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september 14, 2016 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.eu current affairs \ p2

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Back to the village

The youngest member of the Paralympics team wins gold in table tennis, while wheelchair racer Marieke Vervoort earns silver

As Mobility Week gets underway, the rural-most parts of the Westhoek are looking into ways to meet public transport needs

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All aboard

education \ p9

art & living \ p10

radio shows

Podcasts are finally making inroads in Flanders, with diverse subjects, like politics, mindfulness and even sex finding a devoted band of listeners \ 13

pop-ups bring new life to Hasselt’s unloved station district diana goodwin Follow Diana on twitter \ @basedinbelgium

The #BAMSTAT initiative has brought temporary shops, cafes, bars and even a barbershop to the run-down neighbourhood around Hasselt’s railway station.

here was an uncharacteristically festive atmosphere on Hasselt’s Stationsplein recently, as residents, shopkeepers and city officials celebrated the opening of #BAMSTAT, a two-month project aimed at revitalising the neighbourhood around the city’s railway station and bus depot. #BAMSTAT – a name that combines Bampslaan and Stationsplein, the two streets leading from the station to the city centre – mixes pop-up shops with social initiatives. In September and October, guest businesses and partners will work together to breathe new life and a safer atmosphere

into the area. Hasselt, for those unfamiliar with the capital of Limburg, bills itself as the Capital of Taste – the taste of good food, good taste in clothes and music, and a taste for the finer things in life. For the most part, the city lives up to its slogan, with a reputation for well-heeled citizens who spend their free time shopping in exclusive boutiques and dining at sleek restaurants. However, the city has another side, one that doesn’t fit with its image of tasteful refinement. Just a few hundred metres from the city centre, the area around the station – itself a relic of the post-war period that’s due to be replaced with a modern facility in the coming years – has long been an eyesore and a source of embarrassment to the city. As is often the case in big cities, the railway station is a

magnet for the city’s homeless and drunks. Many of the buildings and storefronts are empty, lending the neighbourhood an air of neglect and decay. The remaining businesses in the immediate vicinity are mostly cheap takeaways, bars and night shops, in contrast to the high-end shops and restaurants in the city centre. #BAMSTAT is the brainchild of Christiaan Kastrop, whose Hasselt-based firm Comosie was behind similar projects in Genk and Maastricht last year. Kastrop doesn’t believe in freestanding pop-up shops; he came up with the concept of Temporary Lane instead, which combines several shortterm businesses in one place. In Genk, it was a street at a remove from the city’s main shopping areas. In Maastricht, it was an abandoned department store. In Hasselt, the project includes not just retail stores but also continued on page 5

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Medals for Paralympians vervoort ends career with silver in rio, while table tennis sees youngest ever men’s gold medallist alan Hope Follow Alan on twitter \ @AlanHopeFt

lemish wheelchair athlete Marieke Vervoort of Diest has won the silver in the 400m race with a time of 1:07.62, behind Canadian Michelle Stilwell at 1:05.43. This is the third Paralympic medal for Vervoort, known as “The Beast from Diest”, who won gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the 2012 London Paralympics. Vervoort, 37, made international headlines this summer with the suggestion that, suffering from constant debilitating pain, she would use euthanasia to end her life at some point after the Rio games. Vervoort suffers from a degenerative spinal disease that has paralysed her from the waist down. It’s already clear that the Rio Games will be her last, she told Le Parisien this summer. “Rio is my last wish,” she said. “I’m training very hard, but I have to fight my illness day and night. I hope to end my career on a podium in Rio.” She stated that training was her reason to go on living and that the end of her sports career could signal the end of everything. “I have a list of things I want to do, including aerobatics. And I’ve started thinking about euthanasia.” The procedure is legal in Belgium with medical approval. “Everybody sees me smiling with my gold medal, but no one sees the dark side,” Vervoort told the newspaper. “I suffer a lot and sometimes only get about 10 minutes of sleep a night.” In other Paralympic news, 16-year-old Laurens Devos from Malle, Antwerp province, became the youngest Paralympics gold medallist ever in the men’s singles table tennis. Devos sailed through the competition without losing a game (see story, facing page).

€8,500 raised for funeral of young man found dead in park A crowdfunding campaign to pay for Jordy Brouillard’s funeral raised more than €8,500 in a few hours, the organisers said. Brouillard, 19, was found dead in a tent in Ghent’s Blaarmeersen park at the end of August. The cause of death was dehydration and malnutrition. Since his body was discovered, Brouillard (pictured) has become a cause celebre in Flanders’ care industry. He had grown up in a youth care institution in Aalst, but when he reached the age of 18, he had to move out. At that point, he received help from his mother, but according to her the relationship was difficult, and Brouillard began to use drugs. Social workers have since criticised the lack of resources for follow-up care and support once a youth leaves care. The news shocked the public, among them Jef Verbeeck, a soldier from Steenokkerzeel. He started the crowdfunding campaign to pay for a funeral. Early last week, the tally stood at just €270, but after a media report, it shot up to €8,500. Verbeeck said any surplus would be donated to youth care. The funeral took place last Thursday in Ninove, attended by some 150 people. \ AH

Major differences in allowance for voluntary caregivers There are major differences among municipalities concerning the allowances provided to informal caregivers, according to statistics provided by Flemish MP Peter Persyn (N-VA). While some people caring for elderly or disabled relatives receive €900 a year, others receive nothing. Further, said Persyn, more and more municipalities are cutting allowance or adding extra conditions due to budget cuts. More than 600,000 Flemings voluntarily take care of a family member, acquaintance or neighbour. Municipalities in Flanders are free to decide on the provision of allowances to these “informal caregivers”. On average, a caregiver receives €246 a year. The statistics show that the number of municipalities providing an allowance has decreased from 80% to 72% over the last four

years. “In some jurisdictions, there is a generous allowance, but one kilometre further down the road, informal caregivers receive nothing,” said Persyn. “That is too ridiculous for words.” Persyn suggested a region-wide policy to regularise the funding. Nathalie De Bast of the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities pointed out that towns also provide other kinds of support. “Many municipalities offer psychosocial assistance to informal caregivers,” she said. “Many also have their own home care services or subsidise one.” De Bast also noted that informal caregivers can apply for €130 per month from the Flemish Care Insurance scheme. \ Andy Furniere

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fines handed out in the BrusselsCapital Region for breaking the road toll laws were contested, more than four times the 1,829 that were simply paid, finance minister Guy Vanhengel said

non Dutch speakers to be given a language immersion course over the next three years in Ostend to improve their chances in the labour market. The coastal city has an unemployment rate of 12%

“warm” bakers in Brussels – shops where bread is baked on the premises – compared to 228 in 2004, contrary to popular belief that the sector is shrinking

place for the University of Leuven in the latest QS World University Rankings. The university climbs three places and remains the only Flemish university in the top 100

new jobs created at the Docks Bruxsel shopping centre in the canal district, due to open next month, in comparison to the 1,200 promised by the region’s employment agency Actiris

september 14, 2016

week in Brief Philippe De Backer, federal secretary of state for the North Sea, is preparing a plan to reduce the amount of plastic waste off the Belgian coast, he told a conference in the European Parliament. An estimated 20,000 tonnes of plastic is dumped in the North Sea every year, causing harm to marine flora and fauna. Ideas include “Fishing for litter”, which would provide recreational and fishing boats with special bags to collect plastic rubbish and return it to shore. Some 300 students whose law exam at Ghent University was interrupted last week when a fire alarm went off will have to re-sit it, the university said. The alarm was set off by a small fire in a lift mechanism, which produced a great deal of smoke but was quickly brought under control. A proposed change to sentencing laws for offences linked to terrorism would be in breach of the constitution, the Council of State has warned. The bill would increase the sentences for anyone convicted of helping prepare a terrorist attack and creates a situation, the Council said, where crimes linked to terror incur greater sentences than similar crimes with no terrorist link, such as attempted murder. The proposed law would come in conflict with the constitutional principle of equality and the legal principle of proportionality, the Council of State said. Antwerp is mourning the death of Zwarte Liza, a rare black swan that lived in the Rivierenhof park in the Deurne district. Liza was attacked by a fox, the province said, while she was in temporary lodgings in the petting farm, where she was moved to avoid the fireworks marking Liberation Day. Black swans are very rare, and Liza attracted worldwide attention, including a report on CNN.

face of flanders Supporters of the Ringland project to cover over part of the Antwerp ring have criticised the leaking of a report that claims the changes would make traffic jams worse on the motorway. Activist group stRaten-generaal claimed the leak was a “dirty political trick”, particularly during a period of a truce while the report was under study. Flemish mobility minister Ben Weyts said the report dealt with only an underlying problem, and the government would continue to support the main part of the Ringland project. After 10 years of debate, the city of Mechelen hasagreedtodevotepart of the city cemetery to east-facing graves, in response to a request by the Muslim community. The eastfacing section will, however, be open to anyone, regardless of religion, with a 30-year concession for each grave.

and fair competition. The investigation continues. Plans for a new national football stadium on Parking C of the Heizel complex in Brussels suffered a serious blow when a justice of the peace in Grimbergen – on whose territory the site is located – ruled that a local road in the area was still in use and has to be retained. Stadium planners had argued the road was no longer in use and could be built over. Grimbergen’s city council must now organise a public enquiry into plans to remove the road and allow submissions by opponents. In the meantime, contractors Ghelamco cannot be awarded a building permit. The delay means a risk of missing the deadline to be ready in time for the European Championships in 2020.

Flemish animal welfare minister Ben Weyts has called for a label on all food produced from the slaughter of animals without stunning, after it was revealed that such food is being sold to Belgian consumers with no indication of its origin. According to a report in De Standaard, 94% of sheep slaughtered in Flanders are not stunned first, as well as 48% of calves and 21% of cows. Animal rights organisation Gaia called on Weyts to “waste no more time on labels and pursue the ban on slaughter without stunning”.

Sportpaleis, the company that owns music venues in Antwerp, Ghent and Hasselt as well as Vorst Nationaal in Brussels, has announced a joint candidature with Botanique to take over the Koninklijk Circus in Brussels. The hall is owned by the city and is currently operated by Botanique. Their contract, due to run until 2026, was cancelled, which led to legal action. Sportpaleis has now announced a deal whereby Botanique takes care of the artistic aspect of the venue, while Sportpaleis looks after the business side. The city has yet to decide who will be awarded the new contract.

