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APRIL 19, 2017 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.org current affairs \ p2

politics \ p4

Helping hands

BUSiNESS \ p6

An ounce of prevention

innovation \ p7

education \ p9

art & living \ p10

Coffee nation

The low number of black students in higher education prompted one Antwerp woman to reel in role models and visit classrooms

Flanders’ fascinating history of caregiving is in the spotlight this month on Heritage Day, one of the calendar’s most popular region-wide events

Among the coffee houses finally popping up left and right in Flanders are a few run by expats, offering tastes from their homelands

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The pride of Ypres Symbolic Menin Gate lions return to site of bloodiest First World War battle Denzil Walton More articles by Denzil \ flanderstoday.eu

Two stone lions, past which thousands of Allied forces marched on their way to battle in the First World War, are briefly returning from Australia to their original home in West Flanders.

ne hundred years ago, Flanders witnessed one of the costliest, bloodiest offensives of the First World War: the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. Meticulously planned, it was intended to be British commander Sir Douglas Haig’s breakthrough battle. Allied forces were to sweep through the strongly fortified German defences enclosing the Ypres Salient, and then push on to the German submarine bases on the Flemish coast. The offensive was launched on 31 July, 1917. Over the following months, battles broke out in places that have

now become infamous: Pilckem, Langemarck, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcapelle. Finally, on 6 November, the tiny village of Passchendaele fell, mercifully bringing an end to the Third Battle of Ypres. The Allied forces ended up no nearer the Flemish coast than when they had started. In gaining just a few kilometres of ground, they incurred 310,000 casualties. German casualties numbered 260,000. Five Australian Divisions participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, losing 38,000 men. Diary entries of Australian infantrymen at this time are revealing. On 17 September, Private Leicester Grafton Johnson of the 20th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, wrote: “Ypres, that much war-worn city, is now reduced to a mass of ruins. Only the walls of the fine Old Cathedral are left standing.” Private JN Shearer of the 15th Battalion noted on 25 Septem-

ber that “shells from guns of huge calibre were tearing up the swampy marshes behind and in front of us … the muddy roads were strewn with wreckage of transport lorries; dying horses and mules writhed in agony along the Menin Road.” It would have been quite possible for both these soldiers, and many of their compatriots, to have marched out of Ypres via the Menin Gate. As they did so, they would have noticed two stone lions guarding the entrance to town. Could seeing these imposing stone beasts have conjured up a little more courage to face the enemy? The lions were made from calcareous blue stone constituted from fossilised marine organisms. The stone was probably quarried at Soignies in Wallonia in the 17th century. The exact date of the carving of the lions is unknown but is thought to be between 1638 and 1700. There is, however, a suggestion that they date back as far as the 1500s. continued on page 5

\ CURRENT AFFAIRS

Trial next year for suspect in Jewish Museum shooting Defence hoping for jury trial for Mehdi Nemmouche, accused of killing four people Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

ehdi Nemmouche, accused of killing four people in a shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in 2014, has been remanded in custody for a further two months. The prosecutor’s office said the investigation into the attack was now complete, and Nemmouche could expect to go to trial in the early part of next year. The investigating magistrate has passed the dossier to the federal prosecutor’s office, which has authority over terrorism cases. The magistrate assigned to the case will prepare arguments for having Nemmouche committed for trial. A court will then decide what charges he will face and in front of which level of tribunal. Both the defence and the civil parties favour a jury trial. The prosecution has not commented on the issue, but prosecutors more often than not prefer to argue a case before

a bench of professional judges rather than risk the more unpredictable judgement of a jury. The attack on the museum was carried out by a single armed man; two volunteers and two visitors died either on site or later in hospital. Nemmouche, 32, was arrested in Marseilles in possession of weapons a week after the shooting. He has not given any statements during his time in custody. His lawyers have said that he admits taking part in the attack but denies being the shooter. Two other men are implicated in the planning of the operation and in Nemmouche’s escape to France. One of them, Nacer Bendrer, was in custody until last November, when he was released under conditions. He is now under house arrest in France. A fourth suspect has never been traced.

Fewer complaints about Brussels public transport The ombudsman for Brussels public transport authority MIVB received 268 customer complaints in 2016, 17% fewer than in 2015, the service said. Two months – May and September – saw record low numbers of complaints, with 16 and four respectively. The explanation is thought to be heightened security in the metro and pre-metro stations. The most common complaint – 55% – concerned problems with tickets. Of those filing a complaint, 63% of them declared themselves “satisfied” by the service of the ombudsman – a good score but short of the peak in 2012, when the service received a positive rating from 73% of customers. Finally, a recent survey carried out by MIVB

showed that 75% of transport customers are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the service. The average score received from the 10,300 respondents was 7.1 out of 10, the highest the annual survey has ever received. \ AH

Strengthened border controls after fire in Dunkirk refugee camp The federal police have announced that reinforced checks are being carried out on the border between France and Flanders after a major fire destroyed about half of the refugee camp in Dunkirk last week, leaving more than 1,500 migrants displaced. A large part of the Grande Synthe camp in the French coastal city was devastated. The camp will not be rebuilt, according to local author-

ities, who had set up the facility to cope with the wave of migrants arriving following the dismantling of the Calais camp last year. Police in De Panne believe the former residents of Grande Synthe will make their way over the border and try to reach the UK from the Belgian coast. Cars and buses will be checked by customs between Dunkirk and De Panne until further notice. \ Hannah Haynes

258,119

residents of Ghent at the end of last year, or 1,858 more than a year before. Half of the growth was due to more births than deaths, the other half the result of immigration

Belgian customs blocks record number of illegal counterfeit websites Inspectors for the federal economy ministry and the customs service blocked 2,995 websites where counterfeit goods were being offered for sale in 2016, the ministry has announced. The figure is a huge increase on the previous year, when 328 were blocked. The reason for the increase is that inspectors actively sought out such sites rather than just responding to complaints. The inspection service is now considered to be one of the

best in Europe: While customs closed down 369 sites, inspectors blocked the remainder. The service currently consists of seven inspectors, with two more due to be added soon. Despite the success of their own investigations, the service stressed that it always welcomes reports from members of the public regarding suspicious websites. Reports can be made anonymously online. \ AH

Antoine frituur to get new stand on Jourdanplein Maison Antoine, one of Brussels’ most celebrated frietkots, is being demolished but will be rebuilt elsewhere on Jourdanplein in Etterbeek. Customers will be served from a temporary food truck until the new installation is complete in September. Jourdanplein itselt is also undergoing a thorough makeover. The stand on Jourdanplein is regularly mentioned in tourist guides as one of the best places to get fries in the capital. Aside from the quality, locals and tourists alike appreciate the deal it’s made with the bars on the square, which allow customers to eat Antoine’s food in their establishments. The eatery also hit the headlines recently

when German chancellor Angela Merkel took a break from an EU summit to sample Antoine’s fried delights. \ AH

3,000

1,879,510

Flemish residents of Brussels are now holders of the Paspartoe, a card issued in 2015 by the Flemish Community Commission allowing holders a range of advantages and discounts

passengers passing through Brussels Airport in March, 10% more than the previous record in March 2015. Last year the airport was closed down temporarily after the bombings in March

cases of missing persons described as “worrying” reported to the federal police’s missing persons unit in 2016, continuing a downward trend since 2010. In 983 cases, the person turned up

fewer cars in the peak hours in and around Antwerp – the result of three new apps that aim to make it easier for users to co-ordinate alternative modes of transport

APRIL 19, 2017

WEEK in brief Police issued fines to more than 200 drivers who were filming an accident on the E40 motorway between Brussels and Leuven last week. Taking photos or videos while driving is illegal, as it increases the delays caused by traffic jams, and can even contribute to additional accidents. The drivers can expect a fine of €110. Dealing with beggars on the streets of Brussels is a priority for the city’s prosecutor’s office, a spokesperson said. The office was replying to recent criticisms from some of the capital’s politicians that the authorities were failing to tackle the growing numbers of beggars. The prosecutors have appointed magistrates to look into the problem, including the involvement of minors in begging, the spokesperson said. The citizens of Mechelen will be invited to apply for a gift of one square metre each next year, in a project designed to make people think about the use of public space. The organisers, theatre group Arsenaal/Lazarus, have received two hectares – 20,000 square metres – to distribute to the population. Those who present successful proposals for the use of the land will then have to negotiate how to share or gift the parcel. Fewer women would require chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer if an expensive test were to be reimbursed, according to Dr Patrick Neven, a cancer specialist at Leuven University Hospital. The post-operative test costs €3,000 but offers an indication whether chemotherapy is necessary. The test could spare about 1,000 women a year in Belgium from the ordeal of chemotherapy, not to mention the savings in therapy costs. The well-known Café Kafka on Visverkopersstraat in the centre

face of flanders of Brussels is looking for a new manager. The current licensee, who rescued the cafe from bankruptcy in 2012, wants to withdraw for personal reasons. The bar will remain open until new management can take over. The Kafka is owned by drinks wholesaler HLS, but the selection procedure will be in the hands of the current manager. The federal government’s crisis centre is preparing measures to combat the threat of a terrorist attack using drones, a spokesperson from the home affairs ministry said. Although there is no concrete evidence terrorists are preparing such an attack, the authorities are aware such a possibility exists. “We have to be prepared for every scenario,” the spokesperson said. A publicly funded day-care centre in Aalst has come in for criticism after it removed all foodstuffs containing pork from the children’s menu. Reports in the press claimed the decision was based on pressure from Muslim parents, but local councillor Iwein De Coninck said it was for purely practical reasons, after a chef was off sick and the staff were unable to cope with special meals. De Coninck did say that the centre should have discussed the decision with the council first. The amount patients must pay for a visit to the dentist – the remgeld – will remain unchanged in 2017, following an agreement between dentists’ organisations and the state medical insurance agency Riziv. In 2018, the charge for children will remain the same, as will preventative treatments. Dental care for cancer patients will be more fully reimbursed. Motoring assistance organisations VAB and Touring have complained about the federal

traffic police’s new policy to tow stalled cars with the Fast truck scheme even if the driver is a member of one of the two organisations, and help is already on its way. Drivers are later faced with bills for the unwanted service, a Touring spokesperson said. Oscare, the Flemish after-care centre for burns victims, plans to launch a campaign this summer to convince young people not to charge phones and other devices while they are asleep. Batteries can easily overheat, the organisation said. The Pukkelpop music festival has applied for a permanent environmental permit to replace the annual permit it has received since 1991. The change is a result of an agreement with the Flemish government last year. The new permit would theoretically allow a second simultaneous event, but a spokesperson said there are no current plans to stage another event. Four peregrine falcon chicks expected at three locations in Brussels have all hatched. The chicks – from a total of 12 eggs in the three nests – were born within hours of each other, in the tower of the Brussels Cathedral, in the tower of the Sint-Job church in Ukkel and in the town hall of Sint-Pieters-Woluwe. The remaining eggs will hatch soon. Police in the Overijse-Hoeilaart zone in Flemish Brabant plan to buy 10 new automatic number plate recognition cameras (ANPR) this year, after they were used to solve 117 crimes and other incidents in the first three months of the year. ANPR was used to link vehicles to burglaries in Halle and Overijse, among other crimes.

