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august 30, 2017 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.eu current affairs \ p2

Self-cleaning office

politics \ p4

A company in Antwerp scoured the world to find the perfect microorganisms for their new cleaning products – which do the work for you \7

BUSiNESS \ p6

innovation \ p7

Classroom across the world

education \ p9

art & living \ p10

Cutting edge

A salon on wheels is offering free hair care to the homeless and those on low incomes because ‘everybody likes to look nice’ \ 11

Flemish educators are travelling around the world to exchange teaching strategies with their counterparts in developing countries \9

In good hands

‘Port heroes’ keep an eye on Antwerp’s ecological and economic future Mieke Kooistra More articles by Mieke \ flanderstoday.eu

As the port of Antwerp prepares to expand across the Scheldt river, a new campaign has recognised locals who protect the environmental and economic interests of the region’s residents.

Do we have a design aesthetic? Brussels museum tells the story of a century, through design

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ow do you sell the idea that expanding a major sea port is good for everyone, especially when it is surrounded by villages, farmland and fragile nature reserves? By linking it to various development goals such as jobs, nature, housing and recreation, explains an agency responsible for the development of the area around the port of Antwerp. Through the Havenhelden (Port Heroes) campaign, Ontwikkeling Havengebied Antwerpen (OHA), or Development Port Antwerp Area, is spotlighting individuals who contribute to these goals, from creating mini biotopes or guiding nature walks to organising port tours equipped with iPads. The port introduces the public to these “port heroes” working behind the scenes online and via an email newsletter. One of them is Rene Maes, a retired dockworker, who has dedicated his life to the preservation of local wildlife. “Growing up, I wasn’t interested with toys,” says the 60-yearold. “I played with chickens, pigeons and other creatures. Later, I became interested in the flora and fauna around the port of Antwerp, and I decided to get involved in conservation projects to protect them.” In 1978, while employed by the Antwerp Port Authority, Maes founded Natuurpunt Wase Linkerscheldeoever, dedicated to the conservation of the natural areas and open spaces on the left bank of the Scheldt river and the surrounding villages. He was determined to protect the fragile nature around the expanding port, but, as its employee, he faced a dilemma. “To avoid a conflict of interest, I would take time off work during the difficult negotiations,” he says. “In the end, we managed to save 200 hectares of valuable wetlands.” Since his retirement, Maes has been working as a guide and volunteer at the Waasland nature reserve, where, he says, he gets to indulge his passion for nature and wildlife. Waasland, stretching between Antwerp and Ghent, contains some of the largest brackish tidal marshes in Western Europe. It’s home to Liparis loeselii, a rare European wild orchid with glossy yellow and green leaves, and grey seals that come here at low tide. “This is a unique piece of wetland,” Maes says. “When you see how beautiful it is, you realise that the work we’ve put into saving it – it’s all been worth it”. For his 40-year efforts in nature continued on page 5

\ CURRENT AFFAIRS

A11 motorway opens

‘Missing link’ to coast includes Belgium’s first motorway bridge over canal Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

new stretch of motorway has opened between Bruges and Westkapelle for pedestrians and cyclists and is due to open to vehicular traffic on 1 September. The motorway links the N31 in Bruges to the N49, allowing smoother and faster access to the northern coast. “This is an example of Flemish craftsmanship that we can be proud of,” Flemish mobility minister Ben Weyts said at the opening of the A11. One of the main features of the new road is a moveable bridge over the Boudewijn canal (pictured) – the first such bridge in Belgium.

“This project will keep lorries out of town centres,” Weyts said, “as well as stressing the importance of waterways.” The bridge will only have to be raised for the largest ships. At the opening, Weyts repeated the government’s plan to invest €5.8 billion over the next two years in mobility and public works. “There is of course the Oosterweel connection, God and the action groups willing,” he said, referring to the long-contested Antwerp ring road project that was finally approved by all parties earlier this year. “But I can also announce that an investment of €750 million in the lock of Terneuzen has

been approved,” Weyts continued. The new lock at the Zeeland port will improve access

for shipping to the port of Ghent. The mayors of the three municipalities along the A11 – Bruges, Damme and Knokke – were at the opening, and Leopold Lippens, mayor of Knokke, paid tribute to current education minister Hilde Crevits, who was also present. “As then minister for public works, she helped make this project possible,” he said. “Without you this would never have been realised.” The new motorway was, he said, “the missing link” for the region, offering better access to the coast and to the port of Zeebrugge.

Men’s and women’s hockey teams runners-up

Military patrol shoots knife attacker in Brussels

Belgium’s men and women’s field hockey teams were on the losing side of finals at the weekend after both were beaten by the Netherlands in the EuroHockey Nations Championship in Amsterdam. As runners-up, they can both boast a remarkable performance, but they left the field disappointed that they weren’t taking home the trophy. The men’s side, the Red Lions, were 2-0 up against reigning champions and hosts the Netherlands at half-time in Sunday’s final – and had also beaten them 5-0 six days earlier. But the Dutch claimed their fifth European gold in an extraordinary comeback, winning 4-2 in front of 10,000 people in Amsterdam’s Wagener stadium. Belgium’s European silver medal equals the Red Lions’ best-ever result, when they lost in the final to Germany on home soil in 2013. The women’s team, the Red Panthers, lost 3-0 to the Dutch on Saturday. Despite not scoring and finding themselves on the back foot for most of the final, Belgium achieved

The military personnel who shot a man last Friday in Brussels were reacting as they have been trained to do, defence minister Steven Vandeput has said. An investigation into the incident is being carried out, he said. The incident took place on Emile Jacqmainlaan in central Brussels shortly after 20.00, when the man, a 30-year-old from Somalia, came at three patrolling soldiers brandishing a knife. According to witnesses, he shouted “Allahu akbar” twice. One soldier suffered an injury to his hand. The soldiers then shot the man, and he died later in hospital. The attacker was said to be known to the authorities but not in connection with terrorism. He was in the country legally with a permanent address in Bruges. While the attack is being treated as terrorism by the federal prosecutor’s office, the shooting will be investigated by the Brussels prosecutor – a standard procedure in all cases where military personnel use their weapons. On Friday, the office said it was treating the

their best-ever European finish by beating Germany 1-0 in Thursday’s semi-final. It came just a few weeks after the Red Panthers were beaten on penalties by South Korea in the final eight of the Women’s World League Semi-Finals in Brussels. \ Leo Cendrowicz

incident as “shots fired in keeping with the rules of engagement, and within the legal definition of self-defence”. Speaking on behalf of the Somali community in Belgium, cross-country runner Bashir Abdi said he hoped the incident would not affect relations with the community. “All of us fled our country because of violence, to come here to safety and a better life,” he said. “And now this happens. We are very upset.” \ AH