Federal police have discovered software fitted in some lorries from haulage contractors in East and West Flanders that allowed working hours to be falsified. The software manipulates the digital tachograph, a device that automatically records speed and distance, as well as when the vehicle is moving or immobile. The fraudsters used the software to allow drivers to carry on driving while supposedly being at rest, which experts say is a threat to road safety, labour laws

A 53-year-old woman left permanently disfigured by an acid attack at a Delhaize store in Antwerp last year is claiming €500,000 in damages from her attacker, her lawyer said at the opening of the trial. Meanwhile the prosecutor’s office has asked for a 20-year sentence for the man, 41-yearold Dutch national Jelle Frenken, together with an order that the sentence could be prolonged for up to 15 years more if the danger of re-offending was present.

offside a rose by any other name The most popular name in Flanders last year was Louise for girls and Lucas for boys – both old favourites. Brussels was more of a surprise, however: Nour was the top-ranked name for girls, and Adam for boys. But do these annual rankings actually mean very much? Are there lots of little Adams toddling around, pulling the pigtails of the little Nours? Not really. There are so many more names in circulation these days that it takes far fewer hits to score highly in the popularity stakes. In the last 20 years, the number of different names registered for girls

has gone up by 62%, and for boys by 66%. Over the same period, the number

laurens devos Imagine how it must feel to mark the start of your career as a young athlete with a gold medal. That’s what happened to Laurens Devos this weekend, when he became the youngest athlete to ever win a gold medal in men’s table tennis at the Paralympic Games. The 16-year-old, also the youngest member of Belgium’s Paralympic team, put in flawless performances in earlier rounds in Rio, against opponents with much more experience. Devos has cerebral palsy, and the first sport he ever took up was horse-riding. However, the minute he picked up a paddle to play table tennis against his brother, Robin – a member of Belgium’s table tennis team and

players are classed according to their level of disability from 1 to 10, with the higher numbers signifying less physical handicap. Devos remained in Class 9 for the Rio Games. There, he made mincemeat out of his opponents, winning all of his matches, with a 3-0 shutout in the semi-final. He played against opponents aged 21 to 47 from Japan, Ukraine, the US and Spain. In the final, assured of at least a silver medal, he played the same faultless game, sending Dutch player Gerben Last home with silver after another 3-0 defeat. “When I’m playing, I don’t really feel like I have a handicap,” Laurens said. “I even play

When I’m playing, I don’t really feel like I have a handicap rated 119 in the world – he was hooked. So much so that he insisted on attending the sports school for top athletes in Leuven. After two years, at the age of 14, he was playing internationally, and one year later was European champion in Class 9. Table tennis

in competitions for the ablebodied. But the level is a little bit too high for me in the real Olympic Games. That’s why I chose the Paralympic Games, although I hope all the same to become a top athlete in the future.” Bet on that. \ Alan Hope

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

of times a name showed up – for either gender – has fallen by 33%. Although Emma was the most popular girl’s name across the whole country in 2015, it was only used 645 times. For the boys, Louis won with 613. In Flanders, Lucas led with 342, only four points ahead of Liam with 338. Louise leads the girls with 372, ahead of Emma on 364. Bear in mind that those Emmas, despite coming second, make up more than half of the winning national total. In Brussels, the leader Adam was named in only 213 cases, and Nour in only 101. \ AH

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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, Paula Dear, Andy Furniere, Lee Gillette, Diana Goodwin, Clodagh Kinsella, Catherine Kosters, Toon Lambrechts, Ian Mundell, Anja Otte, Tom Peeters, Arthur Rubinstein, Senne Starckx, Christophe Verbiest, Denzil Walton general manager Hans De Loore publisHer Mediahuis NV

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5th colUMn sacrificial lamb

Few will have heard of 28-yearold Youssef Kobo, aside perhaps from his part in exposing the racist online reactions that followed the death of a Genk teenager this summer. And many will not have heard of Bianca Debaets (CD&V), the Brussels secretary for equal opportunities, for whom Kobo worked. But they were both at the centre of a major incident last week between coalition parties N-VA and CD&V. The former had singled out Kobo for a series of criticisms. N-VA thought of Kobo as a radical Muslim, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, infiltrating mainstream politics though his work as a CD&V aide. Party president Bart De Wever criticised Kobo’s opinions on Israel, accusing the activist of anti-Semitism. The attacks culminated last week after Kobo lashed out at N-VA politician Fons Duchateau, who had spoken of a “Muslim invasion”. The nationalists delved into Kobo’s social media posts and came up with one from 2013 on Facebook, in which he jokingly proposed to slaughter animal rights activists rather than sheep. Kobo apologised for some of his posts, calling them youthful lapses, but to no avail. After press reports about his “death threats against animal activists,” he was fired from Debaets’ cabinet. The strike against Kobo is part of a larger N-VA strategy of being the party that is tough on migration and security. This explains why unstunned sacrificial slaughter has become a major political issue, equally important as the loss of thousands of jobs. Depicting CD&V as pandering to Muslims is part of this strategy, aimed at luring centrist voters. (To compensate the votes lost to Vlaams Belang, some observers believe.) CD&V, which prides itself on being an inclusive party, is finding it hard to deal with the attacks. In sacrificing Kobo, it seems to have proven N-VA right: The man has no place in mainstream politics. Only days later, though, CD&V party president Wouter Beke wrote an article praising Kobo and stating that there will always be room in the party for people with his vision. In recent months, CD&V has taken strength from the moral leadership of the German chancellor Angela Merkel, a fellow Christian-democrat. Merkel’s popularity is waning, however, and CD&V, too, is struggling to find the right way to react to the many events since the chancellor’s iconic words: “Wir schaffen das”. \ Anja Otte

Mayor of Hasselt resigns

Hilde claes leaves office amid allegations of conflict of interest alan Hope more articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

ilde Claes, the socialist mayor of Hasselt, resigned last week after more than 24 straight hours of negotiations between her party and CD&V over the political situation in the Limburg capital. Claes has been mayor of Hasselt since 2009. She will be replaced by CD&V’s Nadja Vananroye. There has been controversy in the past over Claes’ engagement with other city staff, and last year a court dropped charges against her of falsifying documents in 2013. The case had to do with whistle-blowers in the administration who were fired amid claims of corruption in the police zone Hasselt-Zonhoven-Diepenbeek. Last week it was reported that Claes (pictured) had used the city’s official advertising spaces and magazine to announce a private event

and had awarded a contract for a promotional campaign to the partner of her chief of staff. Socialist party president John Crombez visited Hasselt with a team of party leaders, but a solution could not be reached. It became clear that

Claes would have to step aside; she was even advised to do so by her father, former minister and Nato chief Willy Claes. “My decision comes from my heartfelt feelings for Hasselt and her people,” Claes wrote in a farewell statement. “They deserve the best. They deserve a mayor who can take care of their interests without baggage and without conditions.” New mayor Vananroye was the city councillor in charge of welfare, families and seniors. She also chairs the board of the local Jessa Hospital. “I don’t want the city to become ungovernable,” she said in a statement. “That’s why I have accepted my party’s request to take over the reins.”

Flanders and Wallonia join forces for renewable energy

Minister-president approves weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

Flemish energy minister Bart Tommelein has agreed to co-operate with his Walloon region counterpart, Paul Furlan, in the field of renewable energy. The two sides are setting up a working group to look at ways of developing the co-operation. “Flanders and Wallonia have the same goal: to increase the share of renewablesinourenergyconsumption and to achieve our targets by 2020,” Tommelein said after the meeting, which he described as “friendly and constructive”. “By working together we can only make each other stronger.” “The regions can only win from this sort of co-operation,” Furlan added. “For the sake of our people, we will make more of a co-operative effort for the development of renewable energy.” In related news, Tommelein announced a distribution plan for

Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois has approved an export licence for a shipment of arms to Saudi Arabia. He said that the shipment is for civilian use and that there is currently no arms embargo against Saudi Arabia. The licence is for “firearms, parts, accessories and ammunition,” according to the government’s office for control of strategic goods. The value of the shipment is €179,300. Although there is no embargo in place, weapons deals with the Saudis are politically sensitive given the kingdom’s connections to terrorist cells, as well as its conflict with neighbouring Yemen. Earlier this year, Bourgeois criticised his Walloon counterpart for a similar licence and also refused to grant a licence for another undisclosed shipment. At that time, he said he would consider further applications “critically” and judged the chances of

2,500 new charging stations for electric cars in Flanders by 2020, with an assurance of at least one in every municipality. Each station allows two cars to charge at a time. Tommelein also hopes to have 60,000 electric cars on the road by that time; the current total is 12,000. The government has already announced a premium for electric cars to encourage more people to buy, despite the higher purchase price. The lack of charging stations is another disincentive, which is the reason behind the distribution plan, drawn up with the co-operation of network managers Eandis and Infrax. The municipalities, he said, have been informed of how many stations they would require, with the leader being Antwerp at 314. \ AH

Subsidies for neighbours who renovate together Flemish energy minister Bart Tommelein has announced a new subsidy starting next year for energy-saving projects involving at least 10 households in one street, neighbourhood or municipality. The subsidy is worth €400 for each participating household. “It’s extremely important for all of us to use our energy as efficiently as possible,” Tommelein said in a statement, “not only to meet our energy and climate targets for 2020, but also for our own environment and our own wallets.” Some energy renovations, such as heat pumps, roof or wall insulation or specially insulated glass, can be more efficient and ultimately less costly when carried out on a larger scale than just a single house. The government has set aside €10 million for projects involving at least 10 households. Thepremiumcomesontopofthose

already offered by the government and by electricity network providers for energy renovations. In Flanders, one in five roofs is still not insulated, and only 18% of homes have insulated glass, which performs two to three times better than ordinary double glazing, said Tommelein. \ AH

an application being successful as “very unlikely”. His office pointed out that the weapons concerned are not usually subject to an export licence, but that Flanders applies its own controls on top of those in force internationally. SP.A spoke out against the granting of the license. “If we want to be rigorous in the fight against terrorism and extremism, then we have to stop delivering military materials to countries that support and spread terrorism and extremism,” said member of the Flemish parliament Tine Soens. \ AH

Sven Gatz plans new citizens’ cabinet on relationship with Brussels Sven Gatz, the minister representing Brussels’ interests in the government of Flanders, plans a new citizens’ cabinet focused on the capital, following similar successful initiatives on youth and culture policy. This time the citizens’ cabinet is being organised with his Wallonian counterpart, Rachid Madrane. The latest cabinet will look at questions relating to the capital, asking participants how the reputation of Brussels can be improved – in the rest of the country as well as in the eyes of the world. Like the others, the project begins with a web forum, which will become available in January. On the forum, anyone can raise and discuss questions relating to Brussels. That will last until April, when the