OFFSIDE Bucket list Piano lessons, TV crime shows and all the books on his shelves: the choice made by Ghent mayor Daniël Termont, on being asked to compile his bucket list by radio host Luc Alloo. The idea of the bucket list comes from the 2007 film of the same name starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who, on realising they haven’t much time left, decide to compile a list of things they would like to do before kicking the bucket (hence the name). Termont (pictured), let us hope, has plenty of time left – but next year he is stepping down as mayor of Ghent – the second-best mayor

Franky Devos

vooruit.be

After years of high staff turnover and organisational turmoil, the Ghent culture centre Vooruit is back on its feet. As part of a major transformation project, which saw drastic changes to the organisation, its mission and its building, it’s also welcoming a new chief: Franky Devos. Devos, 47, is currently the director of the Buda arts centre in Kortrijk. After the summer, he will take over the Vooruit reins from Stefaan De Ruyck, who is leaving the post to start helming the Antwerp Royal Conservatory. Devos’ new responsibilities will extend beyond those De Ruyck held as he will also fill the brandnew post of “general co-ordinator”, a position that was created in an effort to make the venue’s decision-making process more efficient. Devos has been leading Buda since 2007. Since then, the Kortrijk venue has become the largest arts workspace in Flanders, hosting some 60 theatre and dance companies every year, while visitor numbers at its cinema have increased by 40%. Buda also played a key role in the birth of the Next Festival. Initiated together with four other arts and performance houses, it struck up a cross-border artistic collaboration with venues in Wallonia and northern France, earning it an

award last year from EFFE, which fetes trend-setting and boundarypushing festivals across Europe. But what most distinguished Devos’ years at Buda was his cross-sectional approach, which sought to connect the arts to the worlds of education, business and science. In 2012, he developed a method called “love, work, share”, which saw a network of partners from the four sectors deciding on Buda’s programming and planning. In Devos’ model, “love” stands for giving people from different sectors the chance to meet each other, such as at Budalibre, a cafe that invites people with innovative ideas to present their ideas, chat and mingle. “Work” stands for active crosssectional collaboration, which is exemplified in Kortrijk’s Open City Lab, a place where people from different backgrounds work together and members of the public are free to try their hand at laser cutters and 3D printers. Finally, “share” stands for sharing experiences with as many people as possible, for instance, through Buda’s temporary exhibitions. In other words, Vooruit’s choice of Devos as general director and co-ordinator is radical and signals the venue’s desire to cross-pollinate the arts with other sectors of society. \ Daan Bauwens

Flanders Today, a weekly English-language newspaper, is an initiative of the Flemish Region and is financially supported by the Flemish authorities.

in the world according to 2014’s World Mayor Prize – after two terms in City Hall. His desires are modest. First, piano lessons – he has received the gift of a course of 10 lessons from the Flemish chamber of commerce Voka on announcing his impending retirement. Then, in no particular order: travel (specifically a ski trip), cycling, and then two more placid pursuits – reading all his books and finally have time to watch all those hit crime series. From Flanders Today, best wishes, mayor Termont, on completing the list. \ Alan Hope

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\ POLITICS

5TH COLUMN Conflict zone

The Easter holidays did not see a ceasefire between N-VA and CD&V, who have been making accusations and pointing fingers at each other for months. In an interview last week, Zuhal Demir (N-VA), the new secretary of state for equal opportunities, “warned” the public about CD&V. She stated that CD&V “sees Muslims as kiesvee” (literally “electoral cattle”). In other words: CD&V is pandering to Muslims. The Christian-democrats reacted angrily. What is really at stake here is the position as Flanders’ centrist party, which CD&V has held for decades. The Christian-democrats try very hard to distance themselves from N-VA’s views on migration and identity, which they believe to be polarising. Mieke Van Hecke, CD&V candidate in Ghent, has even called her party the “logical choice for Muslims”. In doing so, however, the party risks losing a large number of its voters – white and rural. That is exactly N-VA’s strategy in framing it as a “Muslim party”. N-VA, meanwhile, would like to avoid losing its appeal with former Vlaams Belang voters with a strong rhetoric on identity. The party is also finding it hard to shake off its past as an opposition party: Even in government, it is forever campaigning. CD&V has demanded apologies for Demir’s attack but has yet to receive them. Prime minister Charles Michel (MR) has called the secretary of state to account, however, and Demir has “accepted his criticism”. Another crisis broke out last week at the Flemish level, as interior minister Liesbeth Homans (N-VA) announced that she would no longer recognise the large Turkish Fatih mosque in Beringen, Limburg. This surprised everyone, including the town’s mayor and government parties CD&V and Open VLD. Homans referred to State Security reports for her decision, which landed her even more criticism. State Security has distanced itself from her interpretation of the reports and has warned her not to disclose them. She came under fire in the Flemish parliament and also clashed with justice minister Koen Geens (CD&V), who is responsible for State Security. CD&V is more than fed up by the recent incidents started by N-VA – including an attack on a Belgian security officer in Turkey, on Doctors without Borders, on equal opportunities agency Unia. But they’ve yet to find a way to effectively counter them. \ Anja Otte

Turkish intelligence cut off

Relationship ‘severely damaged’ due to threat to not recognise mosque Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

he Turkish intelligence services are no longer co-operating with their Belgian counterparts, according to the head of State Security. Speaking in front of the Flemish parliament’s government affairs committee, Jaak Raes (pictured) said controversy over the government’s possible withdrawal of the recognition of a mosque in Beringen, Limburg, had caused “severe damage” to relations with the Turkish intelligence services. Earlier this month, integration minister Liesbeth Homans addressed the question of a possible withdrawal of the official recognition of the mosque in Beringen, part of the Diyanet network of Turkish mosques, which promote a conservative version of Islam. Later, a report

by state security was leaked to the press, which Homans claimed supported withdrawal. Opposition socialists were angry about the

leaking of confidential documents and argued that the credibility of State Security had been undermined. State Security itself said Homans was misreading their report, which was not in support of withdrawal of recognition. The breach in relations with Turkish intelligence could have serious consequences, according to an anonymous security source quoted in De Morgen. “In the past it has happened that the Turks have provided very useful information on the whereabouts of Syria fighters and potential terrorists,” the source said. “Now if members of our state security services call their Turkish colleagues with a question, the answer is likely to be, ‘Figure it out for yourselves’.”

€55 million for youth treatment and residential centres

Great Mosque leaders accused of perjury during hearings

The government of Flanders is investing more than €55 million in infrastructure projects related to the care of socially vulnerable children and young people, welfare minister Jo Vandeurzen has announced. The funding will be focused on facilities such as residential homes and day centres that serve troubled children and young people. These include youngsters with behavioural problems or who have been removed from their homes temporarily or permanently. Among the facilities earmarked

Patrick Dewael, the chair of the parliamentary investigative commission investigating the terrorist attacks of March 2016, has filed a complaint against the chair of the Great Mosque in Brussels and the mosque’s imam, alleging one or the other committed perjury when they appeared in hearings before the commission last month. Speaking under oath, the two men gave contradictory testimony regarding the mosque’s involvement in the radicalisation of young people and recruitment of young men to fight in Syria. Both imam Mohamed Galaye N’Diaye and Jamal Saleh Momenah of the Islamic Cultural Centre attached to the mosque claimed that the institution practises a moderate form of Islam, countering critics who claim it is backed by Saudi Arabia and practises a radical form of the religion. Dewael (pictured) will turn the contested testimony over to the

for help is De Wiekslag in Alken, Limburg, which will build a new campus to accomodate 20 young people. Another project will create a centre for 60 children and young adults in Roeselare, West Flanders. “Over and above quality support, the availability of infrastructure tailored to the needs of the target group is of major importance,” Vandeurzen said. “Suitable buildings and the way space is organised are important to the children and young people concerned, and to the way that support can be carried out.” \ AH

Human rights abuses of gay men in Chechnya condemned Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois has condemned reports of human rights abuses of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Initial reports from human rights groups speak of more than 100 men being arrested because they are gay or are suspected of being gay. The men were detained and tortured, and their families blackmailed for their release. Three of the men are reported to have died as a result. One man who was released told an independent Russian newspaper about how he was tortured and forced to reveal the names and addresses of other gay men. Others were beaten or given electric shocks. Bourgeois said he was “concerned” at the reports and criticised the Russian and Chechen authorities for failing to take the matter seriously. He also supported a call from EU representative Federica Mogherini for an independent investigation. “Human rights are a guiding principle in Flanders’ international policy, and LGBT rights are an integral part of that,” he said in a statement. “Reporting in recent days in the Russian and international media has been disturbing.”

Bourgeois is also concerned, he said, “about the initial reactions of the Russian and Chechen authorities who played down the problem and even laughed it off, while the rights of gays in Russia have been infringed for years. We must have clarity on this matter, and that is only possible with an independent investigation into the reports, as well as a clear response from the authorities on the ground.” Organisations in Flanders representing the LGBT community have called on politicians to react strongly to the reports. “What does it say about our governments, national and international, if they fail to act strongly?” said Bjorn Boon, a prominent member of the LGBT community in Flanders. “The complete lack of strong and powerful action is astounding, and increases my concern.” \ AH

prosecutor-general at the court of appeal, who will decide whether to prosecute. Perjury carries a sentence of two months to three years. In related news, Dewael (Open VLD) told VRT he plans to request an extension of his commission’s deadline of 30 April, to allow it to complete its enquiries. The commission wants to look into the official recognition of mosques and the conditions they are required to meet. \ AH

GPs should be allowed to register organ donors, say MPs Belgians should be able to confirm their status as organ donors with their doctor as well as with municipal authorities, according to N-VA and CD&V. The parties are preparing a legislative proposal. Everyone born in Belgium is automatically considered an organ donor. But in practice, families often contest the procedure following the death of loved ones. In 2016, more than 13% of families refused to allow organs to be removed from the deceased, according to the Belgian Transplantation Society. If people want to prevent that from happening, they can officially register as an organ donor with their municipality. They can also explicitly ask not to be an organ donor.