Man who shot union worker in Diest held on suspicion of murder A 36-year-old man who shot a member of staff in an ACV union office in Diest early last week is being held on suspicion of murder. According to witnesses, the man – identified by authorities as Sebastian H – took a number and waited his turn before approaching the counter and firing two shots, killing Sara Van Passel, 38. He then turned his weapon on another clerk, but did

not shoot. He fled the scene on a motorcycle. He was identified by a co-worker of the victim, who recognised him from previous visits. Police began a search, but he soon turned himself in voluntarily. He has been detained on suspicion of murder. The man had visited the office before but did not know the victim person-

ally, police said. According to interviews carried out by Het Nieuwsblad, Sebastian H, who is of Polish nationality, had been to the ACV office in the Flemish Brabant town on more than one occasion with employment difficulties. He had recently had a claim of workers’ compensation denied by a court because he was not properly registered as an employee

of the contractor. According to his former employer, interviewed in the paper, Sebastian H had been fired three times over the course of 10 years of working for the company because of various problems. The owner said that Sebastian H had threatened him several times and that he had contacted the police about it. \ AH

17,000 €214 average spent per year by preschool and primary school teachers in Flanders on classroom materials, according to a poll by teachers’ union COV

€33,750

11.8 million visitors to cinemas of the Ghentbased Kinepolis Group in the first half of the year, an increase of 4.8% on the same period last year. Kinepolis has cinemas in five European countries

mopeds and small motor scooters bought prior to March 2014 are not yet registered under new rules that come into force in December. The scooters must be registered and have number plates

in fines handed out to residents in Brussels-City who put rubbish or recycling bags on the street too early or on the wrong day during a three-week awareness campaign this month

passengers on Thalys and Eurostar trains whose baggage was subject to inspection in the past month at the three stations in Belgium where high-speed trains arrive and depart

august 30, 2017

WEEK in brief The federal government is looking into the possibility of privatising the rail authority NMBS, finance minister Johan Van Overtveldt told VRT radio. The recent budget agreement included a provision to look into all government holdings, including Belfius Bank – for which plans for a partial privatisation are already under way – telecoms firm Proximus and Brussels Airport. An increasing number of municipalities in Flanders are experiencing a shortage of general practitioners, according to the professional journal De Artsenkrant, quoting figures from the region’s public health agency. Last year the list of municipal or neighbourhood “priority zones” numbered 185; this year the number has gone up to 204. The main reason, said the journal, is that the population of GPs, like the population in general, is retiring at a faster rate than they can be replaced. Shooting has begun on a feature film about the Brussels terrorist attacks of March 2016. Flemish director Bas Devos (Violet) is making Ascension, which follows three people – a Flemish doctor, an Italian interpreter and a young Moroccan – in the wake of the attacks on Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station. The film is partially financed by Flanders Audiovisual Fund. Criminal networks that control and exploit beggars are operating with indemnity, according to Open VLD senator Martine Taelman, interviewed in De Tijd. In 2013 and 2014, she said, not a single person was convicted of exploitation. In 2015 there were three cases – numbers she said that failed to reflect the actual situation. She has asked federal justice minister Koen Geens to take a tougher position on the problem. The Austrian owner of the Brussels casino Viage is looking for someone to take it over. Casinos Austria

face of flanders International, which obtained the concession in 2004, said they wanted to concentrate on their home market. Viage has failed to make a profit for years; the licence runs until 2020. The Flemish environment agency VMM will deploy drones during flooding to map the most floodsensitive areas in the region. Since 2013, the sale of any house or plot of building land has had to include a report on the likelihood of flooding. Drones will help make the maps more accurate, the agency said. Drinks wholesalers are losing €20 million in business a year as restaurant owners are turning to filtered tap water rather than the more expensive bottled water, according to sector federation Febed. The filtered water is more profitable, as owners often charge the same price as they did for bottled water. According to Febed, the trend could have an effect on profitability and employment among its members. According to an internal document within the school district of Ronse, pre-school children are already showing signs of radicalisation. The document, which was leaked to the press, claimed that several children enrolled in the Ovide Decroly school in Ronse, East Flanders, referred to their classmates as “pigs” and “infidels” and made throat-cutting gestures. According to Dirk Moulart, the director of Scholengroep 21, made up of several area schools, the news is “a storm in a teacup”. The problem has been witnessed over the last few years from six children from three families, “all of whom are known to the police,” he said. Another motorist drove his car into the wrong tunnel and ended up in the tram station at South Station in Brussels last week. Tram traffic on lines 81 and 82 was held up for half an hour while the car was towed away. Three months ago another driver made the same

mistake, while last year a car travelled three kilometres in the tram tunnel from Albert to South Station before running aground. The city of Zwijndrecht has reached an agreement with the government of Flanders about the Oosterweel project, which will connect Antwerp’s ring road. The town, which borders Antwerp, had filed a complaint with the Council of State, saying that it had never been consulted about the effects of the works on mobility and noise. It has now agreed to withdraw the complaint. The Exportslachthuis in Tielt, West Flanders – the scene of leaked footage of mistreatment of pigs earlier this year – will open its doors to the public in September in an effort to restore its reputation. The pork producer was forced to close for several weeks after the undercover video was released, and opened again after installing video cameras and appointing an independent animal welfare officer. A postcard-sized print of a selfportrait by the Ostend artist James Ensor bought by the Royal Library in Brussels has turned out to be more special than originally thought. Restoration has revealed that the print is an early draft of a famous self-portrait, in which Ensor is shown wrapped up in a heavy coat walking on the North Sea beach with a fishing basket in his hand. The print is a first impression, without the shading that comes later, and coloured by hand. The defence ministry is reported to be in talks with Ostend-Bruges International Airport about housing the rescue helicopter station currently located in Koksijde. The move would form part of defence minister Steven Vandeput’s plan to cut costs by closing down a number of army barracks. The site at Koksijde is too large for the station, and the town has plans for a housing development.