150 most active participants will be brought together in person. In previous citizens’ cabinets, the web portion saw more than 1,000 participants. “Brussels and Flanders are facing a number of community challenges in these uncertain times,” Gatz said. “I want to use the citizens’ cabinet to try to improve mutual understanding between the people of Flanders and those of the capital.” “The citizens’ cabinet gives us the possibility to develop a shared and common vision for Brussels,” said Madrane, for whom this is the first experience with a citizens’ cabinet. “The citizens’ cabinet is an innovative and democratic way to involve citizens from every corner of the city.” \ AH

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september 14, 2016

proceeds from food sold at spijshuis schoofs go towards a free Christmas dinner provided by Café Anoniem, a local non-profit serving the homeless

All aboard

capital of taste extends its reach to long-neglected neighbourhood continued from page 1

a barber, a restaurant, a cocktail bar and an artist’s studio. In each case, the emphasis is on supporting new ideas, local talent and creative partnerships. Organisers hope to show business owners the possibilities for development in the area. “We want to give brands a platform in a city where they’ve never been before,” says Kastrop, “and we want to have prospective buyers and renters take a look at the buildings and see the potential there.” The heart of #BAMSTAT is the former Hotel Schoofs building, which until two years ago was occupied by a bar and billiards room. Since then, it has been empty – until now. One side of the ground floor has been transformed into a bright cafe serving Spanish wines and artisanal coffees. On the other side, Aichacreafood serves up Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine. The cafe, rechristened Spijshuis Schoofs in homage to its former owners, also serves food provided by the chef behind Zuppa soup bar, a long-standing favourite with locals. A portion of the price of each dish goes towards a free Christmas dinner provided by Café Anoniem, a nearby non-profit serving the homeless. In a similar, socially conscious vein, Aichacreafood’s daily fare is made using vegetables that would otherwise end up in the bin, thereby reducing food waste. The produce comes from De Wroeter, a local organic farm that employs adults

temporary-lane.com

with disabilities. It’s another example of the creative partnerships fostered by the project. Owner and chef Yousra Rifi: “We try to bring people together through food.” Next door to Hotel Schoofs, a darkened doorway leads into a surprisingly large, airy space that was once a garage. It now houses a chic clothing store decorated with street-art murals and vintage furniture. The proprietors own three other shops in Limburg and wanted to open another in Hasselt, but had trouble finding a location. For them,

customers can order drinks at the adjacent bar, a legacy from the building’s former resident. Modern cocktails are provided by mixologists Lou Claessens and Thomas Janssens. Rumour has it that, on certain nights, the upper floor of the cafe is home to a speakeasy, accessible only with the secret password. Across the road, a pop-up shop operated by Malpertuis, an independent bookstore in Genk, has takenupresidenceinanemptyshop in the NMBS building. A welcome

We want to have prospective buyers and renters take a look at the buildings and see the potential there Temporary Lane was the perfect solution, allowing them to try out the market while they consider a more permanent home. Further down the street, a barbershop and a cocktail bar share space in an abandoned corner cafe. Jorgé Nijs, a young man sporting matching waistcoat and trousers, two-tone brogues and an impressive handlebar moustache, is already busy tending to his first clients, who sit in the old-fashioned barber’s chairs or wait their turn on the leatherette sofa. The vintage furnishings and Americana contribute to the hipster vibe. While they wait for a shave or trim,

addition to an area frequented by commuters and travellers, it offers a mix of contemporary fiction in Dutch and English as well as travel guides and gadgets. But retail establishments are just one aspect of Temporary Lane. The street has been given a visual makeover with bright, new flags and colourful painted designs on the street surface. Hitherto empty windows now sport fun posters by artist Sarah Bomans. Like the pop-up shops, it’s a temporary fix that serves to demonstrate that a little bit of effort can go a long way towards changing the mood in the area.

Franky Larousselle, a 2013 graduate of the master’s programme in architecture at the University of Hasselt, is Temporary Lane’s artistin-residence. On the far side of the station, an empty space in the parking structure under the new Justice Building has been converted into an open studio where he’ll be working on a series of large-scale charcoal and pastel drawings. The subject of his drawings is another abandoned building close to the station, a listed modernist house (Huis Douchar, by architect Léon Stynen) that, despite its protected status, has been empty for eight years and declared uninhabitable. Larousselle will depict five ideas for the future of the building. It’s a fitting project that addresses one of the many problems facing the city as it tries to improve the neighbourhood. #BAMSTAT is part of a larger action plan called VoltHa that the city announced in April. The plan includes more than 40 measures aimed at cleaning up and revitalising the area around the station. “VoltHa is a plan with many partners that addresses the safety as well as the liveability of the station district, and involves a range of measures,” says Hasselt mayor Hilde Claes. The plan’s initial measures, which are already in effect, include a prohibition on public drinking in the area, a mandatory closing time for bars of between 23.00 and 6.00, and improved lighting. In the future, the office of the railway

police will be moved from the back of the station to Stationsplein. Authorities are also working with social services, Claes explains, “because we noticed that the main problems we’re confronted with are homelessness and addiction”. Another group whose needs are being addressed is the city’s youth. In June, the city opened Halte 24, a place near the station for young people to go after school. In the past, groups of teenagers would often hang around the area, which is also home to the main bus station serving local schools. Now they have a safe place to meet indoors, with free wifi, staffed by an employee of a local youth organisation. It remains to be seen whether initiatives like this, as well as temporary projects like #BAMSTAT, will have a lasting effect on the environment in the neighbourhood. Claes is optimistic. “I walk here regularly myself, even at night, and whereas I used to hear a lot of complaints, now I hear from shopkeepers, passers-by and even residents that they feel it’s very much improved.” In the coming weeks, the organisers have more plans for #BAMSTAT, including live musical performances, Shopping Sundays with Scandinavian breakfast, and something called an upcycle jam – a combination of demonstration and workshop in which thrift-store finds are given a second life. Not a bad idea: making something exciting and new out of what previously appeared to be worthless.

\ bUsIness

week in BUsiness logistics VGp The industrial property and warehouse developer, based in Zele, East Flanders, is investing more than €250 million in the Barcelona area to develop logistics and light industrial facilities. The company already operates in Germany, the Czech republic, Estonia, Slovakia and Romania.

patents Gevers The Brussels-based patents and intellectual rights protection group, founded in 1898, is seeking a buyer to help expand its activities throughout Europe.

trends Amcham The American Chamber of Commerce has released the findings of its 2016 Business Barometer, which surveyed 123 member companies. While half said that Belgium is a good place to do business thanks to its location and skilled and multilingual workforce, 51% reported plans to expand operations.

energy eandis China’s State Grid Corporation is taking over 14% of Eandis, Flanders’ leading gas and electricity operator for €830 million.

Insurance ethias The country’s fourth-largest insurance group, with €1.4 billion of annual premiums, has failed the Solvency II stress tests on its debt. The company is said to be in need of €500 million to strengthen its balance sheet. The country’s National Bank has initiated a study to merge the insurer into the state-owned Belfius bank. As a result, Ethias’ general manager has been sacked despite returning the insurer to profit last year.

Dredging Deme The Antwerp-based group has won a €47 million contract to deepen and develop the Freetown port in Sierra Leone.

Chemicals solvay The Brussels-based chemicals and composite materials group is believed to be seeking a buyer for its nylon and polyamides activities, which account for some €1.4 billion of the group’s total turnover.

AB InBev takes over Bosteels

brewer of kwak and tripel karmeliet sees ‘best chance for the future’ alan Hope Follow Alan on twitter \ @AlanHopeFt

euven-based AB InBev, the largest brewer in the world, has announced the takeover of Bosteels, the East Flemish brewers of Kwak, Tripel Karmeliet and Deus beers. No terms have been revealed. The takeover is in line with InBev’s strategy of moving into craft beers not by in-house development, but by acquisition. Consumption of speciality beers is rising worldwide. In Belgium, sales of pils-type beers, like Jupiler and Maes, are falling, while craft beers are enjoying a

steady rise. Bosteels will be the first brewery in InBev’s new “crafts and speciality” network, which suggests that other small brewers will follow. Bosteels has been a family-owned brewery since 1791; current boss Antoine Bosteels is the seventh generation of the family to head the business. According to production figures, Bosteels is in the top 10 in Belgium, despite having an unusually limited portfolio: Kwak, the beer known mostly for its round-bottomed glass and wooden holder; Tripel Karmeliet,

made with three cereals, including oats; and Deus, made according to the rules of champagne, but with beer ingredients. “We will carry on working on our own identity and quality,” said Antoine Bosteels, “while we’re getting a partner that’s rooted in Belgium and that offers new possibilities in distribution and marketing. Things are going well with the brewery, but they could always be better. What counts is giving the beer and the brewery the best chance for the future.” © Courtesy bosteels

Hundreds of untrained truckers could be pulled off the road

Brussels Delhaize store to grow own vegetables on roof

Hundreds of lorry drivers could find themselves pulled over to the side of Belgium’s roads in the coming weeks, as the deadline of a new EU law requiring every driver to follow a training course has passed. The warning comes from ACVTranscom, the union representing haulage and logistics personnel. As the deadline of 10 September was approaching, the union reported having received calls from members whose employers had still not organised the training every driver must follow, explained Jan Sannen of the union. The new law makes it obligatory for any driver of a heavy goods vehicle to have passed a training course of a minimum of 35 hours, spread across five days. The responsibility is on companies to organise the training. The requirement was announced in 2009. Sannen said that some companies appear to assume that there

Shoppers at one Delhaize store in Brussels need no longer question how fresh the produce is: Chances are it came from the garden on the roof of the store. Delhaize plans to create a 320 square-metre kitchen garden on the roof of its Boondaal branch in Elsene – half open-air and half in a greenhouse. That would allow the garden to produce year round. The home-grown produce will be strictly controlled for quality, the supermarket said, and be available in limited quantities. Crops will be grown without the use of pesticides but will not be able to carry an official organic label because they are grown in plant boxes and not in the ground. The first crops, expected by the middle of next year, will be cherry tomatoes, lettuce and aubergines and will be sold at a price slightly lower than the supermarket’s organic vegetables. “This urban farm fits completely with Brussels’ ambi-

will be a grace period or that they may be able to take on drivers who have passed their training under another employer. “Of course that’s not the way it’s meant to be,” he said. “The transport firms have had seven years to organise courses. That’s time enough.” The union is now advising drivers who have not passed the course to stay off the road; driving without the training certificate is tantamount to driving without a licence. Fines can run up to €12,000 and a five-year ban. Employers who send out untrained drivers risk a fine of €6,000 per case. \ AH

