tours (in Dutch). Reservations required via the website. 7 August 14.00-18.00, Neanderthalerweg, Veldwezelt; €2 \ tinyurl.com/neanderthal-day

Rose Route If you like roses, don’t miss this 6km walk in the hamlet of Geistingen featuring fragrant roses in bloom, plus you’ll enjoy a rose liqueur and a rose-flavoured ice cream along the way. On Wednesdays only, the route includes a visit to an exclusive private rose garden. Until September, Tourism Kinrooi, Maasstraat 82, Kinrooi; €3 \ tinyurl.com/rose-route

7 august 12.00 leuven city centre

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What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in Flanders? If you can’t think of anything at all, you’d better check out our new e-book

Quirky Flanders offers 20 unexpected – or downright odd – activities or sights across the region you can get busy taking part in right now

Visit the Flanders Today website to download the e-book now! For free!

www.flanderstoday.eu

Your dailY news Sign up now for our daily and weekly newsletters with local headlines, events and features, tailor-made for expats in Belgium

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august 3, 2016

Safe passages

flemish midwife helps rescue refugees from overcrowded boats sally tipper More articles by sally \ flanderstoday.eu

msf-aZg.BE

Dominique Luypaers, a midwife with Médecins Sans Frontières, is part of a team rescuing refugees as they try to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.

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s a child in the mid-1990s, Dominique Luypaers was struck by the horrific news reports she saw of the Rwandan genocide. It left such an impression on the 12-year-old that she resolved to become an aid worker when she was older. Twenty years on, she’s a midwife with Médecins Sans Frontières, and working on the frontline of the refugee crisis. Luypaers is based on the Bourbon Argos, the largest of three MSF ships stationed in the Mediterranean as part of their search-andrescue operation. Her latest stint on board lasted two months. The job puts her 25 nautical miles off Libya, caught between two crises: the war and persecution refugees are fleeing in Africa and the Middle East, and the uncertainty

People shouldn’t be forced to take these dangerous routes they face on arrival in Europe after journeys of unimaginable difficulty. “It’s terrible that we have to be there at all, that there is a need to rescue people from these crappy boats,” she says. “People shouldn’t be forced to take these dangerous routes in search of asylum. The entire journey, from their home country until they get into that tiny boat, is just horrible experience after horrible experience.”

© sara Creta/MsF

as a 12-year-old, Dominique luypaers resolved to become an aid worker when she was older. twenty years on, she’s part of a search-and-rescue team with Médecins sans Frontières.

On board, the day begins at first light, as staff take it in turns to watch for refugee boats in distress, poised to respond to emergency calls. When a boat is spotted, a smaller MSF vessel approaches with a team leader, a cultural mediator and a pile of life jackets on board. They introduce themselves, explain what will happen next and show people how to put on the jackets. “It’s important in terms of safety,” explains Luypaers, who is currently at home in Kapellen, near Antwerp, between missions. “If we approach directly with the big ship, it could create anxiety and panic. It’s a matter of life and death. If people begin to panic, they’ll jump in the water and they will drown. It can happen so quickly.” The Bourbon Argos itself then approaches. People come up the ladder to the deck, where Luypaers and colleagues carry out triage, looking for obvious problems like vomiting,

bleeding, limping or diarrhoea. “It sounds really tough, but it’s the reality,” she says. “I smile a lot, welcome them, say ‘hello’ 1,000 times.” That openness is the foundation for a relationship between patient and caregiver that can be easy to take for granted. “If you have that bond, you can make so much difference,” she says. “I’ve had people opening up with very intimate stories. It’s sad, but it also means a lot to me that I’m able to be there for them.” Getting everyone on board can take 40 minutes, and it’s an intense and exhausting process. Even then, it’s not over; there’s every chance the crew will be called out to another location before they can transport people to Sicily, where the Italian authorities take over. Luypaers has just heard that her colleagues have picked up 10 boats in the same day, rescuing more than 1,000 people.