OFFSIDE I’ll raise you four hours If you think your last poker game went late, you haven’t met the Belgian Poker League. As Flanders Today went to press, the league was nearing the end of an attempt to break the world record for the longest poker game ever played. The current record stands at 115 hours and 51 minutes and has been held for seven years by Las Vegas player Phil Laak, known at the tables as the “Unabomber”. He set the record in front of a livestream audience of 15,000 spectators. The Belgian Poker League of Lier, Antwerp province, is aiming for 120 hours. The rules don’t make it

Romelu Lukaku There is a lot riding on Romelu Lukaku, who broke the transfer record between English clubs last month when he left Everton for Manchester United, who paid £75 million (€85 million). But if his explosive start to the season is anything to go by, the 24-year-old from Antwerp will have more than justified his price tag. Lukaku scored four times in his first two Premier League games this month and looks like the missing piece of United’s jigsaw as the club aims to retake the title. Already friends with the club’s previous record-breaking transfer, French player Paul Pogba, as well as fellow Belgian (and ex-Evertonian) Marouane Fellaini, Lukaku has also gelled quickly with his strike partner Markus Rashford. His arrival in Manchester is somewhat ironic: The coach is José Mourinho, who shipped him out of Chelsea shortly after he joined in 2011. But after a loan to West Bromwich Albion and a transfer to Everton, Lukaku has matured into one of the most coveted players in Europe. Lukaku enjoyed an astonishing run at Everton, where he scored 68 Premier League goals over five years, netting 25 times last season. Lukaku has a football pedigree: His father, Roger Lukaku, played for Zaire, while

his brother Jordan plays for Lazio in Italy. And his cousin Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo plays for Club Brugge. He has come a long way since joining Rupel Boom aged just six, before moving to the KFC Wintam and Lierse youth sides. He transferred to Anderlecht at 12, making his first-team debut in 2009. He then became the youngest player to ever appear in the Champions League, when at 16 he played against Lyon in a qualification match. His 2011 transfer to Chelsea promised much, but it proved too early (although Chelsea attempted to re-sign him this summer). Lukaku’s physique is stunning: at 1.92m and 95kg he is the size of a basketball player, and few forwards can rival him in either power or precision. And he is quick: Lukaku has been clocked at 35 kilometres per hour, the fourth-fastest striker in the Premier League. It makes him a different type of striker from what United have had for years: someone who can run in behind, be a battering ram and perform lightning counter-attacks. Fans are hoping he could help bring the title back to Old Trafford for the first time since 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson’s last year in charge. \ Leo Cendrowicz

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

easy: Each player in a multi-player game is limited to only four hours’ play in a day, so the league needs a steady stream of players to keep the game going. Members and others were invited to come along and take part for a fee of €5. The play is also being live-streamed on the website twitch.tv, but if you missed it, you didn’t miss much. When we checked in, there were three men at the table, two of them with their backs to the camera, which appears to be installed in a corner of the ceiling, so there’s not a great deal of detail to be seen. \

Editor Lisa Bradshaw DEPUTY Editor Sally Tipper CONTRIBUTING Editor Alan Hope sub Editor Bartosz Brzezi´nski Agenda Robyn Boyle, Georgio Valentino Art director Paul Van Dooren Prepress Mediahuis AdPro Contributors Daan Bauwens, Rebecca Benoot, Derek Blyth, Leo Cendrowicz, Sarah Crew, Emma Davis, Paula Dear, Mari Eccles, Andy Furniere, Diana Goodwin, Clodagh Kinsella, Catherine Kosters, Toon Lambrechts, Ian Mundell, Anja Otte, Tom Peeters, Sarah Schug, Dan Smith, Senne Starckx, Linda Thompson, Christophe Verbiest, Denzil Walton General manager Hans De Loore Publisher Mediahuis NV

Alan Hope

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\ POLITICS

Carry out checks on car rentals

Call comes from home affairs minister following latest terrorist attack using a rented van Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

ederal home affairs minister Jan Jambon has called for stricter checks on anyone renting a car or van following the recent terrorist attacks in Barcelona. The man who ran down pedestrians in La Rambla, killing 13 people, used a rented van. A second van was also rented to be used as a getaway vehicle. Jambon would like to see background checks done to make it more difficult for someone to rent a vehicle using an assumed identity. “Before anyone can rent a car or a van, there should first be a check to see if they feature on a black list,” he told VRT radio. “That would allow us to set up a similar system to the one used by airlines and international train connections.” The car hire industry was, he said,

The terrorist himself rented the van that he used on La Rambla

ready to co-operate. He warned, however, that such a system did not offer 100% protection against cars being rented to carry out attacks, as not everyone with the intent to carry out an attack is necessarily on a black list. And someone other than the person who rented the

vehicle could of course carry out the attack. “The aim is to close the net as tightly as possible around the terrorists,” he said. “We want to make it as difficult as we can for them to operate in our society.”

