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maY 11, 2016 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.eu current affairs \ p2

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The mighty MAS

The government of Flanders is contributing €10 million towards the complete restoration of Ostend’s landmark arcade

A local neurocognitive institute says there’s more to burnout than being overworked and that most people go back to the same old patterns

It’s been five years since Antwerp’s city museum opened its doors, and it’s marking the occasion with special tours and a food truck festival

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On the frontline Flemish municipalities bring in ‘deradicalisation officers’ to assist at-risk youth Linda A Thompson Follow Linda @ThompsonBXL \ flanderstoday.eu

Municipalities like Vilvoorde are bringing in ‘deradicalisation officers’ in the hope of spotting young people at risk of being seduced into fighting in Syria. But their success is hard to evaluate

ong before the Brussels terrorist attacks in March, long before the Paris attacks even, lawmakers in Belgium realised they had a problem – unprecedented rates of young men were upending their lives and leaving behind everything they knew to go and fight a war thousands of miles away in Syria. Something had to be done. Determined to arm communities with the knowhow, resources and money to help reverse this trend, the government of Flanders declared towns to be on frontline of the battle against radicalisation among local youths. “They are the closest to their citizens and are the first contact point for local services and organisations,” Liesbeth Homans, Flemish minister for home affairs, said in July last year, announc-

It’s incredibly difficult to get into houses when you don’t fully understand the culture and language

The angel of Ghent An Pierlé on her new album, church organs and being sneaky

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ing a budget of €568,000 for nine towns – from Vilvoorde, with its inner-city problems, to sleepy Menen in West Flanders. “Towns are our first partners in the prevention approach to violent radicalisation.” Many municipalities chose to hire “deradicalisation officers” with the subsidies they received. Today, there are a dozen such officers working in Flanders and Brussels. With 440 people having left, Belgium remains the country with the highest number of Syria fighters per capita – Denmark is second with 150 – but the high outflux of the summer of 2013 appears to have stopped. Flemish towns, much more so than in the past, feel equipped and supported in their endeavour to combat the pull of terrorist movements like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. According to continued on page 5

\ CURRENT AFFAIRS

Catholic schools discuss meeting Muslim students, needs Flanders’ Catholic education network is considering prayer space and headscarves Sue Somers Follow Sue on Twitter \ @newdawnfadesue

he Catholic education network (VSKO) is discussing the possiblility of schools with a majority of Muslim students having a dedicated prayer space, allowing the wearing of headscarves and providing lessons on Islam after school hours. According to De Morgen newspaper, letting other religions play a more prominent role in its schools represents a major paradigm shift within the VSKO. This means that Muslim students, and those of other faiths, would not be confronted with conversion attempts, said Lieven Boeve, the head of VSKO. “The times when education was offered by the Catholics for the Catholics are gone forever,” said Boeve. “The Catholic identity no longer has to be shared by every student and by every teacher. Just as long as they support the school.” Last month, Karel de Grote University College in Antwerp

announced that it will offer training in interreligious faith studies. According to Boeve, this should encourage more Muslims to take on teaching jobs in Catholic schools, a shift he considers to be of great importance. “Muslim teachers can be role models for Muslim youngsters and build bridges between school and home,” he said. Boeve’s idea immediately came under scrutiny by the liberal party Open VLD and the nationalist N-VA, which argued that a significant majority of Muslim children are already enrolled in Catholic schools. “Why should we distance ourselves from our identity?” said N-VA president, Bart De Wever, who is also mayor of Antwerp. Johan Bonny, bishop of Antwerp who serves as the representative of VSKO in the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, said no concrete action has been taken. “This is just an idea,” he said. “Nothing has been decided.”

Zinneke Parade wins Flemish Culture Prize The Zinneke Parade in Brussels has won this year’s Flemish Culture Prize for amateur arts. The jury praised the event’s multidisciplinary nature. The biennial Zinneke first took place in 2000, and this month hosts its ninth edition. The parade through the streets of Brussels is made up of “Zinnodes” – colourful animated groups from associations, schools, youth groups and music and dance organisations. Each year has a theme: this year’s is fragility.

The name Zinneke comes from 19th-century Brussels dialect for a stray dog, and now is used affectionately for anyone living in Brussels. The original derivation dates back to the 16th century, and then referred to an arm of the river Zenne. “The culture prize comes as a complete surprise, just as we’re entering the home straight of our ninth edition,” said parade director Myriam Stoffen. “For us, the prize is for the many hundreds of partners, artists and partici-

pants who give heart and soul for a culture of co-operation.” The prize consists of a cash award of €10,000 and a bronze sculpture by Philip Aguirre y Otegui. “Unlike anything else, the Zinneke Parade succeeds time after time in bringing hundreds of people together,” culture minister Sven Gatz said. “And, regardless of their differences, with tons of imagination they make art together, in solidarity and creativity.” \ Alan Hope

€10 million to restore Ostend monuments The government of Flanders has approved a large-scale project to restore two iconic monuments at the coast: the Thermae Palace hotel and the Royal Galleries, both in Ostend. The project, proposed by minister-president Geert Bourgeois and tourism minister Ben Weyts, will be backed with €10 million from the government. The Royal Galleries are a neoclassical arcade that extends from the royal villa to the Wellington Hippodrome horse racing track, stretching more than 380 metres.

They were built to allow Leopold II and his guests to go to the track without being exposed to the rain. The Belle Epoque hotel Thermae Palace sits in the central section of the arcade, halfway between the two pavilions and to the west of the Ostend port, overlooking the beach. “The Thermae Palace and the Royal Galleries were common on postcards from the Flemish coast,” Bourgeois said. “Today they are shadows of their former glory, and a total restoration is urgently needed. I’m delighted

More than 100 inmates have been transferred after an uprising at the weekend against overcrowding and poor conditions at Merksplas prison in Antwerp province. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Merksplas mayor Frank Wilryckx. “The damage is enormous.” The incident began on Saturday evening when prisoners were called to return to their cells following afternoon exercise. The men refused and occupied the prison yard, breaking furniture and smashing windows with stones. Other prisoners began setting fires in their cells, and police and firefighters were called in to help. About 200 prisoners were involved in the riot, with reports of two people injured. Wilryckx said calm was restored on Sunday morning. “The emergency services have dispersed, and the prisoners are back in their cells,” he said. About 100 have been transferred, including the leaders of the uprising, as well as prisoners whose cells

19.1%

€16 million

damages claimed by clothing chain Dod from the Brussels-Capital Region, water authority Vivaqua and Sint-Joost city council for roadworks on Leuvensesteenweg that led to a drop in sales

we’re going to give this magnificent complex a new lease of life.” The restoration project aims to undo much of the damage sand and salty air have caused over the years. Roofs will be repaired, the concrete skeleton will be checked for stability and restored if necessary, and carpentry and plasterwork on facades will be renovated. The project is led by the heritage department and the maritime and coastal agency. The whole project is to be complete by 2022. \ AH

Prison wings destroyed during weekend riot at Merksplas

children in Flanders confirmed in the Catholic church in 2014, down from 50,000 in 2005, a sign of growing secularisation, said a spokesperson from the Interdiocesan Commission for the Catechism

drop in the number of Brussels Airlines passengers in March, as a direct result of the bomb attacks. Brussels Airport was closed for 12 days

are uninhabitable because of damage. “This will have a lasting effect on the prison’s capacity,” he said. “There’s a great deal of damage. Several wings have been destroyed. Not only were fires set, but cell doors were broken, locks smashed and holes made in walls.” A similar incident in a prison in Antwerp on Sunday evening was quickly resolved, prison authorities said, after a number of inmates refused to return to their cells. Some of those involved may have been new arrivals from Merksplas. Police negotiators quickly restored the situation to normal, while a rapid response team was on standby. Conditions at Merksplas, which houses 671 prisoners, are known to be difficult as the structure, originally built as a poorhouse, is nearly 200 years old. Prisoners have complained in the past about the lack of facilities. \ AH

130,000

banknote, the largest denomination in existence, will stop being printed at the end of 2018 because of its common use among terrorist cells and crime syndicates

visitors to the Floralies in Ghent, despite bad weather. The flower and garden exhibition took up 9,500 square metres of space indoors and 50,000 square metres outdoors

maY 11, 2016

WEEK in brief Public transport users in Brussels are gradually getting back on the metro, following the bombing of Maalbeek station on 22 March, public transport authority MIVB said. On 29 April, the metro had 19% fewer passengers than the same period last year, compared to 60% fewer on the weekend following the attack. Many metro users switched to other forms of public transport, said MIVB: Overall, bus, tram and metro passengers were down by only 9% in April. The quantity of beer sold in Belgium by AB InBev in the first quarter of the year was down by 3% compared to the same period in 2015, the brewer said. The beer market in Belgium as a whole was down by 2%, but exports are strong and growing, particularly for speciality beers. The fall in consumption is almost entirely due to the lower consumption of pils – Stella, Jupiler, Maes and Primus being the biggest brands – which make up 72% of Belgian beer consumption. Flemish stage director Ivo van Hove has been nominated for New York’s Tony Awards for his production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, which last year won two Olivier Awards in London. Lighting designer Jan Versweyveld – who also happens to be Van Hove’s partner – was nominated for three Tony Awards – two for A View from the Bridge and one for The Crucible, also by Arthur Miller. Winners will be announced in a ceremony in June. The army has presented its fleet of drones used to patrol the skies above the port of Antwerp, looking for suspect behaviour on the ground. The drones have a wingspan of nine metres and can stay in the air for up to 10 hours. They are equipped with a camera that can record and broadcast images from a height of 2,000 metres. The craft have been patrolling the 13,000 hectares of the port since last month.

face of flanders Travellers in a train from Ostend to Brussels sat for three hours in the Wetteren area on Sunday when the train malfunctioned due to an electricity outage. Air conditioning in the train also stopped working, and 500 passengers suffered from the high temperatures inside the train. According to some travellers, it took 90 minutes to receive water. The train was eventually towed by a diesel train to Brussels.

warned of the possibility of new attacks on Belgium by terrorists, as well as possible violence from right-wing extremists. Speaking in a lecture to students at Antwerp University, Raes said that terror acts could be in preparation now and could be followed by counter-action from right-wing forces, such as Pegida. “That’s something we cannot close our eyes to,” he said.