Belgium is an international frontrunner in organ donation, but the waiting list is long, with 1,217 patients currently on it. To increase the number of officially recognised organ donors, federal MPs Valerie Van Peel (N-VA) and Nathalie Muylle (CD&V) are asking that it be possible to register as an organ donor with GPs as well as with local authorities. Being forced to become a donor at the town hall can serve as a deterrent, said the pair in a statement. “GPs are more suitable contacts because of their knowledge, experience and training.” The MPs said that the registration could be easily organised via the digital eHealth platform, which makes medical data available to care providers. \ Andy Furniere

\ COVER STORY

APRIL 19, 2017

The lions have been at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra since 1936

The pride of Ypres

Statues that saw troops go to battle are loaned back to Ypres from Australia continued from page 1

1638 is the most popular theory, as that coincided with the reign of Louis XIV (1638-1715), who was responsible for the erection of ramparts around the town of Ypres. The walls were pierced by two gates, one on the road to Lille, and the other on the road to Menin. In 1830, the fortifications were modernised by the Dutch government but then dismantled by the Belgian government in 1855. This is when the lions were placed on brick plinths on either side of the Menin Road where the original Menin Gate once stood. It was along this road that allied soldiers marched into warfare, including the Third Battle of Ypres.

in 1936, the Menin Gate lions were donated to the Commonwealth of Australia by the mayor of Ypres as a gesture of friendship and an acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by Australia’s soldiers. As the Australian newspaper The Barrier Miner recorded at the time: “Through this historic gate during the war marched the great armies of the British Empire, France, the United States and Belgium, who fought in the battle of Ypres.” The Adelaide News took up the story: “The Menin Gate was pulled down 80 years ago, but hundreds of thousands of allied troops, including many Australians, marched through the passageway in the ramparts during the Great War.”

Flanders and Australia forged a bond in bloody sacrifice within which we both live After the war ended, a photograph taken in 1920 by a Mrs GH Webster shows one of the lions by the roadside near the Menin Gate. It is probable that both lions lay in the rubble until 1923, when work on a memorial commenced. This is the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient and whose graves are unknown. Designed by British architect Sir Archibald Blomfield, it was unveiled on 24 July, 1927. It is inscribed with the names of 54,900 dead from Britain and Commonwealth countries. After being recovered from the rubble of the city, the lions were stacked with other broken masonry and statuary under the ruins of the town’s Cloth Hall. Then,

The lions were certainly in need of some tender loving care. Shellfire had left them battle-scarred and chipped. One of them had lost its right foreleg. The other had been reduced to just a head and torso. For several years the lion with the missing leg was displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, but its partner was kept hidden. In 1985, it was decided to reconstruct both lions, and the task was given to Polish sculptor Kasimiers L Zywuszko. Using period photographs obtained from Ypres, Zywuszko modelled the missing limbs in clay, took plaster moulds and filled them with a mixture of crushed marble, araldite and pigment. After the mixture had set, he broke the moulds and completed the cast pieces by hand. He took care that the reconstruc-

tion didn’t look too good; the battered appearance of the lions was maintained, and the effects of shellfire could still be seen. The work was completed in 1987. The restored lions were lifted by crane over the steps of the memorial and placed at the entrance. For the past 30 years, visitors entering the building have passed between the two statues. Now, as part of the centenary commemorations of the Third Battle of Ypres, the lions are temporarily returning to their symbolic home at the Menin Gate. “The Menin Gate lions are of immense military, cultural and emotional significance to Australians,” says Dr Brendan Nelson, director of the Australian War Memorial. “These silent sentinels have stood at the entrance to the Australian War Memorial for a generation. Now they return to where they stood watching over the British and Commonwealth troops who marched between them to serve, suffer and die on the Ypres Salient.” More than “13,000 of my countrymen lie in Flanders,” he continues, “silent witnesses to the future given to us and the people of Flanders”. A Last Post ceremony takes place every evening at the Menin Gate. The unveiling and inauguration of the lions will take place during a special edition on 24 April. “I look forward to visiting the lions at the Menin Gate in July this year and urge every Australian to visit if they can,” Nelson says. “In doing so, they’ll find something of themselves and a deeper understanding of what it means to be Australian. Flanders and Australia forged a bond in bloody sacrifice within which we both live. The Menin Gate lions are our tangible reminder of all that was given for us.” The lions will stand on the bridge in front of the Menin Gate and will

Officers pose by one of the lions of the Menin Gate in February 1915

return to Canberra after Armistice Day, 11 November. It’s not the first time, though, that these famous lions have been on tour. In 2014 they were loaned to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa for nine months. A small exhibition about the history of the lions will run in the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres. “We are delighted that both governments and the other relevant partners, such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Last Post Association, have joined forces to make this remarkable project

possible,” says Ypres city councillor Jef Verschoore, chair of the museum. A popular legend about the lions is that during the Third Battle of Ypres, locals placed straw in the mouths of the two statues. The belief was that the Germans would not be able to enter the town until the lions had eaten the straw. Another story is that after the end of the war, Australian soldiers themselves boxed up the lions and sent them home, and the official “gift” of the lions in 1936 was to cover up this embarrassing escapade.

\ BUSINESS

week in business Hotels Pandox AB The Swedish hotel group has acquired the 212-room Silken Berlaymont in Brussels’ EU quarter for €32.7 million. It intends to invest €3.5 million in upgrading the rooms and conference facilities. Pandox currently manages a portfolio of 120 hotels in 10 countries.

Opticians Hans Anders The Dutch-owned optician chain, which has 105 outlets in Belgium, is being sold to the British investment fund 3i for €200 million. Hans Anders has 456 outlets in four European countries, with Belgium its second-largest market after the Netherlands. The chain also aims to renovate existing outlets or move to better locations.

Student housing Xior The Antwerp-based student housing group is expanding its property portfolio with an acquisition in Amsterdam. It will invest over €30 million to convert redundant office space in the suburb of Amstelveen into student accommodation.

Banking Salaries Max Jadot of BNP Parisbas Fortis was the best-paid CEO in Belgium in 2016, according to the latest figures released by the bank. Jadot received €1.6 million in salary and bonuses, which put him ahead of KBC head Johan Thijs, who earned €1.5 million.

Tax burden OECD

Belgium reduced the tax burden on employees in 2016 at one of the fastest rates among OECD countries, according to a new report. Belgium currently has one of the highest tax rates in the world, but its “tax shift” policy has cut the rate for single workers with no children by 1.3%. The OECD report warned that the country still has to tackle its high tax level.

Investment Second homes BNP Paribas Fortis reports that one in five of its customers has invested in a second home as a result of low interest rates. Most second homes in Belgium are bought as rental properties, while houses in Spain and France are mainly acquired as holiday homes.

Arco ‘doesn’t have assets’ to pay back special investors Task force to explore how to honour guarantee of €600 million Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

he administrators appointed to carry out a liquidation of the co-operative holding company Arco have completed their evaluation of the company’s remaining assets. They have concluded that there will not be enough left over to pay back the 800,000 special investors whose stakes were guaranteed by the federal government. Arco was closely related to the Catholic workers movement ACW, now known as beweging. net. ACW members enjoyed a special status as investors: Their money was guaranteed by the government – unlike the money of ordinary investors – and they were comparable with the holders of savings accounts. When Arco went broke at the end of 2008, ordi-

A woman takes part in a protest in Antwerp last year insisting that Arco investors be paid back

nary investors lost everything. ACW co-operants, as they were called, expected to be paid back, and the difference in treatment led to

court action. The government, in particular CD&V, which is also closely related to the Catholic movement, came in for sharp criticism. According to the administrators, once outstanding creditors have been paid, only some €200 million remains, plus €50 million to €200 million from shareholdings. However, Arco was fined €146 million by the EU for illegal state aid, meaning the balance is not enough to pay the €600 million promised to the co-operants, as a settlement worth 40% of the money they invested. Prime minister Charles Michel has already set up a task force to come up with a plan in the event the liquidation could not pay the debt. The task force will now have enact that plan, whatever it may entail.

One Belgian company makes top 200 list for gender equality

Plans announced for new slaughterhouse on Anderlecht site

Of the 12 wholly Belgian-owned companies in the Bel-20 stock market index, only one figures among the 200 best when it comes to gender equality. That company is Proximus, which came in at 186. The CEO of Proximus is Dominique Leroy. The ranking was compiled by the Dutch Equileap Foundation, which examined the published details of 3,000 publicly owned companies with a total market capital of more than $2 billion across the globe. Two other ranked companies make up the Bel-20: Engie of

The owners of the famous Abattoir slaughterhouse in Anderlecht, Brussels, have plans to build a new facility on the same site by 2023, according to Abattoir NV spokesperson Paul Thielemans. The company said that it has the support of the BrusselsCapital Region. Despite its iconic status, Abattoir provides only 3% of all slaughter capacity in Belgium. It handles some 230,000 animals a year, including pigs, cows, horses, sheep and deer. The new facility would take up less space, be more transparent and leave most of the current facility vacant for other uses. Abattoir has recently transformed some of its premises in Anderlecht from trade-only market into a public food market open at weekends. The new facility would also open the site up to

France is in 27th place, and ING of the Netherlands is in 111th place. The survey looked at women’s positions in the boardroom and in top management, equal pay – only six of the 3,000 companies scored well on this issue – paid maternity leave and opportunities for career advancement. The French cosmetics company L’Oreal was number one on the list, followed by the British insurance firm Pearson and the National Australia Bank. Norway, the Netherlands and the UK were the bestperforming nations. \ AH

More job-seekers earning diploma from training with VDAB Increasing numbers of job-seekers are pursuing a secondary or higher education diploma via training programmes offered by the Flemish employment and training agency VDAB. Currently, there are 220,000 people seeking work in Flanders, and those with few job skills have the most difficulty finding a position, according to VDAB. The agency has begun offering diploma programmes to help the unemployed find work more easily. This system, according to figures, is starting to pay off. “Last year, 1,612 job-seekers got a diploma via the VDAB, compared to 1,014 two years ago,” said Flemish MP Robrecht Bothuyne of CD&V. “The programme is making a difference: 72% of the students who passed got a job within three months.” Last year, VDAB invested €3 million in the programmes. It focuses on programmes on bottleneck professions, such as nursing. It’s notable that 70% of the students are women.

other functions, Thielemans said. In related news, traders operating at the Abattoir delivered an Easter lamb to the royal family at their residence in Brussels’ Laken neighbourhood last week, according to tradition. The 33kg lamb, a cross between a Texel ram and a Swifter ewe, was brought up in West Flanders and slaughtered on the Anderlecht site at the age of 100 days. \ AH

Brexit panic for Zeebrugge is ‘premature,’ says port CEO

Bothuyne has called on VDAB to expand the number of options. “The focus now lies on the education and care sectors, but there are also bottleneck vacancies in the ICT sector, for example,” he said. “We should also investigate whether we can tackle the shortage of engineers with these programmes.” \ Andy Furniere

Contrary to all expectations and statements up to this point, Brexit – the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union – will not necessarily have a negative effect on the port of Zeebrugge, said port CEO Joachim Coens. So far this year, business leaders and politicians have insisted that Zeebrugge would be one of the hardest-hit industries in Flanders following Brexit, given the amount of the port’s traffic that is linked to the UK. The concern, said Coens, “was to make it clear that trade with the UK is important for the whole North Sea area. Arguments for a hard Brexit would have meant cutting off our own noses.”