Brussels-born bar owner running for mayor of New Orleans A former Brussels bar owner who now lives in the US is in the running to become mayor of New Orleans. Patrick Van Hoorebeek is running on the slogan “More wine, less crime”. The election is set for October. Van Hoorebeek travelled to the US in 1985 to visit his father, but ended up staying. He now runs a wine bar in the city called Patrick’s Bar Vin. His election as mayor would fulfil a long-held dream, he said. His chances, he admitted, are slim. He is standing as an independent in a Democratic stronghold: The mayor of New Orleans has been a Democrat since 1872. “It’s a difficult challenge,” Van Hoorebeek, 63, told Het Laatste Nieuws. “My campaign is costing €10,000, while the other candidates have two million at their disposal.” His campaign slogan is a reference to his bar, which uses Manneken Pis as a mascot, but crime is his biggest issue. “I want to see more police and more security cameras on the streets,” he said. “If residents

Statues of the “mass murderer” King Leopold II should be removed from public view in Belgium, according to Tracy Bibo-Tansia, a parliamentary assistant for CD&V as well as a vice-chair of the Vrouwenraad (Women’s Council). Her call comes in the wake of recent controversy in the US over the presence of statues commemorating figures from the Confederacy in the Civil War. “It’s high time,” Bibo-Tansia told Bruzz. “I live in Elsene, and if I’m sitting on the 95 bus going past Troon, it’s disturbing to see the statue of a mounted Leopold II. As a Belgian of Congolese origins, I want to feel at home here, and that’s not easy when you see statues of the oppressor of your ancestors.” Leopold II, the second king of Belgium, claimed the Congo Free State as his own personal property in the late 19th century. His iron-fisted regime is held responsible for the deaths of millions of Africans, as well as mutilations, torture and rape. In 1908, he relinquished control to the Belgian state, and the Belgian Congo remained in force until independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960. Bibo-Tansia’s call is not the first. Community action groups have long complained of statues featuring the former king as well as squares – and a whole city in Limburg – named after him. At the end of last year, city author-

The statue of Leopold II at Troon in Brussels

ities in Ghent added a panel to a bust of Leopold II in Zuidpark expressing “regret” for the many victims of the Free State. Earlier this year a similar panel was added to a colonial monument in Geraardsbergen. Bibo-Tansia insists that this is not enough. “There is no place for statues of Leopold II in the streetscape,” she said. “And the same goes for places that carry his name, such as the Leopold II tunnel. Every Belgian, whatever their origins, ought to ask themselves whether they want to see statues to a criminal in their city.” \ AH

Bourgeois visits antibiotics research project in Maputo

feel unsafe, they’ll be less likely to come and drink wine in my bar.” \ AH

Financing of switch to richer gas still not determined Despite gas network managers announcing that the first conversions to a new kind of natural gas will begin next year in parts of Antwerp and Sint-Truiden, the federal government is still working out how the switch will be financed, Bruzz reports. The bill for the change, due to take place in 2024, is estimated at €500 million. The switch to richer natural gas will be necessary because the Netherlands plans to stop supplying Belgium with natural gas in 2024. At some point before then, Belgium will switch to a supply

Call for removal of statues of ‘mass murderer’ Leopold II

of more enriched gas, which will require appliances to be adapted. Natural gas mixtures are generally either considered lean, with high concentrations of methane and ethane, or rich, which has higher concentrations of propane and butane. It is estimated that the change will cost €500 million, but it is not yet clear where the money will come from. Flanders and Wallonia both receive enriched gas from Russia and Norway already. The Brussels-Capital Region, on the other hand, is almost entirely supplied

from the Netherlands. Still, Flanders accounts for 62% of the users of the Dutch-supplied gas in Belgium. Brussels accounts for 30%. A proposal has been made to set up a national fund to pay for the changes, but federal energy minister Marie-Christine Marghem (MR) is not in favour of such a fund. The issue is scheduled to be discussed next month by the consultative committee, which brings together the regions and the federal government. \ AH

Minister-president Geert Bourgeois has visited an innovative research project supported by Flanders in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Bourgeois finished an official visit to a number of countries in southern Africa at the weekend. The research project, carried out by Mozambique’s National Institute of Health (INS), focuses on antibiotic resistance. The project is organised in conjunction with the Antwerp-based Institute for Tropical Medicine (ITM). Micro-organisms developing an immunity to antibiotics seriously affects doctors’ ability to treat infectious disease. New strains of the disease develop against which existing antibiotics are useless; the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly hard-pressed to develop new effective drugs. In Mozambique, bacterial infections are a major cause of illness and death. One of the causes of growing resistance is overprescription of antibiotics. “Tackling antibiotic resistance begins with correct information, but a shortage of effective surveillance gets in the way of a proper response,” said professor Jan Jacobs of ITM. “With better

data we can implement improved treatment guidelines and take preventive measures against hospital infections.” The project has been running since 2012, with the support of ITM and the Flemish government. “The support of Flanders helps strengthen the foundation of public health in Mozambique,” said INS director Ilesh Jani. Earlier in the week, Bourgeois signed a Memorandum of Understand on development co-operation with South African environment minister Edna Molewa. The work will mostly concern sustainability projects that address the effects of climate change. He went on to give a speech at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights on development assistance. \ AH

Geert Bourgeois gives a speech at Pretoria University’s Centre for Human Rights

\ COVER STORY

august 30, 2017

In good hands

New campaign showcases individuals helping steer Antwerp port’s expansion HAVENHELDEN.BE

continued from page 1

conservation, OHA recognised Maes with the Port Hero title. The port of Antwerp is the second largest in Europe, and, as an important shipping, logistical and industrial centre, it’s also the economic heart of Flanders. In 2009, the government of Flanders announced plans for its expansion. Because of the nearby border with the Netherlands, development to the north was not possible, so the only option was to expand the port to the left bank of the Scheldt river. But this meant that some small villages would have to be demolished and that green space would be developed. OHA was tasked with looking into the area’s development prospects. “OHA is concerned with more than just the economic development of the port,” explains process manager Jan Hemelaer. “The expansion of the port is a very complex process and involves a wide range of issues, so we like to emphasise that development has as much to do with the residents’ quality of life as it does with economics. The people we call heroes in our campaign – they each represent a part of what it means to live and work in this area.” The campaign was launched last March, when a drone steered by a superhero character flew over the area. But it only really took off in July, with the naming of the first Port Hero. Bio-engineer Tom Rommens, who works as a sustainability manager for the drywall manufacturer Gyproc Belgium, was selected because of his efforts to pair environmental protection with economic development. Under Rommens’s stewardship, Gyproc, based in Beveren, East Flanders, has minimised the environmental impact of its production processes. “My job is to use each and every opportunity to maximise sustainability; that’s the big challenge,” Rommens says. “In our factory’s immediate surroundings we have created small conservation areas that provide breeding opportunities for birds. And along the car park, we’ve established a biodiversity zone.” According to Rommens, economic growth and ecology can go hand in hand. “Plants and animals are often the first victims of developing a business,” he says. “But I know it’s possible to create natural zones, even if they are relatively small or temporary. We try to convince other companies to follow our example.” But the second largest port in Europe is a different story. People opposed to expansion question the claims that a mega port would lead to more jobs and secure Antwerp’s future