Luc De Schepper has been re-elected as rector of Hasselt University for a fourth term. He won the election against immunology professor Piet Stinissen by 143 to 52 votes. “It’s been 20 years since there was such an exciting election,” said De Schepper, who has been elected unopposed three times. The term of office runs for four years, and De Schepper, a physicist, said it will be his last.

Marcia De Wachter, a director of the National Bank and deputy chair of the High Council on Employment, has apologised for a series of Twitter posts in which she called on people to abandon Brussels Airport and fly via Amsterdam instead. At that point, Brussels Airport was suffering long queues as a result of re-opening the departures hall, a problem that has now been solved. She later withdrew the messages and apologised “for any upset caused”.

The Council of State has struck down new regulations governing sex workers in Sint-Joost in Brussels that came into force in March, ruling it would affect profitability. The new rule more than tripled the tax for business owners in red light districts, obliged all workers to obtain special certificates and reduced the allowable work hours by 25%. The council also ruled that municipalities do not have the power to impose a system of certification or in any way regulate prostitution, which is a federal responsibility. The Flemish Football Federation (VFV) has launched a campaign to improve relations between clubs and parents. A video aims to teach parents to show restraint while on the sidelines watching their children play during training and matches, following a number of incidents. At a later stage, VFV will organise workshops on parental behaviour. Jaak Raes, the director-general of the state security service, has

Oude Zak (Old Sack) has been chosen by Radio 2 listeners as the strangest street name in Flanders. The street in Bruges gets its name from the French term cul-de-sac. Other nominees were Vorte Koestraat (Stinking Cow Street) in Waasmunster, Kromme Elleboogstraat (Curved Elbow Street) in Antwerp and Boterham (Sandwich) in Halle. The Antwerp International School has launched a new scholarship programme aimed at offering a place to children whose families cannot afford the fees. “This brand new initiative will enable talented students from Antwerp’s local and international communities to benefit from our intercultural, holistic education,” said Jeff Snyder, director of external relations. The AIS Seeks Talent programme is open to new and existing students aged five to 17. Up to 50 scholarships will be provided.

It went on sale with an estimate of €300,000 to €500,000 but sold for €670,000 to a mystery buyer. “I’m delighted the drawing went for double the estimate,” said auctioneer Peter Bernaerts. “Beautiful works hold their value in these difficult times.” Just days before the sale, the government of Flanders declared it an official top work of art, which means that it cannot be exported without permission. If permission is not granted, they can sell it on at a price determined by three experts, taking account of the sale price. Nothing to worry about, as it turns out.

Jani Kazaltzis It’s pretty impossible to live in Flanders for long without seeing Jani Kazaltzis’ face on the telly. The sharp-tongued fashionista has been the star of several programmes designed to teach people how to dress properly. Born in Genk to Greek parents, Kazaltzis’ grandfather migrated to Limburg in the 1950s to work in the mines. He probably would have laughed a hardy laugh if you’d told him then that his flamingly gay grandson would become one of Belgium’s biggest celebrities by dishing out advice on A-lines and appliqués. Kazaltzis, 37, got his on-air start in 2005 in the TV programme De heren maken de man (The Men Make the Man), which saw gay men helping hapless heterosexuals to stop dressing like slobs. Kazaltzis was a stand-out and went on to host Mooi bloot (Pretty Naked), which found women happily stripping to their skivvies in front of all of Flanders to complain about their bodies. Kazaltzis not only put things into perspective for them, he helped them choose the right styles for those not-so-bad-as-theythought figures. He went on to sit on the jury of Benelux’s Next Top Model and appeared as a guest on numerous programmes. He made a splash in 2014 on Heylen en de herkomst (Heylen and the Origins), in which host Martin Heylen travelled with

janiacademy.be

Flemish celebrities to the lands of their roots. The pair’s visit to a drag queen bar on Mykonos was a thing of beauty. Flanders simply can’t get enough of Kazaltzis, evidenced by his three programmes currently airing. There’s Zo Man Zo Vrouw (Like Man, Like Woman), in which he visits couples who long ago stopped caring how they looked, and All you need is Jani, which finds him playing both fashion consultant and psychologist as he forces single women out of their hoodies and into high heels so they have the confidence to pick up strange men in public. Finally, Jani gaat… (my personal favourite) sees him trying out all kinds of jobs for which he is entirely not suited, such as soldier, fisherman, father of four… The reason for Flanders’ obsession is Kazaltzis’ quick-witted commentary, which pours forth effortlessly, whether he’s chiding a woman for her tatty lingerie or lamenting the state of the military’s bedding. He’s fabulous, and he knows it. That’s why he has just started his own fashion school. The Jani Academy will offer workshops to anyone who wants to learn to dress better from the master but perhaps does not want to be on TV to do it. Professional training for would-be stylists and makeup artists begins in September. \ Lisa Bradshaw

\ ais-antwerp.be

OFFSIDE Home is where the art is One of the most interesting art sales in recent times took place last week. The sale by Bernaerts Auction House in Antwerp concerned a watercolour drawing by the Antwerp master Pieter Paul Rubens of a man in a turban on horseback. On the other side are a number of sketches of horsemen. The drawing is signed by Anthony Van Dyck, Rubens’ celebrated pupil, but the watermark on the paper and the pigment used for the ochre wash reveal that the work is actually from the hand of Rubens himself. The drawing was discovered in a private estate.

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The buyer has since been revealed as Fernand Huts, the owner of the Antwerp logistics business Katoen Natie, which has its own museum. He is, however, considering lending the work to another museum in Antwerp. \ Alan Hope

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

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\ POLITICS

Biomass plant considers damages claim against government Expected €2 billion subsidies for Bee project in Ghent harbour were pulled Alan Hope Follow Alan on Twitter \ @AlanHopeFT

ee, the owners of the planned biomass plant in Ghent that learned last week it would not be receiving an expected €2 billion in subsidies, is weighing a possible suit for damages, CEO Michael Corten said. The company has spent €10 million on a project, he said, that had previously been approved by the government of Flanders. “We already had environment, construction and production permits,” Corten said. “There was also a concession agreement with the government. The only thing that still had to be approved were the subsidies. We should have been able to start building by the end of this year, but, without subsidies, we can’t get started.” The Bee file was submitted by General Electric, which was to build and run the plant. It was being processed by energy minister Annemie Turtelboom before she resigned at the end of April. She opposed the application and was backed by a negative advice from the Flemish Energy Agency. Biomass, where organic material is burned to make electricity, is opposed by environmental organisations like Greenpeace and Natuurpunt. Critics point out that the process is not green, not sustainable and

Rendering of the planned biomass power plant in Ghent’s harbour

unable to survive without subsidies. The Ghent facility would have produced energy using wood pellets imported from Namibia. Withholding the subsidy could have allowed Turtelboom to reduce the controversial electricity surcharge facing all households this year. The “Turteltax”, as it had come to be known is what ultimately led to her resignation. When she resigned, the two largest government parties, N-VA and CD&V, agreed to

pull the subsidy, leaving new energy minister Bart Tommelein to find an alternative way for the region to meet its environmental targets by 2020. The coalition partners had insisted that biomass was essential to meeting Flanders’ environmental goals and could only be dropped if alternatives were found. Given the advice, however, the government decided to withdraw its support for the biomass plant. “The fact that the project is

Culture minister ‘elated’ with results of new citizens’ cabinet Youth and culture minister Sven Gatz has said he is “elated” at the outcome of the second sitting of his citizens’ cabinet, this time focused on youth policy. “The second citizens’ cabinet was a success,” he said. “The composition of the group and the working method have paid off. I’m very happy with the results.” Like the first citizen’s cabinet on culture policy, the youth citizen’s cabinet began as an online platform, visited by more than 1,500 people. That led to a series of more structured discussions, with 600 participants, producing 16 concrete ideas. Of the people taking part, 134 were invited to the sitting at the Flemish parliament

(pictured), with the aim of taking the ideas raised and transforming them into policy proposals. The final group was made up of 60% young people; 40% had an immigrant background and 10% were people with a handicap. Their proposals will now be

included in Gatz’s policy document for 2017. Proposals included a broader world view in education, the introduction of local “bridge-builders” to create and maintain active contact between youth organisations, and the creation of an online platform to link initiatives related to diversity. “The enthusiasm of a citizens’ cabinet is infectious,” Gatz said. “It’s inspiring to see how a diverse group of people who have never met before can come up with valuable policy recommendations in such a short time. As with the previous cabinet, I will keep the participants informed of any developments involving their proposals.” \ AH

Both Flemish experts step down from terrorism committee Two of the four experts assigned to assist the parliamentary investigative committee on the terrorist attacks have stepped down. Criminologists Brice De Ruyver of Ghent University and University of Leuven law professor emeritus Cyrille Fijnaut said their independence and integrity had been called into question by members of the committee. Professor Fijnaut blamed “the very substandard behaviour” of some members, which, he said, “did not give me the necessary confidence that I would be able to provide my expertise on the fight against terrorism in the atmosphere required for the committee to carry out this important task”. The committee, chaired by long-time

Open VLD politician Patrick Dewael (pictured), insists its experts be independent of the executive. Opposition members of the committee accused the two experts of a lack of independence

because both have previously worked for the government. “The opposition continually called our integrity into question,” Fijnaut said. “That is unacceptable, and the chair let it happen.” “We went to sit on this committee for the good of the cause,” De Ruyver added. “And then to get that thrown at you. It’s unheard of.” Two replacement experts are now being sought. The two remaining, Frenchspeaking, members are Simon Petermann of the Free University of Brussels (ULB), an expert on radicalisation, and Paul Martens, former president of the Constitutional Court, who will sit as the committee’s magistrate. \ AH

no longer going ahead is a blow to us but also to anyone who wanted to invest with us,” said Corten. The decision is “totally incomprehensible,” according to General Electric Benelux manager Roland Tiexeira de Mattos. “This is a blow to the investment climate. This decision will absolutely not help to attract major foreign investors to Flanders. Companies need stability in legislation and a government that can keep its word.” Meanwhile, Wim Dries, mayor of Genk, moved to combat rumours that the government might pull the plug on the region’s other planned biomass facility. A coal-fired power station in the Langerlo district is set to be adapted to a biomass plant. The two cases, Dries said, are quite different. “In Ghent, they still had to get the final word on subsidies,” he said. “But NV Langerlo, which is owned by the company German Pellets, already has an agreement for subsidies. That contract was signed last July by the Flemish government. If they break that contract, the government can expect to pay serious damages.” Langerlo is set to receive subsidies of €200 million a year for 10 years.