Optima bankruptcy leaves debt of €115 million, says administrator The failure of Optima Bank, based in Ghent, has left a debt of €115 million, according to Hans De Meyer, the lawyer appointed to handle the bankruptcy. But, he stressed, the taxpayer will not be responsible for paying the bills. Two weeks ago, the former owner of the bank, Jeroen Piqueur, warned that the bankruptcy would cost the taxpayer, but De Meyer denied that. “We are 100% certain that the [staff] are fully covered and the Guarantee Fund will be completely or almost completed satisfied,” he said. De Meyer was speaking at the first hearing following the 15 June declaration of bankruptcy by the Ghent commercial court. He gave a report of the bank’s debt situation and a list of creditors. Salary owed to staff amounts to €40

million, with a further €74 million in other debts. Not all debt claims, though, have yet been submitted. One issue that will have to go before the court is the €20 million deposit paid by Piqueur from his private assets at the time of setting up the bank. He is claiming the money back, but De Meyer also has a claim. A court will decide. “The question is, if we win the procedure, whether we can get the money back from Piqueur,” De Meyer said. \ AH

Architectural impression of how the roof garden will look

tion to improve the quality of local production,” said Céline Fremault , environment minister for the Brussels-Capital Region. Delhaize said it would look into ways to involve local people in the operation of the garden, as well as organising tours for schools and other groups. “By creating an educational programme, Delhaize wants to stress the importance of this sort of project, while at the same time strengthening its links with the community,” the company said. \ AH

Restructuring of AXA Belgium means loss of 650 jobs Insurance company Axa Belgium has announced a restructure, with the loss of 650 of its 4,300 jobs. According to unions, staff that remain will see their pay cut. The job losses will take place over two years, the company said, with the first 300 gone by the end of this year. The reason for the restructuring is the continuing low interest rate, which makes selling life assurance unprofitable, Axa said. The company said it will concentrate on areas where it is strong – pensions and damage insurance – and taper off its life assurance. It aims to save €150 million, of which two-thirds will come from salaries and employee insurance.

Last month Axa reduced its guaranteed interest on its Cresta20 life policy from 4.75% for all deposits made until the end of 1999 on a sliding scale to only 0.2% on new deposits – a move described by Test-Aankoop as “unacceptable”. Two years ago, Axa Bank fired one employee in six, mainly in France, though 148 jobs were scrapped in Belgium. In the longer term, similar restructuring could spread to other financial institutions. “There is unrest in all of Belgium’s banks,” said Patricia Van Goel of the socialist union ABVV. “Earnings expectations on the whole are not being met.” \ AH

\ InnOVAtIOn

september 14, 2016

Show us the money

week in innovation

crowdfunding congress opens doors for young local businesses arthur rubinstein more articles by Arthur \ flanderstoday.eu

crowdfundingcongres.be

he financial world has an uncanny knack for creating new methods of investment and making money. One of the most recent concepts is crowdfunding, which provides a platform for start-ups or other organisations to seek financial support for a project from the general public. To further promote crowdfunding in Flanders, the Antwerp and Waasland branch of Voka, the regional chamber of commerce, is hosting a congress on the subject this month with Dutch consultancy Douw & Koren. “We strongly believe in this alternative form of financing for entrepreneurs,” says Voka spokesperson Victoria Smet. “The advantages that crowdfunding has in testing the market for input from potential investors, for example, are numerous. For Voka, the congress is an opportunity to inform businesspeople, financial professionals and investors about how the idea works and what the prospective rewards are.” The types of companies that turn to crowdfunding range in size and sector, and they can offer a variety of options to potential investors, including sponsorship, a reward-based system, loans and equity. In some cases people invest money and receive a small reward like a CD, a concert ticket or merchandise; in other cases an investment operates more as a loan or with a marketbased reward. Crowdfunding, according to Smet, is also “an ideal and inexpensive way to measure the market viability of a new idea for a product or service. If a lot of people are interested in investing in a company, it’s easier to convince professional investors and the market of the feasibility of the product or service.” In addition to learning about the mechanics of crowdfunding,attendeesatthecongresswillhave

the founders of fruit juice producer Valkenborg & Contreras raised more than €15,000 through crowdfunding

access to the tools they need and the contacts to start the process. “Businesspeople will be able to learn from the experiences of national and international crowdfunding companies.” The congress will also be an opportunity for networking among entrepreneurs, financial specialists and authorities from the chamber of commerce. Among the firms that will be attending the congress is Hasselt-based Valkenborg & Contreras, a two-person operation that produces organic pear juice under the Toffe Peren brand. Through the crowdfunding platform Ulule, the

company surpassed their objective of €15,000. Co-founder Sebastian Contreras was enthusiastic about his company’s experience with crowdfunding. “I would recommend it if you’re really ready to do it,” he says. “You should know your business model.” He believes that businesses should only use crowdfunding when their plans and understanding of the market are in place. “It’s at the end that you turn to crowdfunding, not at the beginning.” Contreras also advises companies not to start unless they’re sure they can achieve their goal. As well as raising capital, his company uses crowdfunding as a marketing tool, by which it promotes itself on various fronts: online, in the field, at trade shows and in conversations with decision-makers. Although raising money from strangers requires a lot of work in gaining their trust, Voka expects crowdfunding to grow. The view of the process as a passing fad has now largely given way to the conviction that there are lots of people who value personal engagement with projects they help to finance. There are already about 20 crowdfunding platforms in Flanders, while other local success stories include Onak foldable canoes (which raised €235,000 on Kickstarter) and Ireachm, a mobile phone answering service (€70,000 on Mymicroinvest). Douw & Koren say more than €13.3 million has been raised via this method in Belgium since the beginning of 2016: more than the entire amount collected in 2015.

21 september Filip Williotstraat 9, Berchem

Reeds could filter out harmful drug residue Students at Ghent University have been experimenting with ways to remove residues of pharmaceutical drugs from the water system, to protect the environment. The master’s students constructed a miniature wetland at AZ Groeninge teaching hospital in Kortrijk, using the natural filtration properties of reeds to help purify the building’s wastewater. Medications that humans ingest – such as antiinflammatories, narcotics and antibiotics – are not always fully absorbed by the body, meaning they end up in the wastewater system. Existing water treatment plants are not capable of removing all the residues, and they can go on to cause damage to plants and animals in rivers and seas. Professor Diederik Rousseau, who supervised the students’ theses, said the contamination did not apply to drinking water, which goes through extra processes to remove the drugs. While reeds have long been recognised as an efficient water filter, students Laurens Hubau and Lize Vanseveren set out to discover more about how the plants and their cleansing bacteria could cope with drug residues, about which information was lacking. They found that although the reeds could not filter all traces of drug residues, a second step using ozone enabled them to complete the process. “What we actually found is that the technolo-

gies are, for some pharmaceuticals, complementary,” Rousseau said. “Some pharmaceuticals are removed by the wetland but not by ozonation, and vice versa. So the combination gives more guarantees for good water quality.” Reed beds blend in to the environment and are easier and cheaper to use than conventional treatment plants, he added. The team worked with an innovative type of wetland, licensed by Rietland, a company based in Minderhout, Antwerp province, which was aerated with an additional oxygen supply. This extra efficiency gave it a much smaller footprint than regular wetlands, which usually occupy a large area. The five-month trial involved filling a portable container with gravel and planting it with reeds, with an attached “settling tank” that removed coarse particles from the wastewater. An initial test of the wastewater showed residues of beta-blockers, anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants, narcotics, antacids and antibiotics. After the reed filtration, most traces were gone but some non-biodegradable substances remained, such as the widely used anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac. A solution devised by Ghent professor Stijn Van Hulle was to treat the water again with ozone, which can be produced on site. But given the high electricity consumption needed to generate the ozone, Rousseau said they would look at

touch linked to social problems in autism

A distorted sense of touch in people with autism is linked to problems with social interactions, according to Ghent University (UGent) neuroscientist Eliane Deschrijver. Many people with autism are sensitive to sensory stimuli, such as touch. In the UGent study, people with and without autism saw an index or middle finger touching a surface, while at the same time receiving a minor sensation on one of their own index or middle fingers. The brains of people without autism ascertained whether the stimulus on the screen’s finger corresponded to their own finger after 300 milliseconds. This mechanism worked much less efficiently in people with autism. This instant recognition is essential in social interactions, Deschrijver explained.

wood burning major source of fine dust

A European study that included findings by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) has confirmed that the burning of wood contributes significantly to air pollution. The results of the study by the Joint Air Quality Initiative are based on measurements taken in five locations across northwest Europe, including Antwerp. The study was commissioned due to growing concern that more biomass, such as pellets for stoves, is being burned due to increasing fuel prices and growing interest in renewable energy. Between November 2013 and March 2014, the burning of biomass, especially wood, was responsible for between 2.7% and 11.6% of fine dust pollution. VMM is holding a seminar on air quality and health on 10 October.

start-up’s software detects Is propaganda

ways to better control the dosage. A study by Egina Malaj, one of Van Hulle’s former master’s students, reported that organic chemicals – which includes drug residues as well as pesticides, paints and other substances – “threaten the ecological integrity and biodiversity of almost half of the water bodies on a [European] scale”. Rousseau said exposure to low concentrations of chemicals would not kill flora and fauna, but could have “minute effects in their body over time” by, for example, disrupting the balance of hormones. He added that while there were currently no European standards for treating drug residues in wastewater, Switzerland had recently adopted new legislation and the European legislator was looking at the issue. \ Paula Dear

Textgain, a spin-off of Antwerp University, has developed software that can detect photos distributed by members and supporters of Islamic State (IS). Textgain had already developed software to detect hate messages on Twitter. But supporters of IS changed their methods and began to communicate more via images, which computers couldn’t analyse. Textgain’s “neural network” studied thousands of photos shared by IS followers and by other users to be able to identify differences between the two. The learning algorithm correctly analysis some 90% of the images. \ Andy Furniere

\ textgain.com

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\ eDUCAtIOn

september 14, 2016

Freedom to learn

week in edUcation

vub creates working group to assist turkish academics and students emma portier davis more articles by emma \ flanderstoday.eu

vlir.be

very year, students from Flanders travel to Turkey to study at the universities there as part of their degree programmes. But following the failed coup attempt in July, Flanders’ five universities have decided to put these exchange on hold. Lastweek,theFlemishInteruniversity Board (Vlir), which represents all five collectively, has reached the decision that no students would be allowed to travel to Turkey as part of an exchanges until the situation there becomes more stable. “The rectors from the universities have discussed the situation in Turkey and have decided to stop all outgoing mobility,” says Steven Van Luchene, Vlir’s policy officer

the Faculty of Arts and sciences at bosphorus University, one of the largest academic institutions in turkey

their suspected links to the perpetrators. Every university dean in the country was also arrested on

A lot of universities have closed, and some academics have been sent away for quality control and internationalisation. “The reason is that the situation there just isn’t clear enough.” The failed coup in Turkey has prompted the government there to close several universities for

the grounds that they could be connected to Fethullah Gulen, the presumed spiritual leader of the coup. This has raised fears among Flemish universities about the quality of the education students could

expect during their exchange. They have also expressed concerns about the students’ safety, given the vast numbers of arrests in the immediate aftermath of the coup. “We received the news that a lot of universities have closed and that some academics have been sent away,” says Paul De Knop, the outgoing rector of the Free University of Brussels (VUB). “We don’t know if any courses are taking place, and as for the safety situation, it remains uncertain. We are looking at what is happening with students over there.” The coup has compounded existing fears about the safety of

students in Turkey. In the week before the coup, Ghent University banned travel to the country because of concerns about further attacks by Islamic State, following the terrorist attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport on 28 June. Vlir has suspended all outgoing exchanges for this academic term. The board will continue to monitor the situation and is yet to make a decision about the second semester. Meanwhile, the universities say they remain interested in having students and academics from Turkey come to Flanders. The VUB’s new rector, Caroline Pauwels, says she plans to set up a working group to examine how the university could play a greater role in assisting Turkish academics. The working group will examine what the coup and the government’s crackdowns mean for Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. It will also look into how it can assist Turkish academics who have been forced into exile. Van Luchenes, meanwhile, stresses that while academic exchanges to Turkey are on hold, this doesn’t affect students coming to Flanders. “All Turkish students are welcome here,” he says.