Not all heroes wear capes: Rene Maes has spent over 40 years protecting the nature around the port of Antwerp

admits. “But mobility and clean air and water are equally important. We want the port to be in balance with its surroundings. That’s also why we’re showing how residents’ everyday activities and initiatives are all about maintaining this balance.” The campaign, he continues, aims to show how different people work towards the six goals OHA is trying to achieve during the port’s expansion: job creation, liveability, agriculture, mobility, environment and heritage. So far, eight people have been recognised with the Port Hero status. They include a family of fossil collectors, an owner of a bird sanctuary and a pub owner. “What we are trying to achieve with this campaign is to highlight the effort and passion each individual contributes to the overall success,” Hemelaer says. “That could be creating jobs, nature conservation or the protection of the region’s heritage.” The port, he continues, needs to expand, in order to provide new business opportunities. But in Antwerp, known as one of the most congested and polluted cities in Europe, any

Development has as much to do with the residents’ quality of life as it does with economics as a world-class logistics and distribution hub. Instead, there is a valid concern that expansion would entail breaching environmental regulations, worsen the dire traffic situation and further alienate the local population that’s already forced to live in the shadow of stacks of shipping containers. “An important part of the port expansion is creating as many jobs as possible,” Hemelaer

large undertaking must take into account its impact on residents. Hemelaer mentions the creation of new cycling routes, which, in combination with efforts like the new water bus service, should help ease traffic congestion. “You would be surprised how popular the cycling routes have become,” he says. Another port hero, Laurens Van Lieshout, says he’s always been fascinated with the

The owner of Antwerp Port Tours worries the port’s expansion could end up hurting his business

Antwerp port and “the variety of people and characters” it brings together. In 2014, he set up a company that provides guided bus tours through the most iconic parts of the port. Each participant is equipped with an iPad preloaded with photos, videos and interviews that add an extra element to the story. In 2015, Antwerp Port Tours was named the most promising start-up at De Nacht van de KMO (The Night of the SMEs), an annual event recognising the best in small and mediumsized enterprises in Flanders. In the past, Van Lieshout organised three to four tours a day, but he’s now down to two or three a week. “I had to cut down on the number of tours, simply because people can’t get to me,” he explains. The reason is road works that make mobility in his neighbourhood problematic. He sees the inconvenience as part of a larger problem. “The port’s expansion, like the growth of this

city, is inevitable, but all plans should keep in mind that people still need to live and work in the area,” he says. “At the moment, regulations, licences and, of course, the traffic situation make it difficult for small businesses to stay afloat.” During the road construction, he says he’s been prevented from putting up signs that would allow people to get to his business from another direction. “There is little room to be spontaneous or resourceful,” he says. “You really hit a wall.” This has made him increasingly worried about what might happen when the port’s expansion begins and the impact it will have on the local economy. “Whatever growth is foreseen,” he says, “it should take into account everyone’s concerns. Otherwise, instead of reaping the benefits, we will all just suffer the drawbacks, which, for a new company like mine, have been disastrous.”

\ BUSINESS

week in business Leisure Centre Parcs The French-owned holiday home and leisure park developer is investing €78 million in Dilsen-Stokkem, near Maasmechelen, to build a luxury resort with up to 250 villas.

Property Aedificia The quoted Brussels-based property group is investing €200 million to build 17 rest homes in Germany in partnership with Residenz Management, an affiliate of the German Specht group. The buildings, expected to be completed in early 2019, will push Aedificia portfolio in the market to over 40 sites, housing 3,900 residents.

Finance Flornoy The French assets management group will open an office in Brussels on 1 September to service its local clients.

Research Imec The Leuven-based nanotech research and development centre has received planning permission to expand its campus with additional facilities to house up to 400 more employees.

Security Connex The Brussels-based provider of security solutions for businesses and households, controlled by some of the country’s wealthiest families, has been sold to the Stanley Security company in the US, an affiliate of Black & Decker. Connex has 11 offices throughout Belgium.

Demolition Ford Genk Demolition has begun on the former Ford factory in Genk, which was closed by the American parent company in 2014. The site is scheduled to house transport company Essers, Genk Green Logistics and a new public space.

Property Corporate Village Germany’s Union Investment fund has sold its five buildings next to Brussels Airport to Australia’s RF Capital for a knock-down price of €93 million, less than the €180 million initially expected for the 64,000 square metres, due to the high vacancy rate in the area.

Brussels port sees major increase in shipping traffic

New types of traffic add 10% to port activity in first half of 2017 Denzil Walton Follow Denzil on Twitter \ @AllWriteDenz

he Port of Brussels saw an increase in traffic in the first half of 2017 for both Belgian-based traffic (6.3%) and transit traffic (17.2%). The significant increase in transit traffic is particularly noteworthy, as it had decreased in recent years. The reasons for the increase include the absence of significant shipping interruptions on the Antwerp-Brussels-Charleroi canals, along with the increase in transport of materials destined

for blast furnaces. Construction materials still account for the majority of traffic within Belgium, with 1.2 million tonnes transported, well ahead of oil products (575,000 tonnes, down 7%), containers (196,000 tonnes, up 40%) and agricultural products (129,000 tonnes, up 23%). The largest rise was seen in minerals and scrap (up 48% to 62,000 tonnes). The increase in traffic for Brussels this year is

partially due to the Port Authority’s policy of diversifying its activities and promoting new types of traffic. These include initiating the delivery of concrete blocks and fruit. “I am pleased with this positive evolution,” said Rudi Vervoort, minister-president of the Brussels-Capital Region. “Efforts are continuing to make full use of the canal as a key to mobility in Brussels.”