Some 45% of traffic from Zeebrugge is destined for the UK. “Some would have you believe that will disappear entirely,” Coens said, “whereas we’re talking about a shift.” The port has already had to deal with the arrival of the Channel Tunnel, and of alternative routes. “Of course we have to be vigilant.” he admitted. “But traffic with England is centuries-old: English wool was already being traded in the textile halls of Flanders in the Middle Ages. That trade will go on. We just have to avoid doing anything stupid. I just hope that the pragmatists can take over from the hardliners.” \ AH

\ INNOVATION

APRIL 19, 2017

A dome like no other

week in innovation Reason for Stevia’s health effects discovered

A futuristic tool pushes old manuscript to give up its secrets Diana Goodwin More articles by Diana \ flanderstoday.eu

illuminare.be

he Royal Library of Belgium recently announced that a mobile laboratory from Illuminare, the Centre for the Study of Medieval Art at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), had made digital scans of the Rijmbijbel (Rhyme Bible), one of the most important manuscripts in the library’s collections. The 13th-century codex by Jacob Maerlant is considered the oldest illuminated, or decorated, manuscript in the Dutch language. The book is in urgent need of conservation, as the delicate gold leaf and pigments used in its decoration have begun to separate from the parchment pages. Treatment was delayed for decades because of the book’s fragility and the risk that any handling would make matters worse. But now, new non-invasive technologies have enabled researchers to make a detailed examination of the manuscript (pictured) without causing it further damage. The Multispectral Portable Light Dome, or micro-dome, is a digital imaging tool that creates an interactive map of an object’s surface. The technology was developed a few years ago by KU Leuven engineers for the archaeology department, which used it to digitise ancient clay tablets. By creating digital images that could be manipulated to highlight surface contours, the tool made it easier to decipher the tablets’ ancient markings. Following that, Illuminare and the university’s electrical engineering department and MediaLab began co-operating on the Reflectance Imaging for Cultural Heritage project (Rich) in order to further develop micro-dome technology for use with medieval and early modern art and archives. By 2015, the researchers had created their own micro-dome and developed the software to process and manipulate the images. “What we are doing is photogrammetry. It’s a way of monitoring, very detailed, the surface and shape of objects,” explains Dr Lieve Watteeuw, an art historian and manuscript conservator with Illuminare. The micro-dome is a hemispherical apparatus with a high-resolution video camera positioned

KU Leuven researchers used the micro-dome to examine a selection of 12 miniatures in the 13th-century codex

at the apex. The dome rests on a flat surface, covering the object to be recorded. A web of 228 tiny LED lights covers the inside surface of the dome. As each light is illuminated one by one, a separate image is recorded – 228 in all – and combined into a single digital file. “It’s quite quick. In half an hour, you have results,” says Watteeuw. The file can immediately be shared with colleagues around the world, too. Not only does the portable micro-dome save precious objects from having to travel to the lab for examination, but it also offers researchers a way to study those objects remotely. Unlike a digital photograph, the micro-dome’s image can show the thickness of paint layers, the contours of the page’s surface, tool marks, any damage and even brush strokes. It also

allows researchers to take extremely precise measurements without touching the object. While other scientists are working with similar technology all over the world, KU Leuven’s micro-dome is custom-made and one-of-akind. Even more specialised is the computer software that manipulates the images, which was developed especially for the Rich project. Although she recognises the commercial potential of the tool, Watteeuw says they are not interested in selling it. “We are a university, a research institution,” she says. “We want to participate in projects where we can make a contribution.” So far, the Rich micro-dome has been used to examine book bindings at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, the Enclosed Gardens cabinet of relics in Mechelen, a painted cuir bouilli (boiled leather) casket covering in Nijvel and a 16th-century calligraphy manual in the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, among other things. The Rhyme Bible conservation project is a collaboration between Illuminare, the Royal Institute for Artistic Heritage and the Royal Library in Brussels. “I looked at a selection of 12 miniatures with certain types of illumination, or specific characteristics,” explains Watteeuw. “Of course it’s damaged, too, so we’re trying to get some answers – how it’s made, what happened to it – but also to give advice on the conservation.” In addition to the Rhyme Bible, the micro-dome is currently involved in several other highprofile research and conservation projects. For instance, it was used in the ongoing restoration of a monumental design drawing for a tapestry by Pieter Coecke van Aalst at the City Museum of Brussels. It’s also being used in the treatment and conservation of the Codex Eyckensis, the oldest illuminated manuscript in the Low Countries. This Carolingian evangeliary, or book of gospels, was brought to Maaseik in Limburg in the eighth century and has been kept in the Sint-Anna church there ever since. Due to its extremely fragile condition, the manuscript is well-suited to investigation under the microdome.

againagain.be

Antwerp entrepreneur Sarah De Wulf and her sister, Greet, run the toy rental service Againagain!, which sends educational toys from household to household

Did you have a background in toys before you started Againagain! I worked in the toy industry for nine years, at a children’s furniture store. I quit because I was at a bit of a dead end, and I wanted to develop something myself. At the same time, my sister returned after living in South Africa for

Campaign on Parkinson’s in young people This year’s edition of World Parkinson Day focused on young people with Parkinson’s disease. The youth branch of the Flemish Parkinson’s League (J-VPL) has taken the opportunity to raise awareness about the neurological disorder’s effect on young people. In Belgium, more than 1,000 people in their 20s to their 40s have Parkinson’s. “Even doctors are not always aware of the juvenile form,” said Mirjam Holzel of J-VPL, who has Parkinson’s herself. “So the diagnosis often comes too late.” J-VPL has launched a new website with videos asking for more attention to be paid to young patients. \ levenmetparkinson.org

Magazine dives into multilingualism

Q&A How does Againagain! work? Every three months, subscribers receive a new package of beautiful, educational toys. Three months later, you wrap everything up and swap it for a new package. We take care of the transport, handling, cleaning and reassembly.

Researchers at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) have discovered how the popular sweetener stevia keeps blood sugar levels under control. The reason why was unknown until now. The Flemish scientists, in collaboration with colleagues in Louvain and Oxford, found that active components of stevia extract, like stevioside, stimulate the ion channel TRPM5. This microscopic pathway ensures that the pancreas releases enough insulin to prevent high blood sugar levels and the development of type 2 diabetes. “If mice consume a high-fat diet for a long period of time, they eventually develop diabetes,” said KU Leuven professor Rudi Vennekens. “But this is less the case for mice that also receive a daily dose of stevioside: They are protected against diabetes.”

both kids and their parents!

more than 15 years. She’s a lawyer, but she had always said her dream job would allow her to be creative and do something meaningful. She loved my idea of toy rental subscriptions, and we launched Againagain! about a year ago. We are both mums; she has two teenagers, and mine are five and 10. How do you choose the toys? We strive to find the right balance between fun, creativity, durability and practicality. We want the range of educational values we offer to be as complete as possible. Within those considerations, we give preference to creative toy producers who subscribe to

responsible manufacturing, both socially and ecologically, like, for example, Plantoys. Every toy has to withstand some wear and tear; we mainly use wood and some high-quality plastics. And, of course, they should be fun for

Parents can just buy toys, so what’s the point? Our business model is much more sustainable for the planet and for society than any conventional sell/buy model. That’s why we do it: It’s the only kind of business that makes sense for the future. People recognise that immediately; the reactions to Againagain! are very enthusiastic. We definitely do, however, need a bigger volume of subscribers. Againagain! is doing reasonably well, but there is an enormous gap between loving a responsible concept such as ours and actually living it. So we have a lot of work ahead of us. We will extend our age range and are working on a new concept.