Coastal mayors meet to discuss possible smoking ban Mayors of the municipalities on the Flemish coast will meet this week to consider a ban on smoking on beaches, proposed by Bredene mayor Steve Vandenberghe. “I want to make it clear to tourists and our own residents that burying cigarette ends in the sand cannot be tolerated,” he said. Each town can decide for itself whether to impose a ban. According to Vandenberghe, cigarette litter – not only butts but also empty packets – is a big problem on the beaches, and current measures are not improving matters. The litter, he said, “creates serious environmental problems and is bad for our health”. His colleague in Koksijde, Marc Vandenbussche, is less keen. A ban, whether on burying litter or on smoking, would be extremely difficult to enforce, he said. In related news, the beaches at Blankenberge and De Haan opened up to swimmers last week, as lifeguards are now in place. Swimming at beaches that are not under the watch of lifeguards is technically against the law and can be dangerous, municipal authorities said. \ AH

\ COVER STORY

maY 11, 2016

On the frontline

Officers work with schools and religious leaders to tackle the flow of young men to Syria continued from page 1

experts, that’s in large part thanks to the work of deradicalisation officers. The towns that have hired such servants have praised their work and say they have helped parents, teachers and social workers deal with a problem they had never been confronted with before: learning to spot and respond to signs that their child, student, neighbour is becoming radicalised. Deradicalisation officers don’t venture into the streets to dissuade people from leaving for Syria or to urge them to embrace a more modern reading of Islam. Instead, they respond to alerts from citizens, schools and companies, explains Dirk Staessens, a deradicalisation officer in Kortrijk. They then try to assess the situation of the person at risk, with two possible outcomes: pass the case on to the police because the person is too deeply committed to the ideology to respond, or view the apparent sympathies for Islamic fundamentalism as a marker of other problems that can still be remedied. “We try to assess what sorts of problems this person has,” Staessens explains, adding that they might be experiencing difficulties at school, psychological problems or discrimination. “We then ask advice from experts who are familiar with this matter: mental health providers, student counsellors or people from the VDAB,” he says, referring to the Flemish employment and training agency. It’s tricky work, he says, because officers have to navigate racial, language and socioeconomic divides. “It’s incredibly difficult to get into houses when you don’t fully understand the culture and language,” he says. “You’re talking about their child, their son or their daughter, who is doing things that we think are not OK. It’s really difficult to enter these homes as a government and discuss this with people.” It’s a view echoed by Johan Vermant, a spokesperson for Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever. “These are difficult situations, and everything revolves around trust.” But he says local municipalities have made great strides in spite of the challenges of these types of programmes. “Mayors in Antwerp, Mechelen and Vilvoorde sat together across party lines and looked at how they could address this problem and how we could get city services and local police to collaborate as best they could – and also how to work with the federal police.” Since 2014, Antwerp has had a deradicalisation cell that employs five officers who work on two fronts. “On the one hand, they do case management where they try to reach individual youths and get them access to help,” Vermant says.

savebelgium.org

Messages on the Beurs in Brussels, where a memorial sprang up organically after the March terrorist bombings, spoke of peace and unity (top); Saliha Ben Ali (centre) found the organisation Save Belgium after losing her son in Syria (above)

They also have a group approach. “There’s one person in the cell who works around contacts with schools, with associations, with mosque leadership, with the public at large.” In the wake of the 22 March attacks at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station, a number of people, including Vilvoorde mayor Hans Bonte, have questioned the effectiveness of deradicalisation officers in the capital. Critics like Dyab Abou Jahjah, Flanders’ foremost Muslim activist, said these officers had failed to monitor and prevent the radicalisation of local young people. At a recent press conference, Yasmine Kherbache, an MP for socialist opposition party SP.A and a member of the Flemish parliament’s committee to combat

violent radicalisation, pointed out there had been no follow-up on the work of radicalisation officers. “The reality is that the towns and cities that have taken the initiative have done so voluntarily,” Kherbache said. “There is a programme thanks to these towns and in spite of the absence of a Flemish policy. There is no guidance from the regional government for these deradicalisation officers and so no evaluation of whether they are doing their jobs well.” Lieven Pauwels, a professor in criminology at Ghent University, says deradicalisation officers do useful work, if only because they act as a sort of helpline. “There is a lack of knowledge on the ground,” he says, adding that prevention workers in schools often have many questions.

What is normal rebellious behaviour from teenagers? How can they learn to spot and respond to signals that a student has sympathies for the Islamic State? “That’s where these officers play an important role – they can help to collect and to provide information,” he says. “They try to act as a bridge between academic research and the translation of research to the different players in the field.” Still, he admits it’s next to impossible to assess whether radicalisation officers are succeeding in their stated aim of reversing radicalisation processes. “It’s impossible to prove whether these types of initiatives work,” Pauwels says, adding that a radicalisation officer operates like one wheel in a large prevention

machine. “So the fruit of their labour will depend not only on the activities of that officer but also on the manner in which they function in the system.” Even Staessens, the Kortrijk deradicalisation officer, admits to having doubts about his job description. “I think ‘deradicalisation officer’ is in itself an awful term. I don’t know whether that’s possible. How can you know if someone has been ‘deradicalised’? I don’t know either,” he says. “We do our best and follow up on people to see if they’re still showing strange behaviour. But to truly swear that we’re 100% sure – that we cannot do.” Saliha Ben Ali’s second-eldest son left for Syria in the summer of 2013. He was 18 and had lived with his family in Vilvoorde his entire life. A couple of months after his departure, his parents received a phone call. The person on the other end of the line told them their son had died in combat and hung up. Since then, Ben Ali, a veteran social worker, has founded an organisation that also attempts to counter radicalisation processes by focusing on an oft-overlooked group: Muslim parents. Society Against Violent Extremism Belgium, or Save Belgium, organises workshops for mothers in and around Brussels aimed at strengthening parents’ relationships with their children. “We offer mums tools to keep the communication bridge open so the child realises that if they have a question, if they have a problem, they can go to their parents at any time,” explains Ben Ali. She is one of very few parents who has gone public with her story, and says she has paid a heavy price for her awareness-raising efforts. She has received threats from Islamic State fighters in Syria and has been condemned by some local Muslims for supposedly speaking ill of the Islamic faith. At the same time, her Vilvoorde neighbours have treated the family like extremist fundamentalists. But she will not be deterred. “I’m not ashamed of what happened to me because I gave everything I could to my son,” she says. “I raised him with values, I raised him in a tolerant environment, I always instilled in him hope. But, unfortunately, at a certain point, he became lost in a neighbourhood where the influence of Sharia4Belgium was strong, in Vilvoorde.” Pointing out that he was always by her side when she distributed food to the homeless and blankets at winter shelters, she says he was swept up by what he saw as a wave of solidarity towards the civil population trapped by Bashar al-Assad’s violent regime in Syria. “He was very impressionable,” she says. “When he left, he was convinced that was where he needed to be.”

\ BUSINESS

week in business Chemicals Solvay The Brussels-based chemical and materials group has finalised the sale of its Brazilian Indupa affiliate to the local Unipar Carbocloro group for $202 million (€176 million). The company has also announced plans to develop production of materials and components for electric batteries in China.

Transport MIVB Brussels’ public transport authority will spend €126 million on up to 235 hybrid buses over the next three years. MIVB plans to have all its buses powered by electricity by 2030.

Brewing AB Inbev The Leuven-based beer group is selling the Czech Pilsner Urquell brand and all the assets it acquired in Eastern Europe following its merger with SABMiller. The move is meant to alleviate concerns by EU competition authorities over the creation of the world’s largest beer group.

Supermarkets Albert Heijn Management and unions have come to an agreement over the closure of eight Albert Heijn supermarkets in response to conditions set by the competition authorities to approve the merger of the supermarket group with Delhaize. One hundred of the 350 employees will be found jobs in other outlets and the rest are guaranteed jobs in any new supermarket that might buy up the eight locations, said unions.

Petroleum Q8 Oils The Antwerp-based affiliate of Kuwait Petroleum is investing €80 million in a mixing unit to increase the refinery’s production of lubricants.

Catering Pain Quotidien The Brussels-based Copeba holding company has paid an estimated €100 million to acquire a 30% share of chain eatery Le Pain Quotidien.

Buggies GIMV The Flemish government’s investment company has acquired 40% of the Dutch Joolz company, specialised in the design and manufacture of prams and pushchairs. Joolz is the market leader in seven European countries and in Australia.

Campaign encourages Flemings to spend holidays at home Non-profit aims to help tourism industry recover from lost business Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

he non-profit organisation Logeren in Vlaanderen (Lodging in Flanders) has launched a campaign to encourage more Flemish people to spend holidays in their own region. “We will promote all kinds of local destinations and experiences, such as camping and gastronomy,” said the organisation’s president Stefaan Gheysen. The campaign has a budget of €200,000, partially provided by the five Flemish provinces. It will run from June until September. According to the organisers, a survey of small-scale accommodation providers revealed that 46% of them

have had to deal with cancellations and a further decline in bookings since the terrorist attacks of 22 March. “Our first impression is that the negative trends were strongest just after the attacks, but that they have since subsided,” Gheysen said. “Domestic consumers, however, continue to show hesitation with booking.” The campaign is supported by the cities of Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen, as well as by the representatives of the hotel sector, campsites, bed and breakfasts, small hotels and the holiday home industry at the coast.

Turnover at nanotech firm imec up by 14% Leuven-based nanotechnology firm imec took in €415 million last year, a 14% increase on 2014, the company has announced. That sum includes the funding from European research projects, from the government of Flanders (€47.7 million annually) and from the Dutch government, which subsidises imec at the Holst Centre in Eindhoven. Imec is one of Flanders’ flagships in research and development, performing pioneering research in several areas, including computer chip production, bio-tech and sensor systems. Outside revenue is mainly generated from R&D contracts with industrial partners and universities, both local and global. More than €100 million was realised due to collaboration with companies based in Flanders. Last year, imec researchers published nearly 1,000 articles in scientific journals and a record number of 180 European patent applications were

submitted. “The latter confirms the institute’s top knowledge position in nanoelectronics and its applications,” imec said in a statement. “2015 was a fantastic year,” said imec CEO Luc Van den hove. “And we are determined to drive the development of innovative solution even further with our cutting-edge R&D.”