First refugees begin university studies in Flanders The start of the new academic year in higher education will also be a new start in the lives of recognised refugees, according to press agency Belga, which obtained figures from Flanders’ universities. Last year, The Free University of Brussels (VUB) started the Welcome Student Refugees Programme to make it easier for newcomers to register. The refu-

gees must meet the same requirements as other students. Via the programme, 18 recognised refugees have registered for the new academic year. About 70 others are also eligible to be accepted, but still have to fulfil language requirements or provide necessary documents. GhentUniversity(UGent)currently has 12 registrations, “but the

registration process is still ongoing,” said spokesperson Stephanie Lenoir, who also noted that registering students are not obliged to indicate that they are refugees. UGent also notices a sharp increase in the number of students enrolled in the preparatory course for nonDutch speakers. “Many of them are refugees, and we expect that many of them will register at the univer-

Q&a

vub.ac.be

Joost Vaesen is the programme co-ordinator at the Free University of Brussels’ teacher-training department, which is introducing a new module to expose its students to the challenges of education in a diverse urban environment

really connect to your pupils in a Brussels school if you live in Flanders and commute to work every day?

Why did you decide to introduce this programme? Our teacher training department has a new focus – instead of separate courses, we’re offering modules, each with a specific set of goals. The first one, urban education, focuses on the difficulties of teaching in a big city like Brussels. It is part of our master’s degree that’s also offered at Erasmus University College.

What’s the practical component of the programme? The students from VUB and Erasmus are put together in groups of five to eight people. After the introductory course, each group visits two schools in Anderlecht, Sint-Agatha Berchem, Etterbeek, Jette, Molenbeek and Ukkel, with a range of practical assignments based on the four interrelated themes. At the end of the week, each team has to produce a research poster summarising their findings. The students will also have to come

What will the module look like? Students start with a session that looks at the school’s context. Is

sity next year,” said Lenoir. At Antwerp University, 10 recognised refugees are starting a preparatory language programme in Dutch. “Next year they can then enrol in a study programme at the university,” said spokesperson Peter De Meyer. No figures are yet available for the University of Leuven or Hasselt University. \ Andy Furniere

it public or Catholic? Is it publically funded or privately run? Then we look at four interrelated themes: the school’s infrastructure, the pupils’ social mix and background, language aspects and multilingual education, and to what extent the school is connected to its surrounding neighbourhood. For instance, there are problems resulting from a lack of school places in certain areas. Should you give room to non-official languages like Turkish and Arabic in class? And, finally, can you

up with a project on their view of a “school of the future”. This part isn’t graded, but we hope it will be a source of inspiration for them.

parasport boccia gets extra funding Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits and sports minister Philippe Muyters have presented a project to encourage the development of the parasport boccia. Boccia is a sport played by people with severe motor disabilitiesinwhichthegoalis to throw red and blue leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball. Through the new project, spearheaded by the Dominiek Savio Instituut and the Flemish parasport federal Parantee, students will be better able to train towards the highest levels of competition. Crevits’ department is funding the sport’s equipment. Muyters emphasised that the project helps talented young boccia players to focus completely on their sport.

Drop in medical and dental exams

For the first time in 18 years, fewer students took the entrance exams for medical and dental studies at Flemish universities than the previous year. A total of 6,129 candidates participated in one of the two sessions, held in July and August, which is 56 fewer than last year. One reason could be that the exam has become more difficult. Recognising this, the exams commission awarded participants three additional points. Most of the candidates were Belgian, while 670 came from other countries, the majority from the Netherlands. Twice as many women as men took the exam. Nearly one in five ultimately passed the exam and can start their programmes.

students put off planning studies

Students are taking longer to choose a course of study in higher education, reported Het Nieuwsblad, based on interviews with school counsellors. Compared to a few years ago, many more secondary students are coming to counsellors for help during the summer and even in September are still unsure about the next year. “There are so many options, which makes it difficult to make a choice,” Isabelle Lanszweert of Ghent University’s department of educational affairs told Radio 1. Universities and colleges are also increasingly ready to deny students who don’t perform well in the first year the chance to continue in the same programme, she explained, creating a fear of failure in the students. \ AF

\ Interview by Liz Newmark

\ lIVInG

week in activities learn to play Cricket Cricket is a sport beloved in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, but it can seem arcane to the uninitiated. Learn how to play the game during a free introductory lesson in the park. For young and old. 17 September 11.00-17.00, Ter Kamerenbos, Gespanhoek, Brussels; free \ bit.ly/2codw3s

brussels Heritage Days This year’s theme focuses on how architects have reinterpreted and revisited the styles of the past. Visit some of the 19th-century buildings in various revivalist styles – including many that are usually closed to the public – or take a guided tour on foot or by bus. Reservations required for some sites. More information in the SintGorikshallen visitor centre. 17-18 September, across Brussels; free \ visit.brussels/en/ sites/heritage

800 years of sint-Gillis This weekend kicks-off a year of activities and events celebrating the founding of the village of Obbrussel, the present-day municipality of Sint-Gillis in Brussels. Children’s workshops, dancing, street theatre and live music, plus several processions, circus acts, choir concerts and more on Sunday. 17-18 September, Sint-gillisvoorplein, Brussels; free \ stgillis800.be

Agriculture Day This annual open farm day aims to close the gap between the producers and consumers of food. Visit one of the 45 participating companies, ranging from vegetable growers and dairy farms to greenhouses for ornamental plants. Some farms are linked by biking and walking paths. Guided tours, tastings and children’s entertainment. 18 September, across Flanders; free \ dagvandelandbouw.be

edible landscape Day During this annual festival, the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum celebrates local, artisanal products and traditional Flemish food. Creative workshops and demonstrations of grain milling, bread baking, jenever distillation and more. Activities for kids and a food-and-crafts market with more than 100 vendors. Free tastings throughout the day. 18 September 10.00-18.00, Bokrijklaan 1, Genk; €10 \ bokrijk.be

\ 10

Spread the word

lezen voor iedereen publishes flemish classics in easy-to-read language dan smith more articles by Dan \ flanderstoday.eu

leZenvooriedereen.be

“F

ifteen percent of Belgians – some two million people – have a reading impairment,” says Ralf Beekveldt, director of Lezen voor Iedereen (Reading for Everyone). Established in 1994, the publishing house prints books in easyto-read language aimed at people with poor reading skills or conditions such as dyslexia. The latest title is a Flemish classic – De komst van Joachim Stiller (The Coming of Joachim Stiller) by Antwerp-born Hubert Lampo. First published in 1960, the novel won the Triennial State Prize for narrative prose in 1963 and has remained in print ever since. Titles released by Lezen voor Iedereen are shorter than their originals and have been re-written using simpler language to make them more accessible. “In the past, you could get by without reading, but this is increasingly difficult in today’s society,” Beekveldt says. “People who can’t read are like outcasts in the modern world. Our titles make reading accessible to everyone.” The original aim of the publisher was to help people who struggle with reading, but the titles are also perfectly suited for people learning Dutch as a second language. Most are at level A2/B1, making them ideal for those who want to increase their Dutch vocabulary and improve reading skills. The publisher also offers titles in German and English. The abridged version of De komst van Joachim Stiller was recently launched in Antwerp’s Grand Café du Nord, a favourite haunt of Hugo Lampo. The launch followed a memorial walk, which began in the Schoonselhof cemetery, near Wilrijk, and visited many of the author’s favourite places throughout the city. The walk was an initiative of the members of the Hubert Lampo Society, who are intent on keeping the author’s legacy alive. De komst van Joachim Stiller is part of Lezen voor Iedereen’s Flemish Giants series, which also features abridged titles by the likes of Herman Brusselmans, Hugo Claus, Kris-

tien Hemmerechts and Diane Broeckhoven. In total, the publisher offers more than 400 titles in Dutch, ranging from memoir to crime. There are also titles aimed at young audiences and beginning readers. “A meaningful integration into any new country begins with learning the language,” says Beekveldt. “And easy-to-read books can help immensely. There are many other wellknown names on our list, including contemporary writers.” Along with Flemish works, Lezen voor iedereen publishes easy-language translations and non-fiction. Lampo, says Beekveldt, was a logical choice because his works continue to enjoy broad popularity across Flanders and the Netherlands. The release of De komst van Joachim Stiller marks the 10th anniversary of the author’s death, in 2006. During his lifetime, Lampo

established himself as one of Flanders’ most successful authors. De komst van Joachim Stiller, arguably his best-known novel, combines the elements of mystery and magic realism, a defining style of much of his work. The novel follows journalist Freek Groenevelt, on the trail of a mysterious and enigmatic letter-writer called Joachim Stiller. Lampo’s son, Jan, was at the launch and received the first copy of the abridged book. “At the time my father wrote the novel, low literacy levels was a big issue. As the reviewer for the workers’ newspaper The Volksgazet, he repeatedly expressed hope that his books would be accessible to more people.” When the publishing house reached out to the Lampo family for permission to release the book in its abridged version, an agreement was reached in no time. “Now that I have the book in my hands,” said Jan, “I am convinced that my father would have found it to be a fantastic idea.”

win a Book! Lezen voor Iedereen is offering free copies of the easy-to-read version of De komst van Joachim Stiller to Flanders Today readers. To win a copy, send an email to editorial@flanderstoday.eu by Sunday, 18 September with “De komst” in the subject line. Winners will be notified by the next day.