The Literature Alumni association of the University of Leuven and the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) are launching MEERtaligheid dan OOIT, a new magazine focused on the phenomenon of multilingualism, at a special event on 22 April in Brussels. In a statement, the Taalunie pointed out that more than 50 languages are spoken in Brussels. “In Brussels, multilingualism is a daily reality, and it’s also increasingly important in Flanders,” the organisation said. Knowledge of Dutch creates opportunities for people, Taalunie said, but multilingualism is an enrichment. “The presence of other languages doesn’t have to be a threat for Dutch and can be a big asset for society,” it said. \ tinyurl.com/meertaligheid

\ Interview by Hannah Haynes

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IN A CHANGING WORLD,

\ EDUCATION

APRIL 19, 2017

Young, gifted and black

week in education

Professionals show youth with African roots the way to university Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

kilalo.be

tudents with a migration background have long been stubbornly underrepresented in Flanders’ higher education system. Kilalo, an Antwerp-based network of volunteers, is working to help get more black students into colleges and universities. “Kilalo was born out of my personal experiences with higher education,” explains Sandrine Ekofo, a law graduate of Antwerp University. Ekofo, who has Congolese roots, was one of very few black students in the university’s classrooms and auditoriums. “I felt very uncomfortable with this situation and asked myself where on earth the others were.” After her studies, she started working as a legal expert, but her experiences at university kept haunting her. “It wasn’t just in the law department. There is a general underrepresentation of youngsters with a migration background in higher education, and especially young people with roots in sub-Saharan Africa,” she says. “I felt a strong need to do something about it.” Together with a group of friends, Ekofo decided to take action. Kilalo, which means “bridge” in Swahili, was born. Today, four years after Kilalo was founded, the core team is made up of eight volunteers with African roots who have obtained degrees from local universities and colleges. Twice a week, the volunteers, most of whom are in their 20s, offer some 50 pupils help with their homework at three locations in Antwerp. “We give them advice on more efficient study methods as well,” Ekofo explains. “And the fact that our volunteers provide them with a role model is equally important. It shows them that higher education is not an unattainable dream.” According to figures from the University of Leuven and the Free University of Brussels (VUB),

Kilalo’s cultural events have discussed everything from black hair to intercultural dating and self-love

one in two native-born adolescents pursues a higher education degree after secondary school. For students with migration roots, this rate plummets to 6%. “Flanders performs poorly when it comes to access to higher education for these youngsters, compared to Scandinavian countries,” Ekofo says. “It is a massive loss of potential.”

with these fields of study,” she continues, “but a majority of them could have completed technical or general education with a bit of extra effort and help.” Ekofo speaks from experience. “In my first year of secondary education, I was advised to switch to the technical school track because I was bad at maths,” she says. “A friend persuaded me to stay in the

Whether people like it or not, the future of Belgium will be coloured Focusing on students in secondary education was a deliberate choice, the Kilalo founder says. “If we want to see more black students pursue higher education, it is logical to intervene at an early age. In my opinion, that’s precisely where the problem lies,” Ekofo explains, adding that youngsters with African roots are too often advised by their teachers to pursue vocational education. “Of course, there is nothing wrong

general education track. If I hadn’t done that, I would not be a lawyer today.” Today, she and the other Kilalo volunteers visit secondary schools across Antwerp province to tell their stories and encourage young people to set their aspirations high. “It’s encouraging that more and more schools in Antwerp know who we are and want to collaborate with us,” Ekofo says. “Our reach is definitely growing.”

While education is Kilalo’s main focus, the team also has organised cultural activities focused on everything from black hair to intercultural dating and self-love. “A lot of young people struggle with their double identities, which can be a curse, or a blessing,” she says. “They feel misunderstood in both cultures; they are raised in a culture with certain expectations, but live in a society that expects something different from them.” All too often, she continues, “the negative aspects of both cultures prevail. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Growing up at the intersection of two worlds can be enriching. It gives them a unique perspective on the world.” Ekofo says that, despite decades of immigration to Flanders, having roots in another part of the world still hampers a young person’s access to higher education. “We do have a long way to go, but more and more young people of subSaharan African descent are finding their way there,” she says. Awareness of the issue is growing, with more conversations being held on what a more inclusive education system might look like – which Ekofo says was high time. “Whether people like it or not, the future of Belgium will be coloured.” Education initiatives focused on improving minorities’ access to education exist, she notes, but they are often focused on students with roots in northern Africa. “Black students are left out of the picture, but they live here as well. Their future is equally important.” Ekofo says the list of things Kilalo wants to achieve in the future is long. “For sure, our main goal is to expand to other Flemish cities,” she says. “We want to reach out to more youngsters and schools to offer them our experience. In addition, we want our voice to be heard in the conversation about education.”

Ghent University rector ‘pressured’ not to run for re-election Anne De Paepe, the rector of Ghent University (UGent) since 2013, has told colleagues that she was “pressured” to not run for re-election, according to De Morgen, which spoke to anonymous sources. De Paepe has confirmed the statements. De Paepe announced last month that she would not be a candidate in the new elections for rector, which take place next week. She said that she did not feel up to being re-elected while she was dealing with the recent death of her husband. A group of prominent academics and policymakers, all members of the city’s chapter of the Freemasons and supporters of the candidacy of Rik Van de Walle, reportedly told De Paepe not to seek re-election. She made the decision not to run in an “atmosphere of intimidation”,

Anne De Paepe (right) during a 2013 debate between the candidates for rector

according to De Morgen. A number of academics and politicians told the paper that De Paepe was pressured to take the decision and that UGent management figures such as deans of departments are involved. All

of them are thought to be members of the Freemasons local Masonic lodge, including Van de Walle, the dean of the engineering and architecture faculty. Van de Walle himself intimidated De Paepe, according to sources. De Paepe confirmed that she was pressured to not stand for election and to announce this decision quickly, “while I needed time to mourn,” she told the paper. De Paepe refused to go into any details because she said that she didn’t want to “polarise” the university or affect the institution’s 200th anniversary celebrations. In a statement on Facebook, Van de Walle denied that he had anything to do with De Paepe’s decision and said he was the victim of a smear campaign. He called for an end to the controversy so that the elections could go forward uninterrupted. \ Andy Furniere

Schools open doors to sports clubs The sports facilities of more than 50 Flemish schools will soon be available to sports clubs outside school hours. Many municipalities currently have a shortage of good sports infrastructure, while school sports equipment is unused outside school hours. Last summer, sports minister Philippe Muyters and education minister Hilde Crevits invited schools to submit a dossier for adjustments to their infrastructure and operating costs, with 53 projects from the 159 dossiers selected. “This shows that schools are willing to open their doors and play an active role in the local social scene,” Crevits said. The schools, which will receive about €4 million in total, are free to choose to whom they open their infrastructure.

Transport trial project for special-needs pupils The Flemish government has launched two projects to improve the transport of students to special education schools. Every pupil enrolled in special education in Flanders is provided with transport to and from their school. But the regulatory framework of the system needs to be updated, according to education minister Hilde Crevits and mobility minister Ben Weyts. The new system should make bus journeys shorter and better adjust the type of transport to pupils’ needs. The pilot projects, which are being carried out in the Leuven area and the region of Roeselare in West Flanders, will start next academic year.

Debate over homework during holidays Parents and education experts are protesting against the practice of assigning homework over holiday periods. Kris Goris, the father of a nineyear-old, started the debate during a Hautekiet show on Radio 1. “My son came home with enough homework for one hour a day during the Easter holidays,” he said. “But I think it is important to teach him how to disconnect and relax during holidays.” Flemish education consultant Carl Van Keirsbilck noted that the effect of homework in primary education is “almost nonexistent.” Education networks are hesitant to produce guideline on the topic. “Homework remains something that is organised on the level of a school, or even a class,” said Lieven Boeve, head of the Catholic education network. \ AF

\ LIVING

week in activities International Storytelling Festival This weekend-long festival is geared at anyone who loves a good yarn, and especially the multilinguals among you. Friday night’s programme features storytellers from the UK and Ireland, while Saturday’s “story carousel” offers stories in different languages. Sunday’s event targets families, with separate programmes for adults and kids. 21-23 April, Alden Biesen, Kasteelstraat 6, Bilzen (Limburg); €5-10 \ alden-biesen.be

Sea Week Not just one week but two, this event organised by all the coastal cities in West Flanders offers a range of activities for young and old with boat tours, guided walks, free surfing lessons, shrimp-peeling demonstrations, yoga on the beach and more. Museums along the coast also have special activities planned. 21 April to 7 May, across the coast; free \ dekust.be

Airport Day It’s open door day at Brussels Airport, where you can meet the people who get passengers and cargo where they need to go, and learn all about what goes on behind the scenes. Register online for one of three guided tours around the airport. 22 April 9.00-18.00, Brussels Airport, Zaventem; free \ visitbrusselsairport.be

Zythos Beer Festival It’s the biggest and most famous beer festival in Belgium, with good reason. Organised by and for beer lovers, it features 88 brewers pouring over 500 beers, many of which are brand new or hard to find. Admission is free; buy a tasting glass and tokens for each tasting (€1 each). 22-23 April, Brabanthal, Brabantlaan 1, Leuven; free \ zbf.be

Mine Power Discover the rich industrial heritage of Heusden-Zolder in Limburg province during this fun family festival. Take a guided tour on a vintage bus, explore the old mine buildings with their impressive machinery and enjoy live entertainment and street theatre. Food trucks, workshops, exhibitions and more. 23 April 10.00-18.00, Marktplein, Heusden-Zolder; free \ mijn-kracht.be

\ 10

Centuries of care

Flanders’ Heritage Day event looks at caregiving through the ages Daan Bauwens More articles by Daan \ flanderstoday.eu

ERFGOEDDAG.BE

are is a pretty messy concept – a product of both a technologically advanced current age and historically shameful past. This month, Flanders’ Erfgoeddag, or Heritage Day, is exploring just how much our ideas about care have changed over the centuries Heritage Day – not to be confused with Open Monument Day, which is in September – is an annual event in Flanders and Brussels that celebrates both regions’ historically rich patrimony. It focuses on movable and immaterial cultural heritage: archives, collections, stories, songs and so on. This year, the event joins forces with hospitals, hospices, psychiatric centres and nursing homes to offer 800 free activities in 276 municipalities. Alongside such well-known venues as Ghent’s Museum Dr Guislain – a hotspot for the history of mental health – less obvious places are also opening their doors to the public. The Brussels branch of social welfare office OCMW, for instance, offers a rare glance into its archives. These consist of paintings, artefacts and documents going back as far as the middle ages, proving that foundlings and leprosy were part of everyday life until recently. The office is also the point of departure for a guided walk on the history of nursing leading up to and during the First World War. In Antwerp, the Borgerhout district’s historical club is organising an exhibition on approaches to drunkenness, showing how moralising and punishments by church and state in the 19th century slowly evolved into a recognition of alcoholism as a disease. The city’s Red Star Line Museum,

Connecting with the past at the Lichtenberg residential care centre in Antwerp

which deals with the history of European migration to New York, is housed in the former medical facility for departing passengers. Mimicking the museum on Ellis Island in New York, the Red Star Line is showing an exhibition on how medical check-ups were carried out before departure, what doctors were supposed to detect and whether there were doctors aboard the transatlantic ocean liners. Beyond the typical comparison between care in the past and today, this year’s Heritage Day also aims to show how heritage can offer help to those in need. “Heritage and the health-care sector can strengthen each other,” says Tine Vandezande, national co-ordinator of Faro, which organises Heritage Day. “Research has shown that

heritage can help people suffering from dementia to remember forgotten parts of their lives. Being surrounded by scenes, music or objects from the past can foster reminiscence. So in fact, heritage fosters well-being.” In line with these findings, local heritage teams have started compiling “reminiscence boxes”, containing material that helps to reconstruct scenes from the past. Teams in Limburg, for instance, collected suits, helmets, music and tools that were central to the often tough life of a miner. “With friends and family members, people can come to our offices, open the boxes, see and feel the