Contractors ignoring new rules on insulation, says Groen One in three renovations in Flanders is not in line with the new regulations on insulation and ventilation, according to Groen member of the Flemish parliament Johan Danen. Some 75,000 contractors, he said, have not yet started the procedure to meet the requirements on energy performance and interior climate, known as EPB. About 19,000 have started the procedure but not yet completed it, according to Danen. The requirements to receive subsidies on insulation work changed on 1 January. Roof insulation is no longer subsidised, while interior wall insulation is, as is the placing of double glazing. The rules are also different in terms of work carried out on a detached house or a house converted to apartments, while new additional duties have been imposed on contractors. For example, before beginning renovation work on a property, a contractor is now obliged to carry out an EPB study on the difference

the changes will make, as well as provide an end report within five years of completion. The government, said Danen, has introduced strict rules but provided no resources to enforce them. “There are not even enough staff to send out a letter to builders who fail to do what’s required,” he said. “Anyone who does apply the rules must feel like an idiot when they see others walking all over the rules and getting away with it.” The Flemish energy agency, meanwhile, can only begin proceedings against a contractor if it receives a complaint from a customer, Danen said. Flemish energy minister Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) called Groen’s figures “exaggerated”. He said that the energy agency did not have the resources to carry out routine checks but that “in 99.9% cases of spot-checks” the contractors were applying the new rules. \ Alan Hope

Increase in female professionals helps fuel 65% growth The number of people in Belgium pursuing a career in the “liberal professions”, including the legal and medical sectors, has grown by 65% over the last 10 years. The increase is largely a result of the growing number of women entering the sectors, according to NSZ, the union that represents the selfemployed. “Certain professions are even becoming majority female, led by paramedics and pharmacists,” said union president Christine Mattheeuws. “In others, the change has already occurred, such as among tutors and home-school teachers. Among lawyers, it’s only a matter of time.” Across all sectors, 45% of all liberal professionals are now women.

©Ingimage

Belgian law defines a vrij beroep, or liberal profession, as jobs in law (lawyer, notary and bailiff), medicine (doctor, pharmacist), finance (accountant, auditor) and some building jobs, such as architect and engineers. The distinction between these and other positions usually has to do with governmental regulations surrounding the profession. \ AH

Swissport baggage handlers strike at Brussels Airport Travellers passing through Brussels Airport experienced disruptions last week as a result of industrial action by baggage handlers Swissport. Passengers were advised to travel with only carryon luggage if possible. Workers went on strike on 22 August despite an agreement reached between unions and management, an airport spokesperson said. According to one union representative, the morning shift was advised to resume work the following day, but the effects continued to be felt. The airport finished with an estimated backlog of 10,000 pieces of luggage still requiring handling, with travellers forced to return to pick up their bags. Unions have for months been complaining about a lack of

manpower and remuneration of overtime hours. Swissport handles about 60% of all baggage at Brussels Airport, including for Brussels Airlines, Delta and Thomas Cook. However, the strike has also affected operations within the other baggage handler, Aviapartner. “For us, strike action is the last resort, but it was management who allowed things to reach this stage,” an ACV union representative said. A provisional agreement reached with Swissport had to be approved by the morning shift before work could resume as normal, the spokesperson said. Passengers were advised to bring a minimum of checked-in baggage and to respect the rules on the dimensions of hand luggage and carry-on liquids and gels. \ AH

US customs to begin checks on direct flights from Brussels Belgium is in the final stages of concluding an agreement with the US to allow US Customs and Border Protection to check all passengers at Brussels Airport with a direct flight to the US. According to federal foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders, officials will carry out “pre-clearance” checks at Brussels Airport in order to shorten the queues in the US. They will perform checks, scan

passports and take fingerprints and photos in Brussels instead of at the destination airports. “The ability to enter a customs and immigration control zone at our national airport would significantly simplify formalities on arrival in the US,” said Reynders, “which would be a competitive advantage for airports that apply the system.” \ Robyn Boyle

\ INNOVATION

august 30, 2017

Spray ’n forget

week in innovation

Antwerp firm’s invisible bacteria keep the office clean while you sleep Senne Starckx More articles by Senne \ flanderstoday.eu

BIOORG.BE

t may sound hard to believe: You spray a substance all over a dirty room, and when you come back a few hours later, the dust on the floor and furniture is gone. The computer screens are squeaky clean, and the room smells like a lush forest on a spring morning. Did an army of tiny elves come and do the job for you? Actually, that’s not too far from the truth, as the spray contains a special type of bacteria that form complex, self-cleansing ecosystems, which eat up all the fine dust. It’s similar, says the company that produces it, to the way trees filter polluted air. The microbial substance and spraying technique were invented by BioOrg, based in Antwerp. Its goal is to revolutionise the market for cleaning products, with the introduction of a safe, biological substance that does the job of dangerous chemicals. There are a lot of different types of bacteria occurring in nature. Most are benign, so you might not even notice their existence, but they serve important functions. Some eat fine dust, others prefer to digest molecules from combustion engines. There are even microbes specialised in cleaning up specific allergens. “That’s how it all started,” says Filip Willocx, who co-founded BioOrg in 2009. “First we looked for the right bacteria. We turned entire libraries

BioOrg co-founder Koen De Coster (left) explains how their products work

of microorganisms upside down and went on several field trips to forests in France, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway.” Business partner Koen De Coster was the one who came up with the idea of using microbes as an invisible cleaning army. They scoured the forests, specifically looking for areas that both looked beautiful and smelled good. “In the end, we selected nine different bacterial strains,” says Willocx, “which are all champions in digesting specific forms of pollution very rapidly.” To prove their technique works, Willocx and De Coster have been testing the cleaning product since January in a variety of Antwerp’s provincial governmental buildings. The results, they

say, have been positive. The fine dust is gone, even from hard-to-reach areas, and the fingerprint smudges on computers and other office equipment disappeared hours after being sprayed. The employees have also said they appreciate the fresh smell, and some even noted that their allergies improved. Should the cleaning staff be worried about their jobs? “Not at all,” says Willocx. “Someone will still have to spray the bacterial mix, and there will always be dirt that has to be cleaned with a microfibre cloth.” The use of bacteria in cleaning is nothing new. Water treatment facilities have long used microbes to turn sewage into water that’s safe to drink. “Our philosophy is that we’re restoring the natural balance between humans and the environment,” Willocx says. “We really have to stop poisoning the inside of our buildings and the outside world. That’s why we only work with benign bacteria and not aggressive chemicals.” Willocx admits that the idea of having microorganisms crawling all over your furniture sounds scary. “But then I tell them that the skin carries around one kilogram of bacteria, and their intestines even more,” he says. “Or that the food they adore – cheese, salami, bread, wine and beer – is the result of a complex process that wouldn’t be possible without the help of microorganisms.”