Bite indulge yourself in a feast of italian culture at winedays If Mobility Week is all about experimenting with sustainable forms of transportation, Winedays is a delicious reason to hit the streets and imbibe. The inaugural edition of this new food, drink and culture concept features 10 participating restaurants and wine bars across Brussels. It’s just as well that the event coincides with the capital’s car-free Sunday, too, because Winedays is a food-and-wine flight of Bacchic proportions. At its heart, this is a showcase of Italian cuisine, Piedmont wine and the Brussels businesses that serve them. Entry includes a branded wine glass with a neck strap for easy access. Your task is to perambulate from one participating establishment to the next, tasting away all the while. If you’ve done it right, you’ll be unfit to operate a motor vehicle. Each venue showcases a different wine. All hail from the lush hills of northern Italy’s Piedmont region – home of the fruity red Barbera d’Asti – and all are presented by the producers themselves. The food comes from across Italy (and

beyond). Each establishment has prepared two special tapas-style dishes. The European quarter’s cosy Italian bookstore/cafe Piola Libri pairs its Piedmont with an assortment of appetisers from the self-same region, while Elsene’s Kitchen 151 promises a Mediterranean fusion dish with hummus. All offerings operate on a token system. Visitors can purchase tokens as they go or they can pre-order a discounted package online.

winedays.eu

In addition to food and drink, visitors will enjoy varied cultural offerings. Participating venues were given carte blanche to book their own entertainment for the event. Piola Libri has gone all out and hosts a loaded weekend programme for all ages, featuring a jazz piano concert by Tuscan composer Piergiorgio Pirro, a ping pong tournament, an old-school vinyl DJ set and a family arts workshop with Italian-born painters Andrea Clanetti Santarossa and Bruno Pilar. Winedays is an initiative of the Italian government in collaboration with Piedmont wine producers, the Banca Monte Paschi Belgio and local concert promoter BEIT, which specialises in bringing Italian acts to Belgium. Future Winedays events are already in the works for Antwerp and Ghent. \ Georgio Valentino

17-18 september Across brussels

september 14, 2016

Rural life in motion

village hubs could be the solution to lack of public transport in west flanders toon lambrechts more articles by toon \ flanderstoday.eu

westHoekonderweg.be

ucked away in Flanders’ most southwestern corner, the Westhoek is one of the region’s few remaining truly rural areas, with a sense of quiet and vastness that the rest of Flanders has largely lost. But all that rusticity has a downside. For people without a car, mobility is a real problem. “It’s an old problem,” explains Lien De Vos, regional welfare co-ordinator for the Westhoek. “The Westhoek has the lowest population density in Flanders, and communities tend to be more spread out. That makes it difficult to organise efficient public transport, so the network is limited.” Westhoek Onderweg, a platform seeking to improve mobility in the region, asked Antwerp-based design office Yellow Window to look for possible solutions. “We made the choice not to work with a fixed definition of limited mobility, but to research what it means to the people affected by it,” explains De Vos. “Yellow Window talked to people and tried out different journeys by public transport. From this, we drew some conclusions about why people have problems with mobility.” One of the key things they found is that time is an important factor. Because of the limited network and poor connections, travelling

life without a car can be difficult in isolated areas – so westhoek Onderweg is coming up with some clever ideas

by public transport just takes too long. De Vos: “For others, a car is unaffordable, and elderly people are often unable to drive. There is also a social dimension: some people are isolated and cannot count on help from others to get around.” Lack of access to information is also a problem, she points out. “Bus and train timetables can be too complicated for some

people, never mind the providers’ online services.” Yellow Window’s research points out several recommendations to policy-makers, the most striking of which is a central mobility point in the centre of smaller villages. Such a hub would combine public transport and carpooling with other services that would bring villages to life again.

“A mobility point would also include a small supermarket, for example, or a collection point for online deliveries,” De Vos says. Other key elements to combat poor mobility would be better connections between different methods of transport, better infrastructure for cyclists and more accessible information. Westhoek Onderweg’s aim is not to produce yet another report,

but to put the ideas to test. And so a pilot project is set to begin in Beveren, part of Alveringem in West Flanders. “By bringing services back to the village, we hope to reduce the need for transport altogether. De Lovie, a health centre, will provide pre-ordered packets of fresh vegetables, and we are negotiating with Bpost to have parcels delivered and with Colruyt to create a pick-up point for online purchases. At the same time, this village centre will serve as an information hub for all available means of transport.” Poor mobility is not a problem exclusive to the Westhoek, and other areas of Flanders away from urban centres are facing similar challenges. Could this approach serve as a model? De Vos thinks so, with communities from the north of France – a demographically similar region – also showing an interest. “The ideas that we want to test can be useful for other regions as well,” she says. “But if our study of poor mobility has made one thing clear, it’s the need for co-operation. Several providers of transport and services, both public and private, are working on the issue of mobility, but separately. It’s a pity, because combining different services is an important part of any possible solution.”

‘Outdated’ thistle law is a thorny issue Ifyoulikeyourgardenalittleonthe wild side, the thistle is a welcome guest. Despite its thorny appearance, its abundance of flowers brings both colour and butterflies to your patch of nature. But make no mistake, you are breaking the law. An old regulation from more than 100 years ago stipulates that thistles should be eradicated. As a landowner, if you fail to do so, you’re liable for a fine. But don’t worry too much. Most municipalities no longer enforce this antique piece of legislation, if they’re even aware of its existence at all. The law dates from 1887, an era where being a farmer meant breaking your back in the fields, according to Roosmarijn Steemans, a member of the scientific staff of nature conservation group Natuurpunt who specialises in native plants. “A that time, a lot of the work was manual labour, and farmers would use manure from horse stables,” she points out. “So the small wounds caused by thistles would easily become infected

with tetanus. That’s what led to the law that obliges landowners to remove thistle from their property.” Needless to say, things have changed over the past century, and thistles are no match for our contemporary agricultural machinery. But from time to time the old law resurfaces. Recently, veteran politician Herman De Croo wrote to all 308 Flemish municipalities with the advice that they should soldier on against the thistle. It makes no sense, Steemans says. “The law is obviously outdated. Most municipalities don’t enforce it. Neighbouring countries that had similar laws crossed them out of the law book long time ago. It’s typical of Belgium that we’re still saddled with this juridical relic from a distant past.” The problem is that thistles play an important role in the ecosystem. They provide nectar to bees, beetles and other insects, while birds feast on their nutritious seeds. A lot of insects, including

numerous butterfly species, use the thistle as a host plant, which means it has an indispensable role in their procreation cycles. Nature in Flanders isn’t doing well, in particular due to loss of habitat. Agricultural fields and private gardens often have very little to offer to insects and birds. All the more reason to grant the thistle a place in the Flemish landscape. Natuurpuntstrivesforgoodneighbourly relations with the farmers and landowners next to the nature reserves under its management, so thistles are removed from the fringes of reserves from time to time. “Simple control measures are sufficient to hamper the growth of thistles,” Steemans explains, “like avoiding mowing with heavy machinery that leaves bare spots in the grasslands, which are a perfect place thistles to take root. But we would like to see this obsolete law disappear. Instead, the focus should be on combating invasive species like the giant

hogweed or Japanese knotweed.” In fact, Europe has recently made a first move to establish a common policy on invasive species which could harm local ecosystems. A list was published in July with 37 plant and animal species requiring attention. It sets out the obligations of the authorities to control or eradicate certain populations in order to safeguard Europe’s biodiversity.

Both the federal and Flemish governments have mapped out policies on invasive species. But it is time to rehabilitate the thistle as well, according to Steemans. “The thistle suffers from an image problem, just like many other weeds. It’s wild, unplanned and thorny. We need to see its real beauty and its value for our ecosystem.” \ TL

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

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

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

www.flanderstoday.eu

The Bulletin and ING Belgium invite you to a seminar on

PROPERTY TODAY • Kristien Viane,

CEO, Noa Real Estate: “An overview of the latest trends”

• Alexis Lemmerling,

Notary, Berquin: “The notary is your best friend”

October 6, 2016

ING Head Office – Marnix. Entrance via Rue de Trône, 1 – 1000 Brussels (nearest subway station: Trône)

• Registrations from 17h30 • Seminar starts at 18h00 sharp

• Dave Deruytter,

Head of Expatriates and non-residents, ING Bank: “Private Real Estate, how to finance and insure, how about taxation”

Free entry • Register before September 30 at www.xpats.com/realestate

\ Arts

september 14, 2016

Politics, mindfulness and sex

more flemings tune into online podcasts, as listeners and producers vuilelakens.be

linda a thompson Follow linda on twitter \ @thompsonbXl

kapiteinkobe.be

As the mainstream media’s programming becomes less and less reflective of their lives, increasingly more Flemings are turning to podcasts as their primary source of information.

or Leen Boersma, the incentive to start listening to podcasts was a six-month mission to a war-torn country in southern Asia as a midwife for a humanitarian NGO. Many of the other staffers would rave to Boersma about the podcasts they devoured during their downtime in the compound for the personnel, a place that offered few distractions. “They were very positive about it, and many of them listened to podcasts because it was an easy way to relax,” she says. When she returned to Brussels, the 28-year-old downloaded the Podcast Addict app, and she’s been hooked ever since, now a regular listener of such podcasts as Mindfulness, Touché and Interne Keuken. “What I really enjoy about it is that you don’t have to make any effort to learn about things that fall outside your line of work. It’s just really nice to sit in other people’s worlds,” she says, adding that she doesn’t own a radio and appreciates the convenience of being able to listen at her leisure. “I’m really glad that I have discovered this. This is really, I think, an added value in your free time.” Boersma is one of a growing number of people who are embracing podcasts as both an alternative and complement to traditional radio. Think of podcasts as episodes of a radio show that can be downloaded to a smartphone, computer or tablet. Although many podcasts also exist as conventional shows on channels such as Radio 1, some of the most popular are independently produced. They are accessible through such platforms as iTunes and SoundCloud, or podcasting apps like Stitcher. As a format, podcasts have been around since 2004, but recent stateside and local developments have firmly pushed the genre into the spotlight. Experts attribute the increased popularity of the format in Flanders to the breakout success of the US podcast Serial, which also drew many Flemish fans. Public broadcaster VRT’s has also done its part to acquaint Flemings with the genre by launching several podcasts of its own. “Podcast are enjoying increased attention and have been gaining popularity among consumers, who are starting to listen to them more and more,” confirms Pieter Blomme, education co-ordinator at the Ghent-based training centre REC, which offers two postgraduate programmes in digital storytelling. He attributes the surge in popularity to many factors, including faster mobile internet, the on-demand availability and the growing attention from the media. “A well-made podcast begins with a skilfully executed and captivating story that is professionally made and follows the guidelines of audio storytelling,” he explains. “It must also be able to reach, appeal to and engage a wide audience online.” Blomme was one of the leading forces behind Flanders’ first-ever podcast festival. As part of the event, which took place in June, podcast hosts big and small were invited to broadcast their shows live at the Kerk community space in Ghent.

week in arts & cUltUre Celebrated chef to open chicken restaurant

Roger Van Damme, the Michelin-starred chef known for his desserts and tearoom Het Gebaar in Antwerp, plans to open a roast chicken restaurant, Toque Tok, next month. Van Damme is following in the footsteps of top chefs turning to casuals eateries: Sergio Herman of The Jane will soon open a chip shop in Antwerp, while TV chef Jeroen Meus has abandoned fine dining to concentrate on hot dogs with his restaurant Würst in Leuven.