23 April

Across Flanders and Brussels

BITE Refter, the Bruges bistro behind the stars Bruges chef Geert Van Hecke gave up his restaurant De Karmeliet and its three Michelin stars last year so he could take things a bit easier. His new venture, Zet’Joe, is certainly smaller than its predecessor, but even without the stars the prices remain eye-wateringly high. Luckily it’s still possible to visit Van Hecke’s bistro, Refter, and get a taste of what you may be missing. Zet’Joe occupies a building on Langestraat that backs on to Refter, which is around the corner on Molenmeers, and going from one to the other does feel a little like being sent to the tradesman’s entrance. But behind Refter’s discouraging facade is a bright open room with plenty of space that wraps around a sunny gravelled garden. From where I sit there’s also a view through to the kitchen, framed in warm yellow and orange tiles. With austerity on my mind, the plan is to take the lunch menu, today a choice of chicken waterzooi or

whiting and mashed potatoes, at €19. Van Hecke’s motto for the two restaurants is “a contemporary concept with respect for traditional cuisine”, so seeing what he can do with a Flemish staple like waterzooi sounds like a nice test. But then I get distracted by the rest of the menu. And there are eels. If waterzooi is a test, then paling in ’t groen is a real challenge.

artefacts and let the memories run freely,” Vandezande explains. Kairos Castle, an exhibition at Gaasbeek Castle in Flemish Brabant, is being made accessible for the visually impaired through relief drawings and audio guides, while the same thing is happening with the world of gothic ornaments and statues at the Academy for Visual Arts in Anderlecht. By bringing the ornaments down from their usual height, people with visual impairments are invited to discover the style and structure through touch. The link between care and heritage, it seems, can be interpreted in many ways.

BISTROREFTER.COM

Adjusting to new circumstances of a €37 menu that covers starter, main and dessert or coffee, I begin with glazed Duke of Berkshire pork belly. The thick layer of fat and thin strip of flesh are seared to perfection and served in a mild mustard sauce, with a small salad of finely cut cabbage, chive and parsley. It is dangerously tasty. Then five fat pieces of eel arrive, smothered in a fragrant sauce of herbs and garlic, accompanied by braised fennel, a little marinated cabbage with dill, and a pot of creamy mashed potato. The fish has a subtle flavour which combines well with the sauce, while the sharper taste of the fennel provides a perfect counterpoint. The result is rich and comforting, but not at all overpowering. I choose coffee over dessert, and the cup comes with a noisette chocolate and a cube of bodding, the Brussels bread pudding. It sums up the experience: tradition, and pleasure over pretension. \ Ian Mundell

APRIL 19, 2017

An international cuppa

Foreigners add their own touch to coffee house trend in Flanders

House of European History opens in May The long-awaited House of European History will open its doors on 6 May in the Eastman Building in Brussels’ Leopold Park. The museum, a European Union project, will take visitors along a timeline of major historical events across the continent starting in the 19th century and explore their relationship to the founding of the EU. Visitors can choose among all 24 official EU languages, and entrance to the museum will be free. The museum will also host temporary exhibitions, the first of which is called Interactions, which allows visitors to answer a few questions and see their connection to the rest of Europe.

Benas Gerdziunas More articles by Benas \ flanderstoday.eu

From Portuguese cafes to Ethiopian coffee houses, speciality coffee bars that reflect the varied local mix of cultures and ethnicities have been popping up across Flanders and Brussels in recent years.

urope has seen an explosion of speciality coffee and espresso bars in the last couple of decades. Cities like London, Paris and Berlin were at the vanguard of this new trend, but Belgium has slowly caught on in recent years, with the local whirlpool of cultures and nationalities finding successful representation in the coffee cup. Caffenation, an Antwerp coffee bar and roaster that opened in 2003, was one of the forerunners of the Flemish coffee house scene. “In the beginning it was just me sitting on this side of the table,” explains Rob Berghman, the enthusiastic owner. “The traditional coffee places said we were crazy. But 15 years later, and we’re not so lonely on this side of the table anymore.” According to Berghman, the success of the local coffee scene is a direct result of the quality of the brews and beans, as well as the enthusiasm driving the whole movement. “This scene is full of maniacs; it can never be stopped,” he says. The distinguishing features of “speciality coffee” come down to a number of factors, he says. “First, we are always very clear about what’s in the cup – which beans, and so on,” he says. Berghman notes that he also visits the plantations of his Kenyan suppliers so he can deal directly with the farmers, which is standard practice for coffee houses. This aim to provide consumers with the best product, together with his desire to positively impact producers abroad, results in an offer of unique blends in the cafe in central Antwerp. Belgium’s newcomer status on Europe’s coffee scene is reflected in the scale of the market. Caffenation roasts 45 tons of coffee per year, making it one of the biggest roasters in the country. But the amounts are still tame compared to other countries, where market leaders roast hundreds of tons of beans every year. According to Berghman, the small size of the industry is due to the high cost of labour, which make it difficult for cafes to be profitable or rapidly expand. “I need to pay at least €25 per hour before tax,” Berghman explains. “This is why owning and running larger coffee houses is simply not profitable. That’s also why large

week in arts & CULTURE

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Flanders Ballet nominated for Prix Benois © Benas Gerdziunas

Caffee Italiano in Brussels stands out for its no-nonsense approach

chains like Starbucks cannot expand here.” Caffee Italiano, meanwhile, stands out for its no-nonsense approach. In the heart of Brussels’ European quarter, you queue, you’re greeted with a loud “Ciao!”, your order is shouted to the barista, and you receive a saucer for the coffee. When it arrives, you have two options. Squeeze past the queue stretching outside to find an inch of space and quickly swill your €1 espresso. Or, dive deeper into the crowd towards the chef, where the paninis and sandwiches await. There’s something uniquely Italian about drinking coffee this way. It’s your lunchtime caffeine fix, without the pamper and chic of trendy cafes, or the financial ruin wreaked upon your wallet by a pumpkin spice latte. “We use Valentino coffee, which comes from my region, Puglia,” explains Caffee Italiano owner Pietro Molendini. “It’s a 60-yearold family business that I really appreciate for its mastery of roasting.” Because customers drink their coffee “standing in front of us,” he continues, “we are able to establish contact – exchange a few words, an anecdote, a comment on football,” Molendini says. “That’s the charm of this place.” With an inviting coffee fragrance, African music and a dimmed interior, Aksum cafe, also in Brussels, transports patrons to Ethiopia, both the birthplace of coffee and one of the world’s largest coffee growers. “We got our inspiration from Ethiopian coffee houses and added a contemporary twist,” explains co-owner Jarmo Pikkujamsa.

On an inconspicuous corner not far from the cobblestoned streets that ring the city’s Grote Markt, Aksum similarly aims to offer patrons transparency on what’s in their cup. “We use a range of organic coffee varieties that we source from Ethiopia ourselves. These usually include Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Lekempti or smaller rare and ‘wild’ coffees.” According to Pikkujamsa – who hails from Finland and holds a PhD in Oriental and African Studies from the University of London – the growth of the local coffee scene is also reflected in the crowd that walks into Aksum. “We first attracted foreign customers, and the Belgian clientele soon followed. It has been interesting to see that the coffee house culture has indeed become more varied and international.” Portuguese cafes have become a common sight in most local cities, and so has its strong coffee brew. At Forcado Café in Brussels’ SintGillis district, cork wood floors and other interior details serve as a subtle hint of Portugal, but the diaspora community – one of the largest in the country – is not the only crowd visiting. “We wanted to create a qualitative coffee shop that represents Portugal and its heritage nicely,” explains co-owner Joaquim Braz de Oliveira, who comes from the country. “Portuguese coffee is very strong, and very intense at first, but it leaves a very soft aftertaste.” At Forcado, a simple espresso – bica in Portuguese – combines delightfully with the sweet indulgence of classic Portuguese pastries like pastéis de nata. But Braz de Oliveira says he wanted

to create more than just a fashionable space, sugar-coated with nostalgia. “We wanted to create more than a trend – something that would look good even 10 years from now.” In Ghent, Consouling Sounds Cafe stands squarely at the centre of the city’s internationally renowned music scene. The coffee house developed from the music label, which has been working for 10 years to put local artists on the global map and to bring international acts to Belgium. “We were thinking about opening a creative office where we could meet with artists,” says Mike Keirsbilck, one of the heads of Consouling Sounds. “Having coffee available just came naturally. The coffee is a gateway to create a sociable environment where people can come and work, talk or just buy some records.” Though he plays down the cafe’s importance in the local coffee scene, Keirsbilck is adamant about providing the same quality in their coffee as in their music. “I’m just interested in serving an honest pot of coffee. No more, but also no less.” The future of the coffee house scene in Belgium is difficult to predict, both industry experts and the dozen shop owners leading the trend say. “The speciality coffee scene in Belgium is growing,” says Loïc Installé, national co-ordinator of the Specialty Coffee Association Belgium. “Last year, the number of coffee houses in Brussels almost doubled.” Caffenation’s Berghman echoes the sentiment. “Twelve years ago we were alone, but competitors help grow the overall movement; it has a knock-on effect.”

The Royal Ballet Flanders’ production Exhibition, part of its 2015-16 season, has been nominated for Best choreography by Russia’s Prix Benois de la Danse, arguably the ballet world’s most significant award. Choreographed by the ballet’s artistic director, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, the piece was part of the Ravel triptych of dances that premiered in Antwerp last year. It was choreographed to the music of composer Maurice Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition and saw dancers jumping in and out of large frames. This is the first time Royal Ballet Flanders has been nominated for a Benois, though Cherkaoui won the award for choreography in 2011 for the production Babel. This year’s ceremony takes place on 30 and 31 May in Moscow.