50 weekends in Flanders: A day out in Knokke This is your last chance to get your copy of 50 Weekends in Flanders, our e-book with ideas for how to spend a year’s worth of weekends. Download it from the link above. And look out for our new e-book, Quirky Flanders, available from the Flanders Today website now. Knokke is a glamorous and slightly haughty resort where rich northern Europeans spend their weekends. Developed in the 19th century by the Lippens family, it tries to remain exclusive by banning picnic boxes, kites and parties on the beach. The town centre is dominated by high fashion and exclusive brands, making it rather soulless. But it has attractive quarters behind the beach along with art galleries and cafes. \ knokke-heist.info

Walk in HET ZOUTE Designed by the German planner who laid out De Haan, Het Zoute is an upscale quarter of meandering lanes and romantic whitewashed villas. It has become a favourite retreat for elite industrialists and bankers,

Eat ice cream at GLACIER DE LA POSTE This shiny modern ice cream salon has been around for more than 40 years. It used to be next to a post office, but now it occupies a corner building looking out to sea. They make a huge range of flavours including candy floss and pine nut. You can perch on a stool inside the shop or sit out on a wooden deck overlooking the beach. Zeedijk 718 © toerisme knokke

giving it something of the air of the Hamptons or Saint Tropez. Here you see older couples puttering around the streets in golf carts while a younger crowd gathers in chic bars on the beach. Walk to HET ZWIN The Zwin is a wild area of marshland and dunes lying to the east of Knokke, with a recently revamped nature park where you can learn about local birdlife. You can set off on foot on marked trails that lead eventually to the small Dutch beach town of Cadzand. \ zwin.be

Shop at L’AMUZETTE This is a tiny concept store with walls bearing traces of old pink paint and torn wallpaper. The owner sells books, fashion accessories, fun stuff for kids and bits and pieces for the kitchen. She also serves good coffee along with tasty cakes supplied by the acclaimed Julie’s House in Ghent. \ lamuzette.be

Eat at LE COUP VERT Christian Souvereyns is a creative local chef who runs a tiny delicatessen hidden away in a quiet street in Het Zoute. It has a bar at the front where you can eat a simple lunch and an attractive little room at the back. You have

A small rubber dinghy can have 100 people crammed into it; a single wooden boat will be carrying hundreds. “These people are packed together. They’re not sitting nicely in a row, they’re all on top of each other, crushing each other,” she says. “It’s dire. You can imagine that people lying on the bottom are in a bad state when we pick them up. There are people on the roof and in the hold, so there are problems with suffocation, petrol fumes, people sitting in petrol and suffering chemical burns.” As a midwife, she’s there as a focal point for womenandchildren.Thestoriesshehearsare horrific. Women are setting off on dangerous crossings at seven and eight months pregnant, some just a week before they’re due to give birth. Luypaers’ colleagues on other missions have had to deliver babies on board, while miscarriages are not uncommon. One pregnant woman began bleeding during the night while she was on an overloaded wooden boat. “Imagine it: you’re in pain, you’re bleeding and you can’t move, there’s nothing you can do,” Luypaers says. “By the time we picked her up, of course it was too late.” You could write a horror story from the things she’s seen and heard, she says, and what’s so sad is that it’s not fiction: it’s very much reality. “These people – young men, older men, families, women, young girls, babies – they are all literally in the same boat,” she says. “They’ve been exposed to the same horrors while getting to this point, and it’s appalling. It’s a testimony of complete inhumanity.” For MSF, aside from immediate medical help, one of the most fundamental aspects of the mission is to give people some dignity back. “The majority have been treated like animals, like dirt,” Luypaers says. “We meet some basic needs, and we treat them with the respect they deserve.”