With its partners imec has also made inroads into the Internet of Things: smart cities, smart health, smart grids, smart mobility and smart manufacturing. The expectation is that the company will grow further over the next few years, with the upcoming merger with the Ghent-based digital research centre iMinds. \ Senne Starckx

Fewer restaurant bankruptcies in Brussels than expected Neither the introduction of the pedestrian zone nor the terrorist attacks of 22 March have so far resulted in a large increase in bankruptcies in the centre of Brussels, according to business consultancy Graydon. “We have seen a slight increase in the number of bankruptcies in the restaurant industry in Brussels, but it’s very small,” said spokesperson Eric Van den Broele. Nearly the entire increase is in full-service restaurants. Restaurants do, however, make up a growing percentage of all bankruptcies in Brussels, from nearly 15% in 2014 to more than 23% at the beginning of 2016. That growing share is also seen in Flanders. The overall number of bankruptcies across Belgium, meanwhile, continues to decrease: April saw 841 companies go bust, down 12% on the same month last year. In the first four months of the year, Graydon registered 16% fewer than in the same period in 2015.

Brussels Airport revises check-in times as security measures are relaxed Brussels Airport has revised the suggested times when passengers should arrive at the airport, after new security measures were introduced to cope with the pressure on the re-opened departures hall. Long queues early last week caused some passengers to miss their flights. The airport is advising passengers flying within the Schengen area to arrive two hours ahead of their scheduled departure. For non-Schengen flights, they should arrive three hours in advance. The Schengen area includes 26 countries in continental Europe, stretching to Poland and the Baltic states, including Iceland and Norway, but excluding the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The new advice brings the situation back to how it was before the terrorist attacks of 22 March, said the airport. Security and ID checks carried out before entering the airport building – one of the causes of the delays – will no longer affect everyone, but will be carried out at random. Suspect behav-

iour, such as trying to avoid security cameras, will be cause for inspection, said home affairs minister Jan Jambon. The restored departures hall opened on Sunday, 1 May, with partial service, with the most serious delays occurring the following day. Among those affected by the long line was former prime minister Yves Leterme. After waiting more than

two hours, he missed his flight, but he was diplomatic when speaking to the press. “I’ll take the next one,” he said. “I’ve had bigger problems.” “The first day of a major operational change is always going to be difficult,” said Nathalie Van Impe of Brussels Airport. “We will evaluate operations and bring them up to standard, and we are sure that things will get better in the days to come.” Passengers are also advised not to arrive earlier than the suggested times. It now appears that the long lines on 2 and 3 May were partly caused by people arriving far in advance of their scheduled flights, adding to the delay for others. Some security measures remain. Only passengers with a ticket and ID will be allowed inside the terminal building. The drop-off area remains closed, and passengers can be dropped off in the airport car park. Advance check-in of luggage can still be done at Brucargo, but each passenger has to check in their bag in person, with the exception of children under 12. \ AH

\ INNOVATION

maY 11, 2016

week in innovation VUB launches robotics research group

Out of character

Clues to preventing burnout lie in our personalities, says institute Senne Starckx More articles by Senne \ flanderstoday.eu

The Institute of NeuroCognitivism in Brussels trains workers to help keep burnout and depression under control. One of the key elements in the approach is taking people back to basics – to their true, primary motivations

ne day you’re bursting with energy, the next it feels like all your lust for life has seeped away. Burnout and depression are fast becoming the most prevalent illnesses of our time. Though the conditions are being taken more and more seriously by doctors, employers and insurers, measures to prevent burnout still don’t go beyond papering over the cracks, according to the Institute of NeuroCognitivism (INC) in Brussels. Too often, they see that people who have taken a couple of months off work simply return to the old routine without having tackled the actual problem. “In our society, in which everything keeps going faster and faster and our brains are constantly being bombarded with information and stimuli, we very rarely take the time to reflect and question our own lives,” says Isabelle Hoebrechts, managing director of the INC, an international organisation with an office in the Brussels district of Etterbeek. “We like to think we’re living the life we want to live, and doing the job that perfectly matches our talent,” she says. “But we never seriously question our choices and motivations.” Hoebrechts is convinced that the best way to tackle potential burnout is to dig deeper into your personality and explore what’s really important for you. In the INC, this is done by reconciling scientific findings from psychology with neurology. This is the basis of neurocognitive and behavioural approach theory, which was developed by the French neuroscientist Jacques Fradin in the 1970s. The theory and method received a serious boost when Fradin met the Belgian entrepreneur and visionary Pierre Moorkens. In 2008, the pair launched the INC, with the goal of spreading Fradin’s theory and of training professionals from various sectors: psychotherapists, career coaches, HR, etc. Today, the institute has

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branches in Brussels, France, Switzerland and Morocco. One of the key neurological elements in Fradin’s theory is the prefrontal cortex. In 1976, when he was still studying the biology of human behaviour, Fradin discovered that this particular area – which is often considered the most intelligent part of our brains – is constantly in a semi-unconscious state.

Few students choose to study something that really fascinates them. This is where the seeds of a future burnout are sowed This means that what we consider most of the time to be our motivations, judgements and even our meaning of life don’t necessarily match with our primary, innate personality and character. Hoebrechts thinks that because this primary motivation is often buried, we frequently make the wrong choices, both in our careers and in relationships, friendships and other elements that shape our identity. “It starts when we send our children to school,” says Hoebrechts, who has 20 years of experience in people management. “Many students still choose their parents’ favourite discipline, or they opt for one that opens up opportunities for a prestigious career. Few choose to study something that really fascinates them. This is where the seeds of a future burnout are sowed.” So what do Hoebrechts and the INC propose? “The professionals we train will be able to identify your primary personality and your true energy sources, so you learn what you really want to be – not what

other people or the authorities want you to be. “With this in mind, the professionals will also encourage you to discover your secondary personalities and the danger of what we call ‘energy eaters’. Social media is an obvious example, but often the black holes that absorb your energy are more hidden. They can even have a seemingly positive facade, like family.” Hoebrechts’ main task is to translate all the academic research work that has been done at INC to practical methods for companies, organisations and executives. She’s currently setting up an ambitious platform to support organisations in the development of an elaborate psychosocial policy. “Our aim is to make the concept of well-being a cornerstone of company policy, so serenity will take the place of stress, depression and burnout.” How will this platform work? “Interested organisations can ask us to perform an audit in which we study the degree of absenteeism, what is irritating their employees, the overall perception of the work-life balance, the dream goals… Everything that keeps people’s minds busy.” With those results, they approach the CEO, the HR department and any prevention advisors to work out a well-being strategy. “The key message we try to deliver is that matching a job profile with people’s behaviour and attitude is at least as important as matching it with their talents and competences,” says Hoebrechts. One of the tools she and her colleagues have developed is a personality test based on a questionnaire that allows people to “connect with their inner force”. “This test helps us unlock people’s primary motivations,” she explains. “It puts aside expectations and brings them back to the basics, to who they really are.” The test highlights the interaction between brain structures and a person’s personal and cultural experience. “Applied to the workplace – in particular to professional and personal guidance, decision-making, communication and management – the questionnaire helps build efficient solutions adapted to one’s human nature, based on each person’s current and future abilities.”

The Free University of Brussels (VUB) has launched a research group focusing on the impact of robots on our lives. The Brussels Human Robotic Research Center (BruBotics) is an initiative of eight research groups and more than 70 VUB researchers, who will carry out interdisciplinary research on human-centred robot technology and the ways it can improve quality of life and society. Robots can help us tackle social challenges, like the ageing of the population. BruBotics wants to be a European frontrunner in this domain by combining the expertise of research groups in life, computer and social sciences. Current projects involve the use of exoskeletons for neurological rehabilitation and bionic prostheses that replace an amputated leg.

Brussels organises first smart city summit More than 1,000 people came to the first edition of the Brussels Smart City Event hosted by Bianca Debaets, secretary of state for digitalization in the Brussels-Capital Region. Thirty start-ups demonstrated innovative technologies, including mobility apps that improve traffic flow and a smart bicycle bell that functions as a GPS tracker. Debaets aims to transform the Brussels Smart City concept into an attractive brand and improve the capital’s image. The secretary also announced the first Brussels Smart City Ambassador, VUB professor Pieter Ballon, who is the director of the research organisation iMinds Living Labs and an authority in the field of smart urban development.

Malaria infection first in 450 years In 2014, a woman from Antwerp was hospitalised with a severe form of malaria – without having travelled abroad. It took more than a year, but the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) has now identified an indigenous mosquito as the suspected carrier. A team of researchers from ITM and Antwerp University think that the mosquito species Anopheles claviger, found in the SintAnna forest on the left bank of the Scheldt, where the 74-year old woman lived, carried the parasite. If the team is correct, the woman, who recovered from the disease, is the first patient in Flanders since the 16th century to contract malaria from the bite of a mosquito endemic to the area.