UZ Gent pioneers robotic kidney autotransplant Surgeons at Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent) have successfully overseen the first kidney autotransplant to be performed in Europe by an advanced surgical robot. Kidney autotransplantation is a type of surgery that helps patients manage acute, long-term kidney pain. During the procedure, the kidney that is causing pain is removed, treated and implanted in a slightly different place, in the

pelvis. Robotic surgery is a method where surgeons control a robotic arm from a computer. According to

surgeons, the process allows much more precision in the procedure and reduces a patient’s recovery time significantly. “Normally, such an operation would involve an incision of up to 30 centimetres,” said Dr Karel Decaestecker of UZ Gent. “By using the robot, only five keyhole incisions of less than one centimetre each are necessary, plus another of about six centimetres to replace the kidney.”

Q&A

\ Denzil Walton

Where does it comes from? The Usutu virus was discovered in Africa in the 1950s. Around 2000, the first cases were reported in Austria, followed by Germany and the Netherlands in 2011. So it was only a matter of time before it reached Flanders. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, which reproduce more easily in hot and rainy weather. This summer has been particularly favourable to them, and more mosquitoes means a higher risk of infection. On top of that, the annual bird migration is about to kick off, exposing even more blackbirds to infection.

posed to catching the virus. Most of them are birds, but bats have also died from it.

Why is the virus particularly dangerous to blackbirds? We’re not exactly sure why blackbirds are particularly vulnerable to Usutu. There is evidence that they develop some resistance to the virus, but that it weakens over time. Apart from blackbirds, there are some 90 other species predis-

Researchers at KU Leuven have determined that adults who underwent chemotherapy as children have decreased cognitive abilities and problems with short-term memory. The findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The researchers examined 31 young adults who had received chemotherapy as children on a number of psychological tests and compared their results with those of a control group. The results show that cognitive functions such as long-term memory and the ability to concentrate are largely unaffected. These skills had already developed before the treatment. However, the cancer treatment has an impact on several skills developed later on, including switching between tasks and remembering new information for a short period of time.

VIB first in Europe to use DNA printer Flanders’ life sciences research centre VIB is the first in Europe to install and use a DNA printer. The BioX 3200 System allows a biotech company or academic lab to create genes, genetic elements and molecular tools. VIB scientists will be able to use the system to design and clone genes to answer crucial questions as to their function in biological systems. Specific applications include protein production, antibody library generation and cell engineering. The BioX 3200, manufactured by California-based SGI-DNA, has been placed in the lab run by Thomas Jacobs in the VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology in Ghent.

Antwerp port tackles identity fraud NATUURPUNT.BE

Simon Feys of nature conservancy organisation Natuurpunt explains the symptoms and causes of the Usutu virus that is killing off blackbirds across Flanders How did last year’s outbreak affect the blackbird population? We noticed that something was wrong in Limburg when people started bringing sick and dead blackbirds to us and to the local bird care centre. We still don’t know the exact extent of the die-off, but there are places in nearby Germany where the blackbird population took a big dive. Last year’s outbreak was limited to Limburg, but the first cases this year came from Ghent and Antwerp, followed by Limburg a few days ago, so the virus is spreading.

Worldwide, the procedure has only been carried out a few times. The UZ Gent team has now performed three kidney autotransplants in quick succession. All the procedures went smoothly, and the patients are doing well, according to the hospital. The patients can return home after just six days rather than the four to six weeks normally required.

Childhood chemo linked to memory loss

What are its symptoms? The infected birds become lethargic and passive, and they have difficulty orienting themselves. They also lose weight, even though they may actually appear chubbier because they stop tending their plumage. Infected blackbirds often do not fly away when approached. What should you do if you think you find an infected blackbird? You can try catching the bird. The virus doesn’t pose any risk to humans, but you should still wear gloves when trying to catch a bird. Then bring it to your local bird care centre. \ Interview by Toon Lambrechts

A pilot project has begun in the port of Antwerp that tackles the problem of identity fraud. The project uses “blockchain” technology adapted to the sector by Antwerp-based start-up T-Mining. When a container arrives in a port, it is collected from the terminal by a truck driver, whose identity is verified with a PIN code. However, these codes are transmitted via a number of parties, any of whom could copy it for possible misuse. T-Mining is working on a more secure solution using blockchain, a digital interaction system that does not need a trusted third-party and that allows digital information to be distributed but not copied. T-Mining also intends to introduce the technology in Singapore. \ DW

Ready for school?

RENEW YOUR SCHOOL SEASON TICKET AT HOME ON GOEASY.STIB.BE, THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EASY! 18 YEARS OR OLDER? SEND US FIRST YOUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE VIA SCHOOL.STIB.BE

\ EDUCATION

august 30, 2017

Learning without borders

week in education Fewer students in teacher education

Teaching platform spreads power of education around the world Paula Dear More articles by Paula \ flanderstoday.eu

LZG.BE

Flemish organisation Teachers Without Borders exchanges information and teaching methods with colleagues in four continents.