Park Abbey Museum to open in October A new museum of religious art and culture will open in Leuven’s Park Abbey this autumn. The museum will focus on encouraging dialogue between different cultures, religions and generations. It will host temporary exhibitions, and the first will be titled Van de Wereld: Beelden van Beslotenheid en bevrijding (Of the World: Images of Seclusion and Liberation), which will feature objects from Flemish churches and abbeys as well as the work of some contemporary artists. The opening of the museum will coincide with the grand opening of a fully renovated abbey. The abbey was established by Norbertine monks in the 12th century. \ museumparkabdij.be

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APRIL 19, 2017

Innocence lost

Theatre collective De Roovers meditate on refugee view of life, death and guilt Tom Peeters More articles by Tom \ flanderstoday.eu

DEROOVERS.BE

“W

e would all like to be innocent,” says Elisio, one of the two illegal immigrants portrayed in German playwright Dea Loher’s Onschuld (Innocence). But no matter how much we might want to, no one can stay innocent forever, and we carry our guilt with us. The weight of it can be felt throughout Loher’s mosaic story, which is being staged by Antwerp theatre collective De Roovers. Fadoul is the other immigrant, a man trying to make the best of his new life in an unspecified seaside town, where a variety of characters deal with their pasts, full of big and small regrets, blaming and self-reproach. “I immediately knew I wanted the role of Fadoul,” says 38-year-old Congolese actor Jovial Mbenga, one of the seven guest actors in the play. “It was a lot of fun, but there was also a lot of text – a real challenge for my Dutch. But more importantly, I could identify with the ambiguous emotions the text evokes.” Mbenga was a member of the successful Congolese theatre company les Bejarts. He came to Belgium seven years ago, at first to collaborate with Brussels’ KVS theatre. Later, he also appeared in the play Het vertrek van De Mier (Leaving De Mier) by Toneelhuis director Guy Cassiers and launched the autobiographical monologue Mon Noord. In Onschuld he appears to be the ideal intermediary to give a Western audience a different perspective on life (and death). Sitting at the back of the theatre, it feels like they are pointing at you, these two undocumented immigrants, but they are standing

Onschuld explores the feelings of guilt we all carry around with us

on a beach. Looking at the horizon, they are pointing at the spot where they saw a woman going into the sea, but not coming back. “This event, clearly a suicide, will change everything for Fadoul,” Mbenga says.

have these kind of issues. Their conscience is constantly balanced between their normal human impulses and second thoughts, created by the vulnerable situation they are in.” When Fadoul later finds a bag

A migrant’s conscience is constantly balanced between normal human impulses and second thoughts “He wants to rescue her, but he can’t swim,” he continues. “And what if he gets himself into trouble when talking about what he just saw? All undocumented people

containing money, he considers it a gift from God and tries to buy off his guilt, but it’s harder than he had expected. Fadoul came to Europe to find a better life, but instead he

becomes a mess struggling with feelings previously unknown to him. On stage, he is one of 10 characters dealing with a loss of innocence. All of them have different coping mechanisms, making Onschuld a perfect illustration of how Loher smartly evokes evolutions in society by focusing on the individuals living in it. Humour makes this criticism of Western meritocracy easier to digest. For instance, there’s the recurring sarcasm and self-pity of the diabetic Mevrouw Suiker (Ms Sugar), looking back at her banal life from her wheelchair.

Until 19 May

And this staging by De Roovers benefits from Stef Stessel’s scenography, the scenes stylised and frozen as if it were a picture in a frame. Ultimately, Mbenga, who describes himself as an eternal optimist, proposes another way to tackle these difficult issues. “I was born in Kinshasa. People don’t complain about their problems there. Like death, they are part of life,” he says. “So for Africans, it is really strange to see how people take their own lives in the Western world, making a meeting or confrontation between the two cultures all the more relevant.”

Across Flanders

Leuven festival hosts hard-hitting South African films Leuven’s venerable Afrika Film Festival, this year up to its 22nd edition, takes a broad approach, covering films from Africa above and below the Sahara, from the African diaspora, and films about Africa by Europeans. The opening film, for example, is the rather French Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont (pictured) by Julien Rambaldi, a comedy drama about growing up black in a small, mainly white town in Picardy in the 1970s. But it’s South Africa that provides the festival’s most attention-grabbing titles. Shepherds and Butchers by Oliver Schmitz is a courtroom drama set in the Apartheid era, about the prosecution of a young white prison guard who goes on a shooting spree. Steve Coogan plays the lawyer tasked with defending him, Andrea Riseborough the prosecutor.

Then there is Tess by Meg Rickards, about a 20-year-old Afrikaans prostitute on the streets of Muizenberg, Cape Town, whose life is turned upside-down when she falls pregnant. Both films have yet

to be released in Belgium, and are screened in English or with English subtitles. Also promising is The Wedding Ring by Rahmatou Keïta, a gentle film from Niger about a young woman

AFRIKAFILMFESTIVAL.BE

of noble descent who reconnects with desert culture after going to school in France. And from North Africa, check out A peine j’ouvre les yeux (As I Open My Eyes) by Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid, in which 18-year-old Farah joins a politically engaged rock band just as the Arab Spring gets under way. An altogether odder film is Papi, by first-time Flemish director Kjell Clarysse. This tells the story of a Congolese sapeur, or dandy, who moves to Uganda and is dragged into a tale of revenge involving a Belgian businessman and a young Ugandan mother. Shot on a crowdfunded shoestring, the film promises, at the very least, to be different. Highlights among the festival’s

21 April to May 6

documentaries include Hissane Habré: A Chadian Tragedy by celebrated fiction filmmaker MahamatSaleh Haroun, and The Siren of Faso Fani by Michel K Zongo, about a textile factory in Burkina Faso and the economic forces that closed it down. There are lots of short films, both fiction and documentary, with sections devoted to Kenya, Rwanda and Congo, and a kids’ programme focused on migration. Non-cinematic events include a fashion show, an exhibition of photography from Sudan, a concert by legendary West African group Orchestra Baobab, and a conference on the “other” in art and culture. \ Ian Mundell

Across Flemish Brabant

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\ ARTS

When Martin met Hermés Exhibition tells story of how Martin Margiela subtly changed fashion forever Clodagh Kinsella More articles by Clodagh \ flanderstoday.eu

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A new exhibition at Antwerp’s MoMu explores Martin Margiela’s quietly radical stint directing womenswear at the Parisian luxury house Hermès, and finds that his ideas and ethos have endured.

e left fashion a decade ago, but Martin Margiela seems more present than ever. While current stars like Calvin Klein’s Raf Simons and Vêtements’ Demna Gvasalia regularly salute him, a documentary probing the myth of the Genk-born designer is also on the horizon. One part of his oeuvre remains obscure, however: his stint at haute Parisian house Hermès, which occurred before social media and is the departure point for the new exhibition Margiela: The Hermès Years at Antwerp’s fashion museum, MoMu. The show is divided into two halves. One side is painted in the signature Hermès orange; the other, which contains looks from the gamechanging label Maison Martin Margiela, which he founded in 1988, is white. “His work for Hermès is of course different from his work for the Maison,” says curator Kaat Debo. “But it’s very clearly one creative DNA linking these two worlds, and that’s something that we want to show in the exhibition.” By 1997, when Margiela – an alumnus of the Antwerp Academy’s famous fashion department – was tapped by Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas to head the brand’s women’s ready-towear department, he was already an icon. Between his anonymity (no interviews, no photos) and his Paris-based label’s bold vision – one show on the city’s outskirts involved clothes wrapped in dry-cleaning bags, and drew curious local kids – he was synonymous with the avant-garde. Hermès was the opposite: an equestrianrooted label, known for its silk scarves (carrés), pricey leather boots and an iconic handbag named after Grace Kelly. Inviting Margiela to take the reins was hugely radical, particularly in an era ruled by glitzy celebrity designers like Gucci’s Tom Ford. “It was a big shock,” says Debo of the appointment. “Margiela fans were a little bit afraid, but also excited because they thought he was going to do something really experimental. Was he going to cut the Kelly bag in two, or deconstruct the carrés? People had the crazi-

From Maison Martin Margiela’s 1996 spring/summer collection

est expectations.” The 12 collections that followed were both more and less shocking than anticipated. Bypassing staples like the carré, he set out to develop the house’s craftsmanship, and create a timeless wardrobe based on quality and comfort. “He came up with a very interesting vision, which I call slow fashion avant la lettre,” says Debo. “His idea was to develop a slowly evolving wardrobe where he excluded print and colour in favour of shades of beige, brown, grey. He wasn’t presenting a new trend or storyline each season, but designing transformable clothes that you could wear in many different ways.”

One side of the show is painted in the signature Hermès orange. The other, looks from Maison Martin Margiela, is white

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Much as Margiela’s own logo revolved around four white stitches, the Hermès traditional horse and carriage made way for a discreet logo drawn from 1970s gloves. The jewelled buttons favoured by the house ceded to a sixhole button whose threads spelled out the letter H. Debo: “He was stripping the garments of a lot of things that made them recognisably Hermès.” While Maison Martin Margiela innovated a structured, close-fitting silhouette with prominent shoulders, his Hermès line was supple and fluid. The MoMu exhibition shows that some staples echoed across both labels: garments porté par deux or porté par trois – worn by two or three – are seen in a threepart bathing suit at Hermès, and a tripartite sweater for the Maison. The famous vareuse – a sailor-style V-neck garment – was introduced at Margiela and perfected at Hermès. Another constant was his casting of mature women with character to display his clothes rather than teenage waifs; his clothes were for women rather than the male gaze. But aside from icons like the Cape Cod watch, with its raffish double strap, Margiela’s Hermès innovations were pointedly un-showy. This was problematic for any catwalk show; a leather coat lined with super-fine leather, say, needed to be touched to be fully appreciated. Unable to do so, journalists of the day were sceptical – even angry. “Some found it too plain and a bit boring,” says Debo. “He was this man of big ideas, and each season they got more frustrated, almost like he was doing it on purpose.”

Regardless, the clothes sold well. Indeed, while most of the garments in the MoMu show were provided by Hermès’s archive, other pieces came straight from women’s wardrobes – where they have held pride of place for 20 years. During that time, Margiela’s renown has grown exponentially. Not only are brands like Céline, famed for its minimalism, inconceivable without his pioneering of discreet luxury amid 1990s bling, his ideas are still everywhere. “If you look at the Maison, it really influences high-street fashion today without those brands even knowing it,” says Debo. “Unfinished hems and seams – he was the one who introduced them.” And with designers like Simons increasingly vocal in their rejection of fashion’s throwaway ethos, the fashion system itself needs reinventing – making Margiela even more of a beacon. “If you are looking for an alternative to hypercommercial, hyper-spectacular fashion, then I think that there’s almost no way around him,” says Debo. “His entire body of work at Margiela was a statement against fashion’s obsession with eternal youth and innovation, done in this very conceptual way.” He also resisted it at Hermès, she says, “but differently. He didn’t design with an idealised body in mind, which is a truly radical idea – not just then, but today.”