Flemish filmmakers win director awards

The aim, Blomme explains, was to introduce more Flemings to the genre. “We wanted to show podcasts as something very simple and normal – namely, someone telling an interesting story on stage.” Even if growing, the number Flemings listening to podcasts is still just a fraction of the general population. A 2014 media survey from the Centre for Information on the Media, for instance, put the number of Flemings who listen to digital radio – which includes podcasts as well as on-demand online radio – at just 5.5% of the population. But the subset of the population that does listen to podcasts, says Blomme, is made up of hard-core devotees. “They are often very avid listeners who have sworn off radio and have completely switched to on-demand podcasts.” Podcasts made in Flanders can be placed into three categories – shows by people from the creative sector, like independent radio producers, who typically strive for high production values; by companies or brands; and by young digital natives who dive deep into a niche subject. For the latter group, attracting listeners is typically just an afterthought. All the fun is in the podcasting itself, Blomme explains, much like in the heyday of blogging in the 2000s, when most websites were read by just a handful of people – typically family and friends. Because podcasts can be uploaded to a variety of online platforms and applications, it is next to impossible to arrive at an estimate of how many podcasts are made in Flanders. Blomme says between 50 to 100 podcasts have regular weekly updates and a solid, active following of about 1,000 listeners. But he stresses these number are a guess. The podcast format, in any case, has made it possible for voices and opinions less often heard in the media to also get airtime. Vuile Lakens (Dirty Laundry), a show led by Heleen Debruyne and Anaïs Van Ertvelde, offers candid discussions about sex, the human body and R-rated topics, with past episodes delving into pubic shaving trends, female ejaculation and the inanity of menstrual product ads.

In addition, podcasts boldly do what traditional radio shows try to stay clear of. As a producer, Blomme says, “you can dig into any subject without having to worry that you need to reach as many listeners as possible”. The surge of podcasts, he adds, has also allowed a number of “forgotten genres” such as documentaries, radio plays and soundscapes to be revived. That’s a sentiment echoed by Kobe van Reppelen, the host of Kapitein Kobe, a weekly podcast in which the 24-year-old from Genk conducts long interviews with people he finds interesting (in a delectable Limburg accent). His past guests have included filmmaker Adil El Arbi (Black) and federal telecommunications minister Alexander De Croo, but also food blogger Karolien Olaerts and Eefje Depoortere, a former sports reporter with a huge online following. Van Reppelen spends some 20 hours on a typical episode – contacting people, travelling, editing recordings. He has no formal audio training, but the past year, he says, has been a rewarding experience. “People show such gratitude when you contact them, when you interview them and when you make the show available,” van Reppelen says, explaining that he never imagined it would be such a joy ride. “The gratitude you get both from your guests and listeners is incredible.” Since launching his podcast at the end of last year, van Reppelen has also been surprised to find how willing the people he contacts are to open up to someone with no backing from a mainstream media outlet. “I thought I would need a blog or that I needed to be a famous person before people would take me seriously. But that absolutely wasn’t the case.” His listening figures, van Reppelen admits, were never his biggest concern. “My target audience is the 10 people who want to listen to a twohour interview, rather than the 10,000 people who want the quick, three-sentence summary.” He does, however, frequently check the statistics to see how many people tune in to his show. “But I try to take them into account as little as possible. For me, they’re not a measure of the quality of my work.”

Flemish filmmaker Fien Troch haswontheBestDirectorprize at the Venice Film Festival for her movie Home. The drama tells the story of 17-year-old Kevin who becomes embroiled in generational conflict when he moves in with his aunt and her family. Troch (Kid) told an interviewer in Venice that the look of the film is based on documentary style. “I wanted the viewer to have the impression that we were really in a house filming what is happening there,” she said. “And then when you get to uncomfortable scenes, there’s nowhere to hide. You were there from the beginning, you can’t hide now.” Home will open in local cinemas next January. NicBalthazar,meanwhile,won the Best Director prize from the Montreal World Film Festival. Everybody Happy, which opens here on 28 September, stars Peter Van den Begin (D’Ardennen, Waste Land) as a comic with burnout. It also features Barbara Sarafian (Aanrijding in Moscou, Rundskop) as a fellow stand-up and real-life comics Kamal Kharmach and Veerle Malschaert.

stained-glass windows returned to leuven Six stained glass windows that disappeared 188 years ago from the Park Abbey in Leuven have been returned to the city from the US, where they were found last year. The windows were made by the 16th-century craftsman Jan De Caumont and were sold by the abbey’s Norbertine monks to raise money. The latest find brings the number of the abbey’s restored windows to 21 of the original series of 41. Leuven mayor Louis Tobback and US ambassador Denise Bauer opened an exhibition centred on the windows last week. \ parkabdij.be

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\ Arts

A forty-year affair

bart defoort muses over unremitting love for the saxophone ahead of october tour christophe verbiest more articles by Christophe \ flanderstoday.eu

bartdefoort.com

Flemish jazz musician Bart Defoort first discovered the saxophone when he was just a teenager, but he says there’s still plenty left to learn about his beloved instrument.

“I

t’s the most democratic of all music styles,” Bart Defoort tells me. “The individual has the freedom to tell his or her story in dialogue with other people.” But to truly excel at the saxophone, the Flemish musician says, takes a lot of practice. “But then you can play it without thinking, which is essential in improvisational music like jazz. The learning process takes as much time as classical music, but you play the saxophone really differently.” We’re sitting in Defoort’s back garden in Anderlecht in Brussels, where he lives with his family. His wife is a violin player and their three children also play instruments. Defoort, 52, is used to living in a musical household. His father, who worked as a classical musician, choirmaster and music pedagogue, co-authored manuals used in Flemish primary schools in the 1970s and ’80s, and his brother is the jazz pianist and composer Kris Defoort. “The house was filled with mostly classical music,” says Defoort, who grew up in Bruges. “But my brothers brought rock and blues into the house.” Defoort (pictured) sang in choirs and taught himself to play the guitar, while listening to the likes of JJ Cale, Neil Young and Nick Drake. “And Joni Mitchell,” he adds, “who, while recording ‘Shadows and Light’ and ‘Hejira’, played with jazz musicians such as Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter. That’s how I discovered jazz.” Around the same time, his brother, who’s five years older, began studying jazz at the Royal Conservatory in Liège. “Back then, none of the Flemish conservatories taught jazz.”

The genre was a revelation to the young Defoort. “I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to do, so I decided to learn a new instrument,” he says. “I used to sing while playing the guitar, but I was never very fond of my voice.” But the saxophone, he continues, “has a very vocal character, it really expresses who you are. It felt as if the saxophone was made for me. The choice was simple”. Next came hours and hours of playing. “Practicing for me is the key to becoming a good musician, and I have never stopped learning,” Defoort says. “From a technical perspective, the saxophone is not the most difficult instrument. A violin, for instance, is much harder to master. Still, there’s always more I can learn.” As both a player and composer, Defoort doesn’t hide his passion for melodic music. He used to play in avant-garde bands when he was younger but found the approach too dogmatic. “It’s important that

the music doesn’t sound difficult,” he explains. “It takes a lot of effort to reach that point. While composing, I like to erase stuff and only keep the essence.” Studying, he adds, is the key. “Jazz is constantly in motion, and that’s what attracts me to it. And I like my melodies to be singable. In a sense, it’s scatting through my saxophone.” Defoort has played and recorded with dozens of groups and artists, including the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, which created the score for the 2011 Oscar-winning film The Artist. But over the past 20 years, Defoort has recorded only four albums under his own name. “I only realised that recently,” he says. “It’s been eight years since my last one, and I promised myself that I’m not going to wait eight more for the next. Because by then I’ll be 60!” Part of the reason, he says, is that he has never thought of his music in terms of a career. “I certainly don’t want to repeat myself. I’d like to

continue exploring new territories.” That’s why each of his albums features a different line-up and style. “My last one, Sharing Stories on Our Journey, was rooted in swing and 1950s hard bop,” he says. Inner Waves, released in May of this year, “partially harks back to that, too, but it’s a bit more groovy and funky”. For the past 11 years, Defoort has taught saxophone and ensemble at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent. “Only a handful of jazz musicians in Belgium can afford to live off their records and concerts,” he says. “And while I enjoy my job, if it wasn’t for the need to make money, I would have never become a teacher. At heart I’m a musician, not an academic.” In an ideal world, he continues, “you shouldn’t go to school to become a jazz musician. The best way to learn jazz is by playing. My heroes, Stan

2-16 october

Getz or Dexter Gordon, learned the trade by constantly touring and playing, doing some 200 gigs a year.” This kind of scene existed in Belgium, too, he says. “Until 1949, Brussels had 50 to 60 places where small bands could play every day. It sounds like heaven, but the scene doesn’t exist anymore. Luckily, music schools have taken over this function.” It’s been almost 40 years since Defoort began his affair with the saxophone. “And yet it remains a mysterious instrument to me,” he says. “When you’re young, expressiveness is very important. Not that I have ditched that, but I focus on mastering the instrument.” Whenever he makes up something in his head, he tries to play it. “Every year, it gets a bit easier,” he says. “But I don’t feel like I’m making music; I’m serving it.”

bart Defoort Quintet

Across Flanders

Ghent Festival of Flanders celebrates timeless rhythms The theme of this year’s Ghent Festival of Flanders is roots. This, of course, can mean a lot of things, considering folk music is as varied as the earth’s population. Anima Eterna orchestra from Bruges will perform Antonin Dvorˇák’s Symphony No 9, From the New World, which the Czech composer wrote while living in the US, drawing inspiration from both native American and African-American influences and from Bohemian folk tunes. Meanwhile, the Athens State