\ EDUCATION

maY 11, 2016

Point of contention

week in education

Debate on suspending primary school pupils extends beyond classroom Emma Portier Davis More articles by Emma \ flanderstoday.eu

A recent report by VCLB shows that the number of primary school children suspended for unruly behaviour is increasing at an alarming rate, and stakeholders are debating how best to solve the situation.

t’s a story repeated more and more in schools across Flanders: unruly kids – perhaps with difficult home lives, learning difficulties, or both – and teachers who are under pressure to deal with the problem on top of their main responsibility of teaching. In a recent report, the Flemish pupil support agency VCLB said that the number of requests it received to intervene in such cases had almost doubled in four years, bringing it to 109 in the school year 2014-2015. The report, which the VCLB published to spark discussion about what it sees as a worsening situation, initially stoked controversy as to how serious the figures really were, considering there are 70,000 kids in primary schools across Flanders. In the Flemish parliament’s plenary session in April, education minister Hilde Crevits came in for a grilling. Her response was that cases are few and pointed to the fact that notification by schools to the VCLB only became obligatory in 2014. “I asked for the figures,” she said. “We are talking about 63 suspensions, which led to 43 permanent suspensions.” This, she added, does not amount to 109, although she concurred that “one is too many”. Meanwhile, the VCLB has agreed that the increase can be partly attributed to the obligation introduced two years ago, but said that “nevertheless, there are more actual cases where we talk about suspension,” adding that teachers confirm the worrying trend.

exacerbated by tensions at home. One primary school teacher in Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, describes it as a snowball effect. “A child with behavioural problems often has difficulty concentrating in class and then develops a learning deficit,” she says. “This pupil then bothers other students.” Another problem, say educators, is how Flanders’ M decree, which took effect in 2014, has been implemented. The decree mainstreams special-needs children into regular

A child with behavioural problems often has difficulty concentrating in class and then develops a learning deficit Flanders’ Children’s Rights Commissioner, Bruno Vanobbergen, has called the report striking. “This is at least another important signal that it is so important to have a discussion about what is going on,” he said. The VCLB has dubbed what happens in many of these cases a “multi-problem”, where behavioural issues or conditions such as attention deficit disorders are

education in order to foster a more inclusive education system. Although the government has a programme under which teachers from special-needs schools go to help in regular schools and teachers in training learn how to cope with these issues, stakeholders agree this is not enough. General Secretary Raf De Weerdt from teachers’ union ACOD Onderwijs says that “schools don’t have

the ability to deal with this, and the government hasn’t given enough support.” The problem is acute among children from immigrant backgrounds, who are also typically over-represented in special-needs schools. “From the beginning, these children are too often seen as a difficulty,” says Vanobbergen. Hocine Trari, a former school principal in Antwerp, has worked with immigrant children in regular schools. “In a way, they are all children with special needs because they require a lot of attention,” he says. “Most of their parents don’t speak Dutch and can’t help them with homework.” After the release of the VCLB report, Crevits said that teachers are not therapists. But in reality, many teachers say this is increasingly the case. “Teachers are indeed not therapists, but they spend a quarter of their time doing that anyway,” says the teacher from Vilvoorde, adding that difficulties parents face “spill over” to their children. That’s not to say that teachers should only teach. “They should be partly responsible for the upbringing of a child because a number of social skills, values and norms can only be taught in groups,” says the teacher. “But the basic foundation must come from home.”

De Weerdt calls for a reasonable balance. “The teacher shouldn’t say – in the case of divorce, for example – that they don’t care, they’re just there to teach,” he says. “But there are limits to that.” Where those limits lie is a point of contention. Vanobbergen notes a case where a girl with Down’s Syndrome was excluded after three successful years in a regular school because she was using a laptop with assistive technology. “In the first three years, there was no problem,” says the commissioner. “Then in the fourth year, the teacher said that it had become impossible for her to give the support needed for the use of the laptop.” If this is the position of the teacher, he adds, the only thing the child can do is go to another school. “If you want to see inclusive education, it really becomes the responsibility of the entire school,” he says. However the statistics are interpreted, all stakeholders want fewer exclusions of children from school. Crevits told the parliament that she would look for ways to better support families and teachers. The challenge is to identify and alleviate the pressures on families, children, and teachers. “So-called behavioural problems are, in my opinion, the result of pressure from society on children as well as grown-ups,” says the Vilvoorde teacher, adding that pressure for parents to work enough to pay their bills puts children in second place. “It would help tremendously to reduce the pressure on children,” she says. In her opinion, the ministry should give children more time and space, instead of pushing them to achieve such high educational targets. Similarly, according to Vanobbergen, when problems occur, the most important thing is to address them at an early stage. “Some schools immediately implement a very severe measure when it’s possible to implement lighter ones,” he says. To realise this, the VCLB underscores the need for communication. “We have to intervene in these situations at a very early stage,” says the organisation’s chair, Stefan Grielens. “We need more time to educate teachers in talking to parents and learning about different cultures.” That, he adds, “is also a very important job for the ministry of education”. Meanwhile, stakeholders are still busy getting their heads around how severe the problem really is. “We have to support teachers within the classroom,” says Vanobbergen. “We also need more monitoring of suspensions so we really know how many of them there are.”

Technical students succeed in higher education

Students who follow the technical track in Flanders’ secondary school system are rarely encouraged to pursue higher education and are often stigmatised as being in the lowest group academically. But research from Artesis Plantijn University College (AP) in Antwerp shows that some 75% of those who do enrol earn a degree. The study also shows that 70% of students who follow technical education in secondary school are now entering higher education, with another 15% choosing training programmes at government agencies such as Syntra or VDAB. At AP, which is home to more than 10,000 students, most new students come from technical secondary schools.

Two-thirds of children lack traffic knowledge Only one in three pupils in the fifth year of Flemish primary education has passed the Big Traffic Test (De Grote Verkeerstoets). Almost 34,000 children took the test on traffic awareness, initiated by the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Awareness, and most answered fewer than 17 of the 25 questions correctly. The test shows that most pupils understand the meaning of traffic signs but can’t apply that knowledge when confronted with actual traffic situations. Less than one-quarter knew that cyclists don’t automatically have priority at a crossing place for cyclists, for example. The foundation said that schools and parents should practise in the streets with children.

Teachers to work longer for same pension The federal government’s budget reform includes the provision that years spent in higher education no longer apply to years worked for civil servants. This means that public servants, including teachers, will have to work longer to qualify for the same pension. Civil servants do have the ability to “regularise” their study years through a lump sum payment, a service that is offered to all workers in Belgium. At the same time, the system of “preferential bonuses”, which allows teachers to retire earlier, will be reformed. Education unions feared this will mean decreased pensions for teachers, but the federal pension minister has said they will not be lowered. The money saved by lower bonuses, he said, will be invested in a new pension system.

\ LIVING

week in activities Saga of the Unicorn A magical family festival for all aspiring knights and princesses (and their parents). Live music and entertainment, workshops, swordfighting demonstrations, jousting, games… more than 50 activities in all, on the grounds of a historic abbey. 15 May 10.00-18.00, Herkenrode Abbey, Herkenrodeabdij 4, Hasselt; €9 adults/ €6 kids/ max €25 per family \ abdijsiteherkenrode.be

45th Eel Festival There’s a festival for everything in Flanders. This one is dedicated to that traditional dish paling in ’t groen, or eels in green sauce, which will be served continuously in the festival tent. Plus live music, guided walks, folk dances, boat rides on the Scheldt and more. 14-16 May, Kouterplein, Bornem (Antwerp province); free

Skeletons in the closet

Exhibition of household items fosters debate on racial stereotypes Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

ou don’t have to be terribly old to remember the mission money box. Back in the day, you could leave some coins in the piggy bank at your school or in the local church to help the “poor children in Africa”. Some jars were decorated with a statuette of a missionary dressed in habit with a few African children under his protective arms. Others sporting a black child had internal mechanisms that moved the statuette’s head in a grateful nod every time you threw a coin in (pictured). There might still be places where some forgotten collection boxes gather dust, but, by and large, they are relics of the past. Our mentality has changed, and today we look at these objects as stereotypical or downright racist.

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Antwerp Fort Ring Twenty-two historic forts in and around Antwerp are open to the public with a varied programme of exhibitions, activities, lectures, tours and tastings of regional products. Use one of the five suggested bike routes on the website to plan your visits, or create your own. 16 May 10.00-18.00, across Antwerp; free

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Haspengouw Hike and Bike Spend a day cycling or walking through Flanders’ beautiful fruit-growing region. Choose from two walking routes of eight or 12 kilometres and three bike routes between 35 and 60km. Every participant receives an apple and some juice, and there are rest stops along the way serving regional specialties. 16 May 8.00-15.00, Veiling Haspengouw, Tongersesteenweg 152, Sint-Truiden; €3 \ landelijkegilden.be

Street Theatre Festival On Pentecost Monday, Bokrijk will host more than 20 Belgian and international performance groups, who will fill the streets of the open-air museum with circus acts, puppet shows, comedy, acrobatics, folk music and dance. All free with museum admission. 16 May 10.0018.00, Domein Bokrijk, Bokrijklaan 1, Genk; €12.50 \ bokrijk.be

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We use all kinds of stereotypes, even if we’re not aware of it Cultural stereotypes seep through in ways that are often vague and unclear, according to the nonprofit organisation Orbit. Reflected in common cultural products and in the media, over time they become self-perpetuating. It was no different in the past. Orbit works on diversity and intercultural dialogue and last year

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went in search of everyday objects that embody the stereotypes and racist ideas of the past. The resulting exhibition, BrusselZWerft, is touring Brussels through the end of the summer. “We had already done a project on stereotypes in religious art,” says Sien Smits, the exhibition’s co-ordinator. “Later, the idea grew to do something with everyday objects that people have lying around in their attics or in the closet.” The exhibition is made up of vintage postcards and colonialera posters, as well as decadesold comics and children books. “Many of these items reflect a very negative image of the ‘other’,” says Smits. “This form of cultural heritage cannot be found in museums or archives but in people’s homes, hence the name ‘zwerfgoed’, a play of words meaning heritage that wanders around.” Last autumn, Orbit asked residents of Brussels for help in locating the various artefacts. Many people brought items related to Belgium’s colonial past that were given to them by relatives who had worked as government officials and missionaries in Congo. “Many of these objects are part of a family’s history, so we recorded the stories behind them,” says Smits. Some items may appear relatively harmless, including comic books in which African children are invariably presented with frizzy hair and thick lips, and an ad for a tie

manufacturer that shows a tribal family dressed in dotted neckties and straw skirts, complete with giraffes and huts. Others reflect a downright poisonous message, such as a collection of antiSemitic postcards amassed over the years by diamond dealer Arthur Langerman,

whose father died in the Holocaust. They portray Jews in ways that recall the darkest moments of European history – caricature faces with hooked noses or hands clutching bags of money. It is hard to imagine that these picture postcards were once used for sharing holiday greetings. Through everyday objects, Orbit hopes to show how we used to think about the cultural other and to make us reflect on the stereotypes perpetuated today. “It shows how our perception impacts the way we still think about the other,” says Smits. “We use all kinds of stereotypes, even if we’re not aware of it. With this exhibition, we want to encourage a debate.” BrusselZWerft runs until 20 May in Boekelberg, Sint-Annakerkstraat 63. It moves to the Anderlecht library in June and spends July and August in Sint-Jan Baptist church in the centre it