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to book, but it is worth it for the exceptional Mediterranean-style cooking. \ knokke.lecoupvert.be

Drink cocktails at SIESTA BEACH Siesta Beach has evolved over the years from a cluster of deckchairs and a beer stand into a cool lounge bar with smart white furniture and a pétanque court. It used to hold wild parties, but strict new local planning laws have put an end to that. It’s now a place to sit as the sun goes down with a trendy gin and tonic and a summer novel. \ siestabeach.be

Stay at ITEMS Local interior designer Bea Mombaers runs a sublime B&B in an old farmhouse with a thatched roof, wild garden and swimming pool. She’s furnished the three guest rooms with an eclectic collection of 1950s vintage chairs and lamps from her interior design shop, so if you like that chair in the bedroom you can just buy it on the spot. \ Derek Blyth \ bea-bb.com

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Live the dream

koen strobbe on becoming a novelist: ‘if they like it, i’ll keep writing’ rebecca Benoot More articles by Rebecca \ flanderstoday.eu

Aspe Award-winner Koen Strobbe has taken time out from his day job running a French vineyard to create a crime thriller that’s already on its third print run.

he doesn’t meet her at the station, she drives to their hotel, where he has been staying for more than a week. That night, Isabel finds a spleen in her bed, and Bas has vanished without a trace. Former police officer and vine grower David digs into Bas’ past, hoping to find some clues, but the more they find out, the more harrowing the situation becomes. “The main story came to me like a flash,” Strobbe says, “like I’d seen a movie in fast forward. All I had to do was write it. But creating a well-balanced tale isn’t as simple as it sounds.” Kruis en munt is an exciting mix of characters, action and history. There are several historic chapters that make certain events in the novel possible; they also create the atmosphere. “Provence just exudes history,” Strobbe adds. “The popes from Avignon, the prosecution of the Cathars, the presence of Van Gogh...” It’s a gorgeous region with great weather and food, but it’s also something of a closed community. “People living in those tiny villages are mainly farmers who keep to themselves,” says Strobbe, who based the novel’s setting on the region where he lives. “They’re suspicious of anyone from a different village. That sense of juggling the dream and the reality of this location simmers throughout the book.” To these historical and geographical elements, Strobbe adds pimps, organ smugglers and the foreign legion. “Members of the foreign legion didn't really deal in organs, but it's a persistent urban legend,” he explains. “A good plot should be credible, so of course I did my homework. But to me the atmosphere of a novel is more important than the facts.” His second novel may be progressing slowly, but Strobbe has already left his mark on Flanders’ crime fiction scene. “Many people are asking if there will be a sequel, but for the time being, I’ll keep them guessing.”

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oen Strobbe owns a vineyard in the south of France. He specialises in red wine, sold in 15 Michelin-star restaurants in Belgium. And he loves to write. “In a past life, I worked for advertising agencies and the production company Woestijnvis, so I’ve always worked with language on a creative level,” Strobbe explains. “I’d wanted to write a novel for ages but I never seemed to have the time. Then 15 years ago, my wife and I decided to open a vineyard; seeing it evolve made me want to write and create even more. “Working in a vineyard can be very repetitive and leads you into a trance. Some people daydream or listen to music; I started making up stories.” Last year, Flanders’ most beloved crime writer, Pieter Aspe, created the Aspe Award. He asked aspiring writers to start their short story with the first sentence of his then recently released novel Het oor van Malchus (The Ear of Malchus): “De les eindigde met een vers uit het evangelie van Mattheus.” (The lesson ended with a verse from the gospel of Matthew.) The story could be no more than 1,700 words, the amount that Aspe writes each day. Strobbe sent in his story Een goed jaar (A Good Year). He ended up as one of the laureates of the inaugural Aspe Award, but he had already written most of Kruis en munt (Cross and Mint) before that. The award was the ideal way for him to release his debut. “It had been in the works for a while, and when I read about the competition I thought, ‘if they like this, it’s a sign to keep writing’. And that’s basically what happened. Kruis en munt is currently in its third print run, so I’m very happy.” Kruis en munt tells the story of Isabel, an up-and-coming chef who moves to Provence to start over with her boyfriend, Bas. When

Kruis en munt is published in Dutch by Manteau © Courtesy Manteau

more neW books tHis Week de X. of hoe fout een leraar kan zijn (the X. or How wrong a teacher can Be) • Birgitte van Aken (Davidsfonds) Middle school teacher Birgitte van Aken’s third book is aimed at young adults and tells the tale of the unconventional mathematics teacher Hendrik d’Ursel. During their first encounter with this enigmatic educator, the students of 3A are in awe. Instead of staying true to the curriculum, he takes them on a philosophical voyage that examines the essence of happiness. Soon the students start to question their teacher’s motives. Unfortunately, this is a shallow and simplistic story at best. Zing Zing (Sing Sing) • Peter verhelst (Prometheus) Peter Verhelst returns with a poetry collec-