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the kaleidoskop ensemble move in sync around your grass-laden bed

Orchestra, established in 1893, will contrast the works of the legendary Mikis Theodorakis (Zorba the Greek) with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Ghent-based Sioen, who’s not shy of his passion for South African music, goes back to Johannesburg via New York. The artist will play Paul Simon’s seminal album Graceland. The festival, which is the Ghent leg of the region-wide Festival of Flanders, also features a dance performance created by Israeli choreog-

rapher Sharon Fridman. In Free Fall, non-professional dancers from Ghent share the stage with Fridman’s own troupe, accompanied by live music, for an exploration of survival and whether free choice is anything but a delusion. As in previous years, the festival kicksoffwiththepopularOdeGand – a play on words meaning an ode to Ghent. Thirty-minute concerts take place in venues across the

17 september to 1 october

gentfestival.be

city; one pass gets you into to any of them. Included are Vietnamese musician Quang Ngo Hong playing the two-stringed instrument đàn nhị, a flamenco performance by Macarena Ramirez and the National Orchestra of Belgium’s rendition of Balkan dances and rhapsodies. Music aficionados won’t know where to go first. \ CV Across Ghent

\ AGenDA

september 14, 2016

Tailbacks no more

PerforMance

Mobility Week 16-22 september

Across Flanders Socrates: Well-known Flemish actor Bruno Vanden Broecke presents this amusing and relatable monologue about one of history’s most legendary philosophers, the first in a series of philosophic monologues by writer/director Stefaan Van Brabandt (in Dutch). 21 September to 28 January, across Flanders

Across Flanders and brussels weekvandemobiliteit.be

obility Week is intended to make us think about how we get around and whether more sustainable options are possible. The high point is Car-Free Sunday, on 18 September, when all but essential motor vehicles are banned in Brussels and in some 40 towns and cities across Flanders. Four municipalities join the initiative for the first time this year: Rotselaar, Vorselaar, Lochristi and Bilzen. Opwijk also joins, but has its Sunday on 25 September, while Leuven, Temse, Landen and Hasselt held theirs earlier. Most towns mark the day with events to promote transport alternatives and organise walking and bicycle tours. There are also lots of picnics and dancing in the streets, and events for children. More athletic bodies can race, for instance running the route of the Brussels 20k in reverse.

Happenings that jump out of the programme include a unicycle parade in Bruges, bike polo in Brussels and a stilt village on the Schouwburgplein in Kortrijk. Brussels also boasts the Tunnel Party, with DJs performing in one of the city’s underpasses. The location will be confirmed at the last minute. If you must think about cars on Car-Free Sunday, then head to the Autodeelsalon on Ghent’s Korenmarkt. The aim is to help people to consider options for ride and car sharing, the better to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. The fair also explores the sharing economy more broadly, from barter schemes to co-housing and garden shares. Similar but smaller Autodeelsalons take place in 10 locations across Flanders, including Antwerp and Bruges, and in Anderlecht and Jette in the Brussels region.

\ kleinverzet.org/kv/socrates

visUal arts Antwerp Mobility Week also features Strapdag, on 16 September, when parents are invited to consider alternatives for the school run, while 22 September is Car-Free Day for commuters, with more than 250 participating businesses. \ Ian Mundell

stand-UP

PerforMance

english comedy night

cold blood

21 september, 21.00

lebowski’s, Antwerp lebowskis.be

Earlier this month Antwerp’s comedy community welcomed the opening of a dedicated comedy club in the city’s Berchem district. Lebowski’s promises to feed audiences a steady diet of stand-up in both Dutch and English. The club’s first English Comedy Night stars CanadianfunnymanJohnHastings (pictured) and Irish jokester Tom O’Mahony. The former is an introspective storyteller whose highly personal act – which reflects on life with a medical condition – has earned him a following on both sides of the Atlantic. The latter is a former MMA fighter who has played to sold-out audiences in Edinburgh and Dublin.

16-24 september

\ Georgio Valentino

Belgian filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael and choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey struck gold in 2011 with the international hit Kiss & Cry. The husbandand-wife duo spent the following years touring around the world with the genre-bending live production, featuring dancing hands that became iconic. The much-anticipated follow up, Cold Blood, was one of the highlights of the Mons2015 city of culture programme. While not a sequel in the strictest sense, Cold Blood continues to explore the intersection of live dance and film. The first four dates of this KVS reprise run are performed in Dutch, and the remainder in French. \ GV

visUal arts

concert

coup de ville until 9 october Every three years, arts collective WARP transforms Sint-Niklaas into a living work of art. The festival Coup de Ville features specially commissioned works by more than 30 international artists whose mission is to engage the urban environment and the everyday lives of its inhabitants. With 16 venues, this third edition spans

mísia Across sint-niklaas warp-art.be

the entire city and isn’t just about art spaces, but rather space in general. The itinerary incorporates architectural landmarks, historical sites and other noteworthy public spaces. Visitors can explore the offerings on their own or join a guided tour. There’s also a fringe programme of performances, lectures and concerts. \ GV

31 january, 20.30 Fado had fallen on hard times by the time Portuguese singer Mísia began recording in the 1990s. The quintessentially Portuguese musical style, characterised by its overthe-top pathos, had enjoyed its first flush of global fame in the 1960s before its star waned in later decades. Mísia and her generation of neo-fadistas would resurrect the form and usher it into the 21st century. It is now recognised by Unesco as Intangible Cultural Heritage. This just-announced European tour finds Mísia paying tribute to pioneering singer Amália Rodrigues, who led the first wave of fado half a century ago. \ GV

Rudy Trouvé: Recent works by the Antwerp musician, ex-Deus guitarist and founder of the Heavenhotel record label, featuring a mix of expressive illustrations, paintings and collages. Until 25 September, De Muze, Dekenstraat 40 \ muze.be

brussels kVs, brussels kvs.be

Sans Titre, 2016: Local artists Benoît Felix and Bernard Gauberespondtotheaesthetic challenges of contemporary art through connections woven between each of their multimedia works. 14 September to 6 November, Botanique, Koningsstraat 236 \ botanique.be

festival brussels & Dilbeek Come Together: Opening weekend of the autumn cultural seasons at Brussels’ Beursschouwburg and CC Westrand in Dilbeek, featuring short performances, videos, installations, concerts and musical trips between Brussels city centre and the Flemish outskirts. 16-18 September, Beursschouwburg and CC Westrand \ beursschouwburg.be

get tic k

event ets no w

De roma, Antwerp deroma.be

brussels Nocturnes van de Brusselse Musea Annual multi-disciplinary event featuring a wide range of activities during latenight openings in nearly 70 museums across the capital, including guided tours, workshops, demonstrations, meet-and-greets and more. 15 September to 8 December, 17.00-22.00 Thursdays \ brusselsmuseumsnocturnes.be

maldegem Open Belgian Championship Organ Grinding: Biennial competition, with amateur and semi-professional organ grinders giving free performances throughout the town centre. 18 September 13.00-18.30, across Maldegem \ draaiorgel.be

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\ bACkpAGe

september 14, 2016

Talking Dutch glass warfare derek blyth more articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

hey take their beer-drinking the brewery went full steam ahead with seriously here. Every beer must Jupiler als bier van het volk – as the have its own bottle and its own beer of the people. special glass. No bartender would Voor Stella geldt het omgekeerde – The dream of serving a Maes pils in a opposite was true for Stella. In het Grimbergen glass. buitenland is het bier succesvol geproWhich is why a storm has been moot als premiumpils – The beer is brewing in bars across the land. R.I.P. successfully promoted abroad as a het ribbeltje – RIP the ribbed glass, premium lager. Een kelk zou beter ran the headline in De Standaard. passen bij het gewenste imago van Belgisch verdriet over verlies Stella Stella Artois – A chalice would fit ‘ribbeke’ – Belgian sorrow at loss of better with the desired image of Stella’s ribbed glass, echoed a Dutch Stella Artois als chiquer premium bier newspaper. – as a more chic premium beer. Wie zijn Stella graag uit een ribbeltjesBut it’s also about the taste, according glas drinkt – Anyone who wants to drink © Courtesy stella Artois to AB InBev researchers. Onderzoek heeft their Stella out of a ribbed glass moet zich uitgewezen – Research has shown dat de hasten – had better hurry up. AB InBev – AB InBev chalice de meest optimale beleving biedt – that the chal(the Leuven-based brewing giant) neemt het glas uit de ice offers the most positive experience bij het drinken handel – is taking the glass off the shelves en serveert van een Stella – when drinking a Stella. het bier voortaan het liefst in een luxueus kelkje – and One thing is for sure. Het glas is essentieel voor het plans to serve the beer in future in an elegant chalice Belgische bier – the glass is essential when it comes (like it already does in other countries). to Belgian beer, insists Jean-Louis Van de Perre, of the Why would they do such a thing? It’s a long story, Belgian Brewers’ Association. Uniek ook – It’s unique, according to De Standaard. In 1988 kwamen Stella in fact. Artois en Jupiler onder dak bij Interbrew – In 1988, InterNergens anders ter wereld – Nowhere else in the world brew took Stella Artois and Jupiler under its wings. heb je voor elk bier een apart glas – do you have a differDe brouwers zelf waren ervan overtuigd – The brewers ent glass for each beer. In andere landen wordt bier in themselves were convinced dat Stella het meeste poteneen ordinair glas geserveerd – In other countries beer is tieel in zich droeg – that Stella had the most potential. served in an ordinary glass. Wij, Belgen, weten tenminDe consument koos voor Jupiler – The consumer went ste hoe het moet – At least we Belgians know how it for Jupiler. should be done. En dus ging de brouwerij voluit voor Jupiler – And so We can all drink to that, whatever glass it comes in.

pHoto of tHe week

voices of flanders today In response to Paralympic champion ‘considering euthanasia’ after Rio Games Tracey Buchel: You have become my hero, a truly remarkable woman. I have no reason not to pull myself together after reading your story. So much respect.

In response to Brussels Delhaize store to grow own vegetables on roof Scotia Saorsa: Love this, what a great idea. :)

In response to Leuven’s research powerhouse leads combined effort against cancer Danielle Miller: Lots of good people doing fantastic work down there and impacting so many lives.

In response to First refugees begin university studies in Flanders Gawan Fagard: Welcome and good luck dear friends! I’m so happy that you will start studying this year already.

Jun Song @JunDishes Stunning view from my lunch in Ghent. Loved the waterways #Belgium #travel

João. @BeloJP Sunny days in Antwerp are so rare. So I try to enjoy them to the fullest.

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