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BITE Antwerp restaurant caters to the vegan within you Veganism is neither niche lifestyle nor hairshirt. Smart money sees it as a growth market. Despite expanding demand, however, vegan cuisine remains a relative rarity in Europe. Bites & Wines is doing its part to rectify that oversight. Anglo-Flemish owner Katherine Nash and her crew have been serving Antwerp’s vegan community since 2014. In two short years, Nash has earned a reputation as a warm host and a culinary miracle worker. With one foot in the Anglo-American foodie world and the other in her native Antwerp, the proprietor entertains guests – and explains a finely detailed daily menu – in fluent English. Bites & Wines occupies a cosy, ground-floor space on a quiet side street just around the corner from Antwerp’s bustling Grote Markt. There’s room for only a handful of tables, so a dozen guests feels like a full house. Naturally, reservations are recommended, especially at weekends. The decor combines contemporary design principles – simplicity above all else – with strategic rustic details. There’s a functioning upright piano for diners to tinker on. The restaurant also

puts on the occasional concert. As the name suggests, Bites & Wines pairs its dishes with organic and vegan wines from around the world. The scope of Nash’s wine list

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is admittedly limited, but through no fault of her own. The fact is, organic wines have precious little market share in a conservative industry that favours tradition and established names to evolution and ethics. The organic revolution is slowly changing the face of the wine business but, like Morrissey says, these things take time. So the bites are the main event at Bites & Wines. Every night, Nash proposes a unique two-course menu consisting of soup and your choice of one of two totally made-from-scratch main dishes. Nash’s ever-growing repertoire includes stuffed tomatoes, tofu in avocado sauce and vegan tortillas with asparagus and pineapple salsa. Dessert options include sophisticated fruit dishes and vegan cakes galore. As with most vegan fare, the lack of meat doesn’t hit as hard as the absence of eggs and dairy products. Tofu and quinoa can play the lead every bit as deliciously as steak and seafood. But one does miss the supporting roles that hold the show together. That said, Nash works wonders with vegan substitutes and is able to nearly replicate the originals. \ Georgio Valentino

maY 11, 2016

Think global, eat local

Good Food Brussels strategy puts the focus on local and sustainable Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

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ustainability isn’t just a buzzword these days. More and more businesses – and consumers – are becoming aware of the cost of our environmental impact. Now the Brussels-Capital Region has come up with its own strategy for a more sustainable system of food consumption and production. By rethinking the food chain, Good Food Brussels aims to reduce waste and increase the amount of food grown locally. “We’ve been working on a food strategy for several years now,” says Joséphine Henrion from Leefmilieu Brussel, the region’s environmental agency, which oversees the programme. “There are already many initiatives in schools and staff cafeterias to make food consumption more sustainable,” she continues. “At one point, we felt the need to create a more widespread approach that involves other institutions in Brussels and covers the entire food chain.”

We want to forge links between the projects and encourage more people to participate Good Food Brussels will run for five years and centres around nutrition. It is tailored to Brussels’ specific dynamics and is supported by multiple government institutions and social groups. It also provides a platform to connect existing initiatives, increasing their visibility and inspiring others to take part. Sustainability has become the touchstone of our times. It concerns many aspects of our daily lives, so the decision to focus on food, Henrion says, was all too obvious. “The way we produce and consume food has a huge impact on the environment. A staggering 30% of our personal impact on the environment comes from what and how we eat.”

La Petite Senne in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek is one of a growing number of urban gardens in Brussels

At the same time, she continues, there are numerous initiatives and actors who are already involved in making the food chain more ecological. “There is a clear desire among the public to do something about it,” she says. One of Good Food Brussels’ primary objectives is to increase awareness about what is already there. “Many people are growing their own food or setting up communal gardens, but do not know what is going on

in the rest of Brussels,” Henrion says. “With our platform, we want to forge links between the different projects and encourage more people to participate.” Although food production comes at a great environmental strain, a lot of what we don’t consume goes to waste. So it is logical, Henrion says, that combating food waste is high on the programme’s agenda. “Our priority is to involve more of Brussels’ residents. We want to set up initiatives that significantly

50 weekends in Flanders: City trip to Leuven Flanders Today has launched an e-book with ideas for how to spend a year’s worth of weekends. Visit the link above to get your copy of 50 Weekends in Flanders. We’ll also print one of our suggestions every week here. Leuven used to be a serious university town where bright Flemish students studied law and science. Though it is still that, it’s also a vibrant place to spend a weekend, with one of the country’s best art museums and more drinking establishments than you can count. \ visitleuven.be

Walk through ART DECO ARCHITECTURE Most of Leuven was destroyed in one night in August 1914 when the invading German army torched the town. Some of the houses were carefully rebuilt in the old style, but others were replaced by Art Deco architecture. You find impressive examples of it on Bondgeno-

reduce how much food goes to waste.” One project already in place is called Restorestjes, a re-think of the doggy bag. These are special cardboard boxes that Leefmilieu makes available to restaurants so customers can take their leftovers home. The boxes, Henrion says, have proven to be a huge success. “More and more restaurants are asking for them.” The agency is also reaching out to distributors and hopes to find ways to reduce waste in the distribution stage and recover what is lost. “We need to think of better ways of connecting supermarkets with food banks, for example.” As it aims to reduce food waste, Good Food is also promoting local production. Its targets are ambitious. In time, Henrion envisions that as much as 35% of food consumed in Brussels could be produced locally. She says that the goal is very realistic, even for such a densely urbanised area. Last year, the agency commissioned a study to find out if it is possible to increase local production of food. “The study showed that Brussels and its surrounding region have great potential,” Henrion says, with more than enough resources to reach the target. Examples from other cities also show that it is possible to grow fruits and vegetables in an urban setting, and even breed chickens. “These things can happen in Brussels,” she says. The programme will also map out strategies for better use of available plots in the capital. The agency plans to focus on both professional food growers and enthusiasts. “We also want to persuade consumers to buy more locally produced food,” says Henrion. Localised food chains not only benefits the environment, they also lead to job creation, an important argument in a region like Brussels, which is plagued by high unemployment. “Sustainable food production presents plenty of employment opportunities,” says Henrion. “And that is something we want to work hard on. Another study we commissioned shows that the number of additional jobs would be significant. So while it is an ambitious plan, we are going for it.”

TINYURL.COM/50WEEKENDS

tenlaan, but almost every street has an Art Deco house.

meatballs. They also have a mean beer list.

Visit the BEGIJNHOF Head to the edge of town to wander through the quiet streets of the begijnhof. Once a community for single women, it has been sensitively restored by the university as student accommodation. It is a beautiful peaceful place with old brick houses, bumpy cobblestone streets and narrow bridges across the sluggish river.

Drink at DE FIERE MARGRIET This snug bar is decorated with old beer signs, deer antlers and two stuffed foxes. It takes its name from a medieval legend about a murdered local girl found floating in the river. The thick beer menu lists more than 300 options, including some with very odd names. How about an Alternatief Bittere Waarheid (Alternative Bitter Truth)? Margarethaplein 11

Tour with LEUVEN LEISURE This is an inspiring new tourism shop where you can buy a local beer or rent a bike for the day. It’s run by friendly young locals who organise beer tasting tours of Leuven, pub game evenings and canoe trips on the Dijle, where you can dress in Viking clothes if that is your thing. \ leuvenleisure.com

\ lcafe.be

Eat at L-CAFÉ Right on the Oude Markt (referred to by locals as the “longest bar in the world” for its proliferation of cafes) is this eatery that serves food like “grandma and mama used to make”. Sporting old-fashioned touches, it serves some of the city’s best traditional Flemish dishes, like stoemp, sausages with mash and

Stay at B&B LIZÉE This appealing B&B in a handsome brick townhouse has two spacious guest rooms and a large garden at the back. The friendly owner serves a delicious breakfast with local breads and homemade jams. \ bbalizee.be

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Your guide to life in Belgium The spring issue of Th The Thee Bulletin Newcomer is your guide to making the most of life in Belgium. It mixes practical community eff efforts information with features on community orts to clean up Brussels, planning for retirement, family activities around the country and other lifestyle topics.

PLUS our Education Guide 35 pages of interviews, articles and essential addresses of schools, colleges and universities in Belgium.

Pick up your copy at newsstands or at www.thebulletin.be/shop

\ ARTS

maY 11, 2016

Lights, camera, action

week in arts & CULTURE Bourgeois and Homans on jury of Mister Gay Belgium

Photo exhibition looks behind the scenes of 1960s Hollywood Georgio Valentino More articles by Georgio \ flanderstoday.eu

ADAMUSEUM.BE

ou don’t have to be a design aficionado to be familiar with the work of Ray and Charles Eames. The married design duo pioneered a stylised, space-age aesthetic that would define American design in the 1950s and ’60s. Their iconic Eames lounge chair is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the post-war boom, the Eameses produced a seemingly endless succession of furniture prototypes, experimental gadgets and games, art films and architectural masterpieces. (Their Los Angeles studio is a registered national landmark.) What you might not know is that the couple, with their lifelong passion for photography and Hollywood connections, were a fixture on the set of countless blockbuster films, snapping behind-the-scenes photos with an eye toward not just documenting the production but enriching their own artistic process. The first temporary exhibition at the Art & Design Atomium Museum (Adam), Eames & Hollywood showcases a selection of these snapshots. This new exhibition was assembled from a collection of some 750,000 Eames movie-set photos housed in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Prolific doesn’t even begin to describe their output. “I decided to select different slides and group them in a new fashion,” curator Alexandra Midal explains. “I wanted to show not only their vibrant aesthetic quality but also how the Eameses’ work engages with contemporary issues, such as editing and storytelling.” Midal finally selected 240 large-format photographic slides and tapped Swiss industrial designer Adrien Rovero to create an original scaffold to present them. “It was crucial to design a specific display,” Midal says. “We wanted to illustrate what first attracted the Eameses to Hollywood: the camera apparatus and the lighting rigs.” The works span several films and a period of decades. Some had been shown previously in the 1971 multimedia project Movie Sets. Some feature candid portraits of stars like Audrey Hepburn and Kirk Douglas. The only common thread, apart from the Eameses behind the camera, is the presence of the couple’s favourite director and lifelong