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tion that will melt the coldest of hearts. For him, language is merely a means to an end. Whether he’s writing novels, poetry, plays or profound children’s books, Verhelst is a true wordsmith and an unrivalled master when it comes to transforming our everyday life into something magical. Every emotion is present in this mysterious and mesmerising collection that tries to make sense of universal and inner chaos by making it tangible. Verhelst has created his own world, a place where you can dwell for days. de verzamelde brieven aan mijn zoon (the collected letters to my son) • Wouter Deprez (De Eenhoorn) Comedian Wouter Deprez was written three books about his son’s early years. The first two are filled with memories and

parenthood. Honest and insightful, it’s a joy to read and a perfect gift for expectant parents. De Plantrekkers (Resourceful) • Heleen de Bruyne (de Bezige Bij)

anecdotes, the third contains letters to his son, and they have all now been combined in a beautiful box set. Graphic artist Randall Casaer has illustrated this funny, heartfelt and very recognisable collection of stories about the first years of

Heleen De Bruyne works for Radio Klara and writes for deBuren, the Brussels-based Flemish-Dutch cultural organisation. Her debut novel tells the tale of Willem, an IT consultant who lives in the quiet town of Roeselare. His life takes an unexpected turn when his brother introduces him to the lovely Sofiya, who left Russia with her mother, and Mariella, who has fled Italy. Willem becomes tangled in a complicated web of intrigue and provincialism. Tragic, funny and full of wonderful characters.

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august 3, 2016

Whimsy and wonder

MAfestival 3-14 august

tHeatre antwerp

across Bruges mafEstival.BE

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ith its immaculately preserved baroque splendour, Bruges is the ideal setting for MAfestival. Flanders’ annual early music extravaganza celebrates styles, compositions and instruments from antiquity up to the city’s Renaissance heyday with a fortnight of special events. Festivities kick off with the International Competition Musica Antiqua, in which 30 musicians from around the world square off in a pianoforte championship. Contestants must dazzle while interpreting compositions by Mozart and the junior Bachs, Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel. Pre-selection and semi-final rounds take place across the city while the finals are hosted by Concertgebouw Brugge. The MA programme begins in earnest with a performance of Joseph Bodin de Boismortier’s 18th-century opera adaptation of Don Quixote.

© thomas nielsen

Concerto Copenhagen will perform the dance la Folia

It’s a fitting introduction to the theme of this year’s edition of the festival: In Praise of Folly. The tag, of course, is borrowed not from Quixote’s creator, Miguel de Cervantes, but rather the Renaissance Dutch philosopher Erasmus, whose seminal satirical essay of the same name ignited a debate on the limits of reason.

MAfestival’s international roster of performers use the music of yesteryear to explore these limits from various angles, from the whimsy of childhood to the parallel reality of dreams to the clinical experience of madness. MA’s fringe programme offers festivalgoers a chance to discover tomorrow’s top talent. Ten up-and-coming ensembles have been tapped to perform free afternoon showcases to whet audience appetites for the evening’s headliners. It’s not just about music, either. This year the festival has partnered with one of Ghent’s most unique cultural institutions to illustrate the theme in living colour. Museum Dr Guislain, based in a historic asylum, curates the visual arts exhibition shown at MAfestival’s hub, Concertgebouw Brugge. Like the museum itself, the works on display exist at the intersection of art and medical science. \ Georgio Valentino

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lokerse feesten

cirque magique

5-14 august

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Festival season rolls on with this major music event. While not as extensive as the Gentse Feesten, Lokeren’s equivalent brings in loads of international headliners in addition to national favourites. Flanders is ably represented by the likes of Trixie Whitley (8 August), Arno (9 August, pictured) and Selah Sue (11 August). Among the visiting artists are folk-rock icon Van Morrison (9 August) and metal legends Slayer (7 August). Camping is available nearby. Children under 12 enter the festival grounds for free. \ GV