Until 27 August MoMu

Nationalestraat 28, Antwerp

\ AGENDA

APRIL 19, 2017

Dances with canaries

FILM

Dag van de Dans

Across Flanders

Across Flanders and Brussels

29 April

dagvandedans.be

ance companies, arts centres and workplaces are about to open their doors to give audiences in Flanders and Brussels a taste of what the local contemporary scene has been up to lately. During Dag van de Dans (Day of Dance), choreographers and dancers will show and share why this country has become such a hub for international dance. Presenting performances, workshops, artist talks, open rehearsals and film screenings, both in and outdoors, in theatres and in the public space, the organisers, Kanaries in actie (Canaries in Action) are trying to make it an accessible experience for everyone by working with the country’s most prominent dance organisations. Canaries in the Coal Mine was the name of a 2007 study by the Flemish Theatre Institute, proposing a master plan for dance in Flanders

and Brussels. Ten years later, the canaries have left the mine, and you can join them. Seppe Baeyens, a member of Wim Vandekeybus’ Ultima Vez, for instance, invites all ages

to Bozar for his Ten Dans workshop, while choreographer Benjamin Vandewalle, artist in resident at Kaaitheater, and students from Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s dance school P.A.R.T.S. will be moving their bodies through the streets of Brussels in One to One. This edition of Day of Dance, which coincides with International Dance Day, focuses on the uniting force of dance and its ability to build bridges between cultures and disciplines, and between young and old, professionals and amateurs, performers and audience. For instance, in Rats, the Brussels-based choreographer Ugo Dehaes connects the contemporary with the urban dance culture, while there are also inclusion workshops for people with and without disabilities. No dance experience is required, and an open mind will be rewarded. \ Tom Peeters

VISUAL ARTS

Art Brussels

Entre nous quelque chose se passe... Tour & Taxis, Brussels artbrussels.com

The contemporary art fair returns to Tour & Taxis for the second year, and its 35th edition. The 145 galleries attending are encouraged to surprise visitors by presenting either new work or undervalued work from the recent past. Flemish names appearing range from veterans such as Wim Delvoye, Jan Fabre

and Hans Op de Beeck, through to rising stars such as Lieven De Boeck and Maarten Vanden Eynde (pictured). There is also a presentation of work by Dirk Braeckman, who represents Belgium at this year’s Venice Biennale, and Mementos, a collection of personal objects from the private collections of 73 artists. \ Ian Mundell

Until 9 July Modern Belgian art has slipped between the library shelves at De Valk College, part of the law faculty at the University of Leuven, in an exhibition organised by the city’s Museum M. Called Entre nous quelque chose se passe... (There’s Something Going on Between Us...), the exhibition plays on themes of ambiguity and inter-

De Valk College, Leuven mleuven.be

personal relationships. It takes its title from a work by Antwerpbased artist Ria Pacquée, which shows the concentrated, repetitive movements of people visiting a Paris park. Other artists represented include David Claerbout, Lili Dujourie, Walter Swennen, Philippe Van Snick (pictured) and Jan Vercruysse. \ IM

Alexei Lubimov & Alexei Zuev

Turkish-born theatre director Mesut Arslan makes his debut at KVS with Nachtelijk Symposium (Nocturnal Symposium), a 1994 play by Flemish writer Eric De Volder about a family finally letting loose its secrets. Three sons and a mother spar over the “family business” and “him upstairs” on a stage

EXHIBITION Antwerp The Act of Building: BC Architects & Studies presents the Bioklas project in Edegem, which uses locally dug earth as its primary building material, along with chalk and hemp for insulation. Until 18 June, deSingel, Desguinlei 25 \ desingel.be

CONCERT

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Nachtelijk Symposium kvs.be

Brussels Short Film Festival: This year celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival brings together the best in new short films from Belgium and abroad, along with themed programmes on music, fairy tales and getting naked. 27 April to 7 May, various locations

Ben l’Oncle Soul: Soul and swing from French act Ben l’Oncle Soul, whose new album, Under My Skin, revisits Frank Sinatra’s repertoire. It’s Friday, so let him fly you to the moon. 21 April, Ancienne Belgique, Anspachlaan 110

CLASSICAL KVS, Brussels

Brussels

THEATRE 19-26 April

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\ bsff.be

FAIR 21-23 April

TED Cinema Experience: Kinepolis cinemas in Belgium are picking up this year’s TED Talks for a live broadcast, presenting the best in motivational speaking, futurology and earnest pacing up and down. 25, 26 & 30 April, Kinepolis Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk and Leuven

22 April, 20.00

designed like an arena, sharing the space with spinning tops. The aim, Arsan says, is to set the inner identity of a family and the surrounding audience in motion. After Brussels, the production tours to Mechelen, Hasselt, Antwerp and Ghent. (in Dutch with French and English surtitles) \ IM

Concertgebouw, Bruges concertgebouw.be

Russian pianist Alexei Lubimov (pictured) is demonstrating his versatility in a series of concerts at the Concertgebouw in Bruges this month, the most intriguing of which is a double bill with his young compatriot Alexei Zuev. The two will explore the friendship between Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky through work such as Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and The Rite of Spring. They will perform on straight, parallel-strung pianos designed by renowned Flemish instrumentmaker Chris Maene. These new instruments are designed to mirror those on which Debussy and Stravinsky would have composed their masterpieces. \ IM

Stoemp: Sample up-andcoming music acts or simply soak up the atmosphere with this series of free cafe concerts around Brussels throughout April and May. Next up are local hip-hop acts Zwangere Guy and Hackil Free. 19 April, Globe Aroma, 26 Moutstraat, Brussels \ stoemplive.be

PERFORMANCE Brussels Fieldworks: Unannounced: Heine Avdal and Yukiko Shinozaki explore the fragmentation of time and sudden changes of perspective in this new performance for six dancers. 21-22 April, Kaaistudio’s, Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Vaakstraat 81 \ kaaitheater.be

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APRIL 19, 2017

Talking Dutch

VoiceS of flanders today

All change

Derek Blyth More articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

BXLSWAP.BE

veryone complains about politicians, but how easy is it to run a government department? Here’s your chance to find out. Word eens schepen voor 1 dag in Brussel – Become a city councillor for a day in Brussels, the newspaper Bruzz reported. It sounds a strange idea, but here’s the explanation. Schepen van Brussel-Stad Ans Persoons (SP.A) – Brussels-City councillor Ans Persoons ruilt voor één dag haar job – will swap her job for one day met die van een andere Brusselaar – with that of another Brussels resident. So if you feel up to the challenge, just check the website. There are other jobs up for grabs as well. Wie droomt van een job bij Beursschouwburg – Anyone who has ever dreamt of a job at Beursschouwburg of van gsm, hobby of zelfs partner wil ruilen – or who wants to exchange their mobile phone, hobby or even their partner kan meedoen aan het stadsspel Bxl-Swap – can take part in the urban game Bxl-Swap en zo ervaren hoe het is om even in de schoenen van een ander te staan – and so find out what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes. It all started when the culture festival B-Swap persuaded the (Flemish) Beursschouwburg and (French-speaking) Les Brigittines culture centres to exchange venues for a season. Now they’ve decided to extend the idea to people. Die identiteitsruil interpreteert iedereen op zijn eigen manier – Each participant interprets this identity swap in their own way, they explained. Heel wat Brusselaars – A lot of Brussels residents kiezen ervoor om eens voor een of meerdere dagen hun krantenabonnement, gsm of Facebookprofiel in te ruilen voor dat van een ander – have decided to swap their newspaper subscription, mobile phone or Facebook profile

In response to: Street Buddies help drunken Overpoort youth in Ghent Jenny Reynolds: This sounds very much like the Street Angels in the UK.

In response to: New ginger beer is hot stuff Daria Bogdanova: Actually, before WWI there was a strong tradition of Jewish breweries in Poland and Ukraine, in those times the Jewish community drank and was selling a lot of beer :) This guy is reviving it, and it is cool!

with someone else for one or more days. But it doesn’t stop there. Anderen willen zelfs tijdelijk van huis – Others are going so far as to temporarily exchange houses, ja zelfs partner wisselen – or even, yes, their partners. You can also arrange a temporary job swap if you want. Zo kan je ruilen met de functie van directeur – So you can swap with the director, muziekprogrammator – music programmer of communicatiemanager bij Beursschouwburg – or communication manager at Beursschouwburg. The website lists all the people offering an exchange, including several looking to swap their clothes. Someone else is offering to exchange their cat. And there is a flatmate on offer if you are interested (although it doesn’t say whether the flatmate has been informed). And then of course there is Persoons offering to swap her job as councillor for Dutch-language affairs. But you might already have set your heart on swapping your partner – at least for a day.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

In response to: Is it justifiable to give kids homework during holidays? Patrick Bambust: Should you work part time during holidays? Children learn other stuff during holidays, there is other stuff than school stuff

In response to: ‘Corpse flower’ blooms again in Botanic Garden Meise Alexa Melania: go!!!

Let’s do it! World @letsdoitworld News from @flanderstoday: researchers at #GhentUniversity have developed a new type of recyclable plastic. @UGent

Andy Mullen @AndrewJMullen #WW1OnThisDay 1915 14/4 Flanders: details of a planned German gas attack provided by German PoW is not believed.

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the last word Animal instincts

High praise

“Police don’t always have the right material to capture a dog or a horse. One time a policeman fastened a pony that was running loose to a fence-post with a pair of handcuffs.”

“Eccentric, brilliant and strangely touching.”

Animal care worker Rudi Oyen finds police being called out more often to deal with animals

Looking good “Right now about a quarter of my patients are under 40. The youngest is only 18. And they’re certainly not all women.”

American horror writer Stephen King tweets about the Flemish drama series Beau Séjour, now available on Netflix

Landlubber “I’m the only member of the family who gets seasick.” Jeffrey Eyland of Ostend comes from four generations of fishermen, but became a butcher

UZ Brussel plastic surgeon Benoit Hendrickx sees an increasing demand for Botox

BEAUTY SPOT N-VA senator Pol Van Den Driessche gives a tour of the federal parliament to the finalists in the Mister Gay Belgium competition

5ELNGFR*bbgbcg+[B\G \ 16