\ mrgaybelgium.be

friend, Billy Wilder. The Austrian-born filmmaker arrived in Hollywood as a refugee in the 1930s before becoming one of Tinseltown’s most celebrated directors. Wilder won Academy Awards for Lost Weekend (1945), Sunset Blvd (1950) and The Apartment (1960). Their relationship was more than personal. In Wilder, the Eameses found the consummate artist, an image-smith of the highest order whose pursuit of the most direct visual statement was an inspiration. Charles Eames once said: “You don’t go to watch Billy shoot to learn how to make a picture but to learn how to write an editorial, how to make a chair, how to make a piece of architecture.” This kind of artistic cross-pollination is in keeping with the mission of one of Brussels’ newest museums, which opened its doors last December. “Adam is not strictly a design museum,” communication officer Inge Van Eycken says. “It’s both an art and a design museum. With Eames & Hollywood, we have the perfect combination.” So film buffs may get a kick going behind the scenes of Hollywood classics, but, in truth,

the exhibition is addressed to a broader audience. Indeed, the show’s non-linear presentation and sparse documentation downplay the works’ context in favour of their intrinsic aesthetic value. The Hollywood stars, the big-budget sets and the exotic shooting locations are all icing on the cake. The Eameses were after something much more elusive. This is about art writ large. “In the days before digital photography,” Van Eycken says, “every image had to be physically developed and stored. To produce 750,000 slides couldn’t be just a labour of love or a friendly favour. These were studies for the Eameses. They helped them realise their design and architectural projects.” “The couple wanted to transmit their ideas in a direct and unmediated fashion,” Midal adds. “This dream of a universal, purely visual Esperanto of images that would be understood by all and that would be freed from all constraints remains the dream of many artist and designers.” Until 4 September

Books & booze: Antwerp bar puts literature on the menu Have you ever been so absorbed in a book that you wished the cafe in which you were sitting would stay open a little longer, and you could order a beer instead of a coffee? If so, there is good news for you. A new bookshop-cum-bar has opened its doors on the Grote Markt in Antwerp. From outside, Kobalt just looks like a cosy cafe, with book-covered shelves, a smattering of tables and a comfy sofa. But a quick glance at the menu reveals that in addition to serving light food, coffee and alcohol, this place also sells second-hand books and original drawings. “The idea is that you’ll come to the bar to actually buy a book, as opposed to going to a bookshop just to have a coffee,” says co-owner Alex Schuurbiers. Behind the counter, she is joined by Celine De Cadt. The pair previously worked together in a local restaurant and noticed they made a good team. When De Cadt, 27, who earned a degree in illus-

Flemish ministers Geert Bourgeois and Liesbeth Homans will serve on the jury of this year’s Mister Gay Belgium competition to determine which of 12 manly contestants will carry the title for the next year. Competitors will get the chance to visit Homans, who serves as equal opportunities minister, at her office ahead of the competition. Ministers are a popular choice to serve on the 16-member jury; prime minister Charles Michel served last year when 22-year-old Skelte Willems was chosen. Some of the other members of the jury this year are TV personality Marcel Vanthilt, reality TV star Kelly Pfaff and cabaret artist Els de Schepper. The competition takes place on 28 May in Antwerp.

tration at the Sint-Lucas art school in Ghent, came up with the idea to start a bar that would also sell works of art, she asked Schuurbiers to join her. Schuurbiers, 26, expressed interest but wanted to include literature, which fits more in with her interests as a graduate of literature, film and theatre studies. Kobalt has a limited menu, but everything is fresh and homemade. De Cadt bakes the cakes

Adam

7,000 ask for refund for AC/DC show Seven thousand people have asked for a refund of their ticket to the AC/DC show on 16 May at the Werchter festival grounds after hearing that Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose would stand in for lead singer Brian Johnson. Johnson has dropped out of the AC/DC world tour because of hearing loss. When the announcement was made last month, concert promoter Live Nation offered to refund ticket-holders who were not happy with the substitution, which is an unusual move in the sector. Some 1,000 of the returned tickets have gone to people on the waiting list, and the other 6,000 are still available. Tickets cost €88. \ livenation.be

Belgiëplein 1, Brussels

Belgians out of Queen Elisabeth FACEBOOK.COM/KOBALT58

and biscuits, and some of the vegetables in the soups and salads come from her brother’s garden. In addition to selling illustrations, Kobalt has partnered with the bookshop and publishing house Demian, which provides the bar with second-hand books. Shelves are mainly filled with English literature and classic Dutch novels, but there is also a small selection of poetry, in addition to books in French and German. Kobalt doesn’t close until 1.00, so there’s no rush to leave the comfortable setting. Every other Friday, the bar holds special events like live music and readings. The building that houses Kobalt belongs to De Cadt’s grandparents. It was previously an Indian restaurant, and the two women admit to putting a lot of work in to rid the premises of the lingering smell of Indian food. But they seem to have managed it; if there is any scent left, it’s that of fresh paint. \ Anete Kruusmägi

The two Belgian competitors selected for this year’s Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano have been eliminated. Yannick Van de Velde, 26, of Sint-Niklaas reached the semi-final in a previous Queen Elisabeth competition. Last year he won the prestigious Busoni competition in Italy. Florian Noack of Brussels, was also stopped in the first round, which continues until 14 May, when the 12 finalists will be announced. The final takes place in Brussels on 28 May. The Queen Elisabeth is one of the most prestigious music competition for young people in the world. \cmireb.be

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\ ARTS

Pop in the pulpit

Flemish singer An Pierlé’s latest album draws on church organ for new sound Christophe Verbiest More articles by Christophe \ flanderstoday.eu

Ghent-based singer An Pierlé fights a burning fever to talk about her sixth album, branching out into soundtracks and not discussing music at home.

“I

won’t live much longer,” An Pierlé says with a smile as she recovers from a coughing fit that almost had the windows of her Ghent home rattling. Health problems have kept the singer and piano player grounded; she’s just had to cancel a show. Although she’s taking “loads of vile medicines,” she still opened her home to Flanders Today. She feels the urge to talk about her new album, Arches, and she does it with gusto, in a voice that make Tom Waits sound like a choirboy. Antwerp-born Pierlé, who turned 41 in December, came to prominence when she made it to the final of Humo’s Rock Rally in 1996. She didn’t win – the jury had very conflicting opinions about her – but she was certainly the most talked-about contestant. Even if people talked more about her playing seated on a ball than about her beautiful voice and eccentric piano playing. She’s been a mainstay of music in Flanders since her debut, Mud Stories, three years after that. Album number six, Arches, is quite a feat. It wasn’t recorded at La Patrie, the studio in her home that she shares with her partner – in life and music – Koen Gisen, a well-respected record producer and mixer. Instead it was recorded in Ghent’s Sint-Jacobs church, because she wanted to incorporate the church’s organ. “Four years ago, I was named the city’s composer. It was an opportunity to get off the beaten track and experiment,” she recalls. “One of my projects then incorporated the organ at Sint-Jacobs.” Afterwards she even did a small

tour of churches, but Arches is the first album on which she’s used the church organ in new songs. And yep, they still sound like pop tunes. Though Pierlé is a pianist, she doesn’t play the organ herself: “You need to be an octopus to do that. I have the feeling you need at least eight arms and four feet.” They recorded everything late at night . “It’s a different atmosphere, with weird creaking noises, a bit spooky even,” she says. “We had no choice, though, as there’s too much noise any other time. But it was no problem. They gave me the keys to the church.” In the song “There Is No Time” Pierlé sings: “We’re an example of opposites attract”. Is she singing about herself and Gisen? “I suppose. But I almost never refer literally to our relationship,” she says. “That would be boring. My lyrics are always a mix between very personal stuff and inspiration I get from things I see around me, or that I read or hear.” She giggles, or at least tries to: “‘Opposites Attract’ is the title of a Paula Abdul song.” You might think that in the PierléGisen household music is a muchdiscussed topic, but in fact, they avoid it. “Outside the professional realm, we don’t talk much about music,” she says. “We might have

anpierle.be

Last year, Pierlé recorded the soundtrack of Le tout nouveau testament (The Brand New Testament) by the Brussels director Jaco Van Dormael, a film that won multiple awards around the world and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

If the director rejected something I really loved, I quietly reused it for another scene had a flaming row in the studio, but once we finish working and are back home, it’s forgotten. I think this is a consequence of first having been best friends, becoming a couple afterwards and only after that starting to make music together.”

“I met him once at a film festival in Rennes, but that was it,” she says. “And one day he phoned me and asked me out of the blue if I wanted to make the music for his new film.” It surprised her, since she’d never worked on a soundtrack before. “I loved the idea but I had big

shoes to fill.” She’s referring to Van Dormael’s brother Pierre, who died eight years ago. He was a respected composer and jazz guitarist, who wrote the music for all his brother’s films. “But Jaco was the first to put my mind at rest. At that point, I was preparing a new album, but I put it aside; this was an opportunity I wanted to grab.” First impressions are important, Pierlé points out. “The first time I read the screenplay, I had my computer at hand to record every fresh idea I had. Some of those musical themes I effectively used in the end. Jaco had this idea of wanting very melodic piano music, but we soon realised that wouldn’t be enough. In the end, the music was much more arranged.” She got into a rhythm of working on the soundtrack that found her sending Van Dormael the music daily. For the first time in

her career she couldn’t do whatever she wanted. She had to follow the director. “I liked it!” she insists. “If he rejected something I really loved, I quietly reused it for another scene.” She laughs and for a few seconds I worry she will choke. “I shouldn’t laugh, it’s bad for me these days,” she says with a wink. Pierlé originally studied acting, and by working on Le tout nouveau testament she feels she’s finally had a use for that training. “Jaco pointed out to me that I’m able to read and understand a screenplay emotionally. I didn’t realise it was something special, but apparently it’s not that common,” she says. It was her first experience as a soundtrack composer, and, if it’s up to her, it won’t be her last. “We needed a lot of romantic and funny music for the film. I wouldn't mind doing something completely different: a dark, brooding score.”

More new music this month Stefaan Tubex

Sioen

Songs for the Bookshelf • Self-release

Too Good to Be True (2001-2016) • Kabron

Singer-songwriter Stefaan Tubex debuts with this special project, a CD with a book. In the latter you find the lyrics, Dutch translations (or rather interpretations), chord schemes and musings. But it’s the music that convinces the most: 10 folky songs with a chamber music feel, marinated in melancholy. It doesn't come as a surprise to learn that Tubex convinced John Wood, collaborator of the late British musician Nick Drake, to mix this album, since his music is in the same vein as Drake’s. Wood must also have been impressed by this set of songs. Paraphrasing one of the titles, Tubex sounds like a man singing to forget what should not be forgotten.

From his debut single, “Cruisin’”, to last year’s “Pharaoh”, this compilation gives a good overview of the 15-year career of (Frederik) Sioen, the Ghent musician and singer whose piano-infused songs, be they ballads or more up-tempo tunes, always glow with an unmistakable pop sensibility. When I interviewed him about his first album, he told me his motto was “Go with the flow and don’t forget to enjoy it”. This record gives the impression that’s exactly what’s he’s done for the past 15 years. And he’s improved his English: He’s no longer singing holy day when he means holiday.