5-7 august Cirque Magique may be a relative newcomer to the Flemish festival scene but the techno-oriented event has already distinguished itself. Last year’s inaugural edition drew 4,000 visitors and garnered rave reviews for its carnival atmosphere – complete with circus performers – and its bold pop-up architecture. Cirque Magique

Rebirth: Contemporary Colombian theatre-maker Enrique Vargas and his Barcelona-based company Teatro de los Sentidos turn grapes into cava in this surreal allegory of life. Part of Zomer van Antwerpen. 5-27 August, Stadsfeestzaal, Meir 78 \ zva.be

music festivaL geel Reggae Geel: Pioneering reggae festival is still carrying the torch for Jamaican music nearly 30 years after its inaugural edition in 1978. The weekender features dozens of acts as well as a Fair Trade market and more. 5-6 August, Malosewaver \ reggaegeel.com

Dranouter Festivalterrein, ledegem cirQuEmagiQuE.Eu

also won the prize for Best Breakthrough Festival at the Redbull Elektropedia Awards. This second edition promises to be bigger and better, with 65 underground DJs from around the world performing on several eye-catching stages. Organisers have doubled the size of their campground to accommodate even more festivalgoers. \ GV

Festival Dranouter: Dubbed the “festival of new traditions”, this West Flanders festival has been at the cutting edge of folk and rock since 1975. This year’s headliners include American folk-pop singer Suzanne Vega. 4-7 August, Dikkebusstraat \ festivaldranouter.be

fiLm antwerp Cinema Urbana: Open-air film festival offers free waterfront screenings Wednesday to Saturday all summer long. Theme “Wonders & Miracles” focuses on the fantastic. Until 27 August 22.00, Plantinkaai \ cinema-urbana.be

event

famiLy stars sand sculpture festival until 4 september Ostend’s annual sand sculpture festival returns with some familiar faces. This year’s edition is dedicated to stars of film, music and sport, from classic personalities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe to the hype-brokers of the 21st century, internet-age stars like Justin Bieber and Beyonce. There are also local heroes in the collection, namely former Ostend resident Marvin Gaye and Ostendborn rock singer Arno. The festival’s 150 giant sand sculptures, created by 40 artists from 12 countries, form a 1km walking tour. The exhibition is wheelchair accessible and can be enjoyed rain or shine.

Zeeheldenplein, Ostend ZandsculPturEn.BE

knokke-Heist

event

art nocturne knocke 6-15 august

CC scharpoord and Hotel la Réserve, knokke-Heist artnocturnEknockE.BE

Summer isn’t known for its art fairs but Art Nocturne Knocke has taken the necessary steps to succeed in the off-season. First of all, it follows its guests to the coast, namely to the upscale waterfront community of KnokkeHeist. Second, organisers let holidaymakers enjoy sea and sun. The

twin fair venues don’t open their doors to prospective buyers until 16.00. Inside, visitors will find art from around the world and every historical period, traded by some of Europe’s most prestigious galleries. All this makes for a successful formula. Art Nocturne Knocke is now in its 41st edition. \ GV

Nacht van Het Zoute: Knokke’s annual late-night shopping crawl sees the chic seaside town’s main drag come alive with performances, fashion shows and parties until the wee morning hours. 5 August 17.00, Kustlaan \ knokke-heist.be

visuaL arts genk WOW/Writings on Walls: Thirteen international graphic artists blur the boundaries between exhibition and event space with bold, colourful decorations on the walls of Genk’s unique cultural centre. Until 11 September, C-Mine, Evence Coppéelaan 91

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august 3, 2016

Talking Dutch

voices of fLanders today

Honey, i forgot the kids

In response to: Quick fast-food chain to be replaced by Burger King Dieter Gijsens: Shame - I actually quite liked Quick, as far as junk food is concerned.