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\ AGENDA

maY 11, 2016

Cookie City at the copper-coloured landmark

CONCERT

Five Years MAS 14-16 May

n May 2011, the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) opened its doors in the port of Antwerp. The remarkable copper-coloured landmark tells the story of the city and the harbour, but also hosts an ethnographic collection and much more. To celebrate its fifth birthday, the MAS is planning loads of festivities during Pentecost weekend. The diverse programme ranges from a view behind the scenes of the museum to a bus tour of the harbour. For the latter experience, dockworker Danny will be your guide. The trip complements the Antwerpen à la carte exhibition,

Brussels

Museum aan de Stroom, Antwerp mas.be

which covers the invisible food chain that feeds the city. Danny will explain how imported products like bananas and coffee are processed in the harbour. Other activities are also linked to eating: a food truck festival, a photo exhibition by Sanne De Wilde spotlighting local shops and a workshop on upcycling. That’s making nice things out of packing material used for food. Chinese artist Song Dong, meanwhile will spend every day of the festival – and then some – building a city of cookies. That’s a reference to one of Antwerp’s nicknames, Cookie City. When the sculpture is finished, everyone is

invited to tuck in. The exhibition Luc Tuymans: Glasses brings together portraits of people who wear glasses, painted by Tuymans throughout his career. Arguably Flanders’ most-lauded living artist, Tuymans discovered at one point that on three out of four portraits he painted, the subject is wearing glasses. Tuymans himself will guide visitors through the exhibition. And on Saturday night, Antwerp provides what it always provides when it has something to celebrate: fireworks! \ Christophe Verbiest

DANCE

VISUAL ARTS

SIMPLEXITY

Gestes Abandonnés

20-22 May

Kaaitheater, Brussels kaaitheater.be

Until 29 May

eyeLoco, Antwerp eyeloco.eu

Marseille-born, Antwerp-based photographer Olympe Tits began her circuitous journey to photographic fame as a dancer. An alumna of, and now instructor at the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, Tits only took to the camera in 2011. Her work has since been shown in Antwerp, Ghent, London, Paris, Miami

FESTIVAL

EVENT

Kunstennacht

Nacht Opstaand Oostende

Last year’s inaugural edition of Kunstennacht was a success worth repeating. The late-night culture crawl through Hasselt returns with 16 participating institutions, from museums to galleries to cultural centres to art schools. The event kicks off after happy hour and wraps up just before midnight. Visitors are invited to discover some two dozen projects spread out across the entire city. Among them are Hasselt-based designer Patrick Reuvis’ light installation Licht at the Stadsmus and special guided tours of the fashion exhibition Haute-à-Porter at Modemuseum, in the presence of guest curator Filep Motwary. \ GV

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FILM Brussels Humbert/Penzil cycle: Screenings of films by the Swiss-German director Nicolas Humbert and German musician, film director and traveller Werner Penzel, featuring music by Charles Hayward and the Flemish duo Huur is Duur, plus a master class by Humbert himself. 5 May-12 June, Cinema Nova, Arenbergstraat 3 \ nova-cinema.org

Brussels-born artist Thierry De Mey has approached the world of dance from many angles in the past 30 years. As a composer, he’s written for dance productions. As a director, he’s made films about dance. As a multimedia artist, he’s created choreographic installations. But SIMPLEXITY is the first dance piece he’s choreographed for the stage. For the occasion, De Mey has partnered with prestigious Parisian experimental music group Ensemble InterContemporain, founded by the late electro-acoustic pioneer Pierre Boulez. The collaboration fuses dance, music and digital technology in a scientifically rigorous study of contemporary performance. \ Georgio Valentino

12 May, 18.00

BJ Scott: The Brussels-based American singer-songwriter pays tribute to Billie Holiday on the occasion of what would have been the blues-jazz icon’s 100th birthday, featuring all the grand classics, as well as some rare pearls. 13 May 20.00, La Tentation, Lakensestraat 28

and elsewhere. It also earned her the Belgian National Award at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards. Tits’ photography is informed by her day job. The choreographer focuses on the human form and suggests movement in each freeze frame. In other words, every body has a story to tell. \ GV

FESTIVAL Ghent Pastoryfeesten: Second edition of this free festival in the garden of the historic rectory, featuring music, art, performances and children’s entertainment by the creative inhabitants of Ghent’s Dampoort neighbourhood. 14-15 May, Pastory, Louis-Schuermanstraat 1, Sint-Amandsberg \ pastory.be

Bruges Discover Thailand: Immerse yourself in Thai music and dance, workshops, travel information, food and drink and more in a relaxed market atmosphere. 15 May 10.00-20.00, Tourism Bruges, ‘t Zand 34 \ brugge.be

Across Hasselt kunstennacht.be

15 May, 18.00 Last year, while most Europeans wrung their hands over the plight of debt-stricken Greece, controversial Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis warned that the austerity programme imposed on his country was but a pilot project for the rest of the European Union.

FAIR

Wapenplein, Ostend In Belgium, the current government’s budget proposals have provoked criticism from both unions and grassroots organisations. This peaceful Ostend protest is one of many that have been taking place across Belgium and France. \ GV

Torhout (West Flanders) Hof & Huis 2016: 23rd edition of the garden and lifestyle fair on outstretched castle grounds, with more than 140 stands featuring inspirational garden and interior design ideas, food trucks and children’s entertainment. 14-16 May 10.00-18.00, Kasteel d’Aertrycke, Zeeweg 42 \ tuinbeurzen.be

EVENT

Parade@Pride: Brussels’ big annual Pride Parade celebrating the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities snakes around the city centre, with floats, streamers, confetti and much music and merriment. It’s the official close of the two-week Pride Festival.

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maY 11, 2016

Talking Dutch

VoiceS of flanders today

The hitch-hiking kitty-cat returns

In response to: VRT to scrap Teletekst after 36 years of service Tony Gardner: RIP Teletekst, you were great. Loved you.

Derek Blyth More articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

t was one of those newspaper headlines you can’t resist. Liftende kat opnieuw thuis na Amsterdams avontuur – Hitch-hiking cat back home after Amsterdam adventure, it said on the Gazet van Antwerpen website. It seems that Poes ‘Madammeke’, die vorige week het nieuws haalde – Little Miss Kitty, who hit the headlines last week omdat ze onder een motorkap van Antwerpen naar Amsterdam reisde – after she rode from Antwerp to Amsterdam under a car bonnet, is weer bij haar baasjes – is back home with her owners. De kat legde 180 kilometer af – The cat travelled 180 kilometres en werd pas bij aankomst ontdekt – and was only discovered on arrival, verborgen in de wagen – hidden in the car. The globetrotting cat was taken to Amsterdam’s dierenasiel – animal shelter. Op 2 april is deze halflangharige en superlieve zwart-witte poes bij ons binnengebracht – On 2 April, this short-haired and adorable kitty was brought to us, the animal refuge posted on its Facebook page. Ze is een beetje vies en dat is niet zo raar – She was rather dirty but that isn’t so surprising, want ze zat vast in de motorkap van een auto – because she’d been stuck under the bonnet of a car, en heeft op die manier waarschijnlijk een hele reis achter de rug – and probably spent the entire journey there. They called the cat Madammeke – Little Miss and used social media to track down her owner. Na een Facebookoproep die 14.000 keer gedeeld werd – Following a Facebook appeal that was shared 14,000 times, is de eigenaar van ‘Madammeke’ teruggevonden – Little Miss Kitty’s owner was tracked

In response to: Coastal mayors meet to discuss possible smoking ban Brian Neale: Good for the mayor. Let us hope more do the same.

In response to: Koala baby at Antwerp Zoo comes as a surprise Amandeep Singh Chauhan: No need to go to Australia.

down. In Antwerp. Sara Garcia uit Berchem kon haar ogen niet geloven – Sara Garcia from Berchem couldn’t believe her eyes dat haar kat Sushi plots overal op het internet opdook – when she saw her cat Sushi (pictured) was all over the internet. Antwerpenaren die in Amsterdam gingen winkelen – Some people from Antwerp who went shopping in Amsterdam, hebben Sushi per ongeluk meegenomen – accidentally took Sushi with them, it appears. Hoera voor de kracht van social media – Three cheers for the power of social media, the animal shelter wrote, want Madammeke is weer veilig thuis – because Little Miss is now safely back home. Ze was vooral erg blij om terug thuis te zijn – She was really happy to be back home, the owner said. Het is ongelofelijk wat ze meegemaakt heeft – It’s incredible to think what she’s been through. Let’s hope Little Miss Kitty now knows that it’s not safe to cat nap under the car bonnet.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

In response to: Antwerp restaurant caters to the vegan within you Nadine Marie Warburton: We should go!

Louis Vervaeke @LouisVervaeke Had a lovely day on the bike today around #Oudenaarde. 21 hills in 105k, only possible in the #vlaamseardennen.

Annick De Ridder @AnnickDeRidder Antwerp summer vibes...!  #friends

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the last word Home alone

Blessed event

“You never know who you’re entrusting with your children. There have been cases where people pretend to be babysitters, then clean out your house.”

“It’s a good, solid name that you don’t hear very often. And it sounds cool: Baby Bo.”

Christel Verhas of Gezinsbond, which is advising parents not to recruit babysitters from the internet or smartphone apps

A church wedding “I’m a supporter of the model of the Eastern Catholic church, where married men are allowed to be ordained into the priesthood.” © Kurt Desplenter/Belga

Archbishop Jozef De Kesel, interviewed in De Zondag, calls celibacy into question

Kortrijk mayor Vincent Van Quickenborne explains the choice of a name for his and his wife’s new baby girl

Green means go! “Driving forward on a green light no matter what is a form of asocial and arrogant behaviour that cannot be tolerated.” Danny Smagghe of Touring, as the Brussels-Capital Region begins a project to warn drivers that it’s illegal to drive into an intersection if you cannot get all the way across, even on a green light

CROSS TO BEAR A scene from last weekend's Holy Blood Procession in Bruges, in which the relic of the Holy Blood is carried across the city from the basilica to the cathedral, a ceremony that’s been taking place since the middle ages. Last year’s event was cance lled due to heavy rain; this weekend it was held under blue skies and blazing sun

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