derek Blyth More articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

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ots of people are about to head off for a few weeks in a holiday home. If you’re one of them, De Morgen has published a useful little article. Deze spullen vergeten mensen het vaakst op vakantie – These are the things that people most often leave behind after a holiday, it said, based on a survey by the booking site Interhome. So what are you most likely to forget? De gsm-lader blijft het meest achter – The mobile phone charger is most likely to stay behind. Controleer voor je vertrekt alle stopcontacten – Check all the power sockets before you leave om te zien of je er geen vergeten bent – to make sure you haven’t forgotten any. Then you need to look around the bathroom for shampoo, shower gel and soap. Verzorgingsproducten worden makkelijk vergeten – Toiletries are easily forgotten. What else are you likely to leave behind? Vooral vrouwen vergeten de haardroger – Women in particular forget the hairdryer bij een laatste check van de verblijfplaats – when they do a final check of the accommodation. Mannen gaan dan weer vaak zonder hun scheermachine naar huis – Men often go back home without their electric shaver. And watch out for your reading glasses. Een leesbril gebruiken vakantiegangers vaak niet op hun laatste dag – Holidaymakers tend not to use their reading glasses on their last day wegens geen tijd – because they don’t have any time, dus blijft die wel eens achter op de salontafel of in een kast – so they are likely to be left behind on the coffee table or in a cupboard. You probably won’t forget the kids, but you might

In response to: King for a night: Aristocrat’s lodge opens to guests and potential buyers Viola Zsédely-Takács: We need to go there!

In response to: Women’s advocate, midwife, refugee: meet Ghent’s student of the year Ellen Stegeman: Dear Arzoo, respect. Not easy, but you did it. Congratulations. What a drive you have. We can learn from you!

© Ingimage

arrive back home to find that their favourite toy is nowhere to be found. Een speelgoed tussen de kussens van de zetel – a toy between the sofa cushions, een bal aan het zwembad – a ball at the swimming pool. And a word of advice for Belgians. In het wisselvallige België – In Belgium’s changeable climate kan je best een jas gebruiken – you can definitely use a coat, maar op je bestemming is het zonniger – but it’s more sunny at your destination en heb je die niet meer nodig – and you don’t need it any longer. Het kledingstuk kampeert een hele week aan de kapstok – The item of clothing spends the entire week hanging on the coat stand en kan je wel eens vergeten – and you can quite easily forget it, tot je het in België weer net iets te fris hebt – until you’re back in Belgium again and it starts to feel chilly. Because there’s another thing you probably forgot – our lousy weather.

PHoto of tHE wEEk

mrlgotlucky @mrlgotlucky So my colleagues asked me which song I like to dance to. And now Tropical is a major hit at our office in Antwerp.

Annelies @AnneliesThuwis Had a lovely day at the beach in Ostend, saw the Sand Sculptures and got a lovely tan...red as a lobster! :p Even with 50+ SPF :'(

Trevor Welch @TWelchTV3 Out and about in the town of Hasselt this morning. Looking for some translation on the football pages.

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tHe Last Word ship of the desert

“Attention: there is a camel walking in the sea.”

Head lifeguard Tom Cocle of Blankenberge received the strangest message on his radio, thanks to the presence of a circus in town

Poplar opinion

“I absolutely regard trees as living beings. Princess Irene of the Netherlands used to hug and kiss them. I only do that occasionally.” Rik Torfs, rector of the University of Leuven, interviewed in Het Nieuwsblad

© luc Claessen/Belga

who’s your daddy?

“As long as anonymous donations are the rule, fertility specialists can do what they like. In the past, there were no checks on what they did, and there still aren’t. Anonymity can be a fig leaf for lies.” Triplets born in Flanders 37 years ago have discovered they were conceived by two different sperm donors, unbeknownst to anyone but the doctor

Everyone’s a winner

“We expect a lot of people to call.”

The player who won €6.2 million in the National Lottery last March has until 16.00 on 12 August to come forward by calling 0478 291 893

in tHe dirt Flemish moto-cross rider Jeremy Van Horebeek in action during the Belgian grand Prix, which took place on sunday in lommel. the 25-year-old from Hasselt finished fourth, with antwerp’s kevin strijbos claiming the top spot

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