utual learning to enhance the “power of education” worldwide is at the heart of a Flemish organisation bringing together projects and volunteers across four continents. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Leraars Zonder Grenzen (Teachers Without Borders) works with nearly 50 local NGOs in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe to help improve the quality of, and access to, education in the developing world. It deals primarily with teachers and education professionals to exchange ideas and techniques, run workshops and support projects in locations from Suriname to Madagascar to Nepal. The focus is often on inclusive schooling for children with disabilities and special educational needs. “We teach our colleagues, but it’s also an exchange – that’s a very important philosophy, that we can also learn a lot from them,” says LZG board member Josiane Frans. “We’re not going to tell them how to do it. It’s about coming together. If we were to take over their classes, that would help no one.” LZG was the brainchild of former International School of Brussels teacher Bart Dankaerts, and it began with the delivery of educational “first aid” packages to Ukraine. Since then the organisation has evolved into one that offers membership to overseas organisations, and supplies a Belgian volunteer to help manage the project, an online platform to publicise their work, information-sharing, meet-

A teacher in action at Peace School in Arusha, Tanzania

with Dutch charity Edukans, which was looking for English teachers to train their Burundian counterparts. When the funding ended she approached LZG and incorporated the World Teacher Burundi project into their portfolio, before returning three more times. “We also learn from it,” she says of the experience, recalling a time she returned from a trip to find a colleague making dozens of photocopies for every pupil for her first lesson, because the textbook hadn’t been produced on time. “After being somewhere like Burundi, you learn to be very careful about printing,” she says. “We often act as if we have a printing factory in our backyard. Over there they don’t even have electricity all the time. At 18.00 it’s dark and the teachers need to do a lot of marking, they were becoming very stressed. So we gave them techniques – for example, that not everything needs

a group of 20 in February. “We want the pupils to appreciate that we are not just giving money or knowledge but that the Togolese people have ownership of their projects,” she says. Frans went on to involve her colleague Nele Kempenaers in LZG’s work, and she travelled to Burundi to help train local educators to teach English more interactively. Kempenaers – an English teacher at Sint-Jozefinstituut in Kontich and a teacher trainer at Antwerp University – said a previous exchange in Sweden had opened her eyes to other teaching methods and routines. “You learn so much when you encounter different cultures, and LZG is a way of giving back and sharing your teaching experiences.” The experience confirmed to her that teachers are incredibly creative and do a good job regardless of the

Some of the Burundian creativity has definitely rubbed off on me ups and tax exemptions for donors. Where projects are keen to receive student interns and volunteer teachers, LZG will help recruit them and co-ordinate trips from Belgium, with participants paying for their own flights and accommodation. Frans – who teaches languages at Regina Pacis school in Hove, Antwerp province – became involved with LZG after returning from a trip to Burundi. “I had first been there in 1978 when I went to visit my mum’s godmother, a missionary,” she says. “I was fascinated by the country and thought I’d come back.” More than 30 years on she went back

to be corrected for every pupil. They can make a copy that can be handed around for the pupils to make their own corrections.” Frans is also involved with LZG’s project in Togo, where teacher training is lacking, teachers are often volunteers or badly paid, and resources are scarce. “We work with teachers, parent representatives, education inspectors and the ministry of education. Because we are, in fact, intruders and we need their approval. What we do is what serves them.” Her school also has a direct relationship with the Togo project – they visited the country last year with 16 pupils, and will return with

circumstances. “Burundian teachers always came up with new ways of implementing teaching methods we had demonstrated, typically when we had not really thought through how it would work with extremely limited resources. “Going back to basics, without technology, was a highly instructive wake-up call,” she says. “Some of the Burundian creativity has definitely rubbed off on me. I regularly choose to teach with little or no technology and consciously focus on active student involvement.” Her time there also strengthened her feeling that children in developed countries have so many resources to hand they are losing

the ability to be bored. “Boredom is a state of mind that triggers you to think and maybe do something. You have the choice to be bored or not, you can always do something about it with whatever means are (or are not) available. Boredom and hard work are the mothers of invention.” Els Dalle learned so much from her time volunteering in an orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania, she set up the LZG-affiliated Train the Trainer project and now manages it voluntarily from her home in Opwijk, Flemish Brabant. Also a wedding planner and parttime office manager, Dalle has found time to fundraise as well as organise workshops in Arusha that train teachers in special educational needs. In October she will host three Tanzanian teachers and their project co-ordinator. During a two-month stay at Arusha’s Samaritan Village Orphanage, in 2013, Dalle was helping the children with their homework and realised some were struggling to learn. For a while they raised money to pay for a teacher to provide extra help within the orphanage, but later decided to “go deeper and help the teachers in the schools”. “We want to provide opportunities to more children,” she says. “Those from the orphanage are supposed to live on their own from the age of 18 – they have to be paid, to be organised, to be able to live their lives. I saw a lot of children over there who would have more opportunities if they had proper education and support.” The project, which held two workshops in 2016 but has struggled to find recruits this year, is always seeking experienced former or current teachers and education students with a good knowledge of English. While donations are useful, Dalle says: “We don’t need so much money, we need people.”

The introduction of a compulsory entry test for aspiring educators appears to be discouraging secondary school graduates from enrolling in teacher training programmes. University colleges are seeing much lower enrolment numbers for the upcoming academic year than in previous years. Ben Lambrechts, general-director of Hasselt’s PXL University College, attributed the decrease to the introduction of a non-binding entry test for students wanting to start teaching studies. The test is mandatory, but the schools do not have to use the results to decide which students are allowed to enrol in the course. However, said Lambrechts, “when the students get results that are little bit disappointing, they just don’t register for the degree programme.”

Women equal men in post-doc research The gender gap in research in Flanders appears to be diminishing, according to the Flemish Interuniversity Council (Vlir). During the 2016-2017 academic year, there were just as many female as male post-doctorate researchers, for the first time ever. Though women outnumber men at the bachelor, graduate and PhD levels in Flanders, they are sorely under-represented at the highest echelons, with just 14% of full professors women. The University of Leuven, the Free University of Brussels (VUB) and Ghent University have all launched gender action plans to see more women take up new appointments and to have more gender-balanced representation of staff.

English bachelor is VUB’s most popular The new – and only – bachelor’s programme in English offered by the Free University of Brussels (VUB) is on track to be the institution’s most popular degree of the next academic year. Introduced in 2016, the interdisciplinary social sciences programme, which combines insights from sociology, communications and political science, became the university’s second-most popular degree programme, surpassed in number of students only by the bachelor’s degree in law. This year, however, both the number of actual registrations and entry applications for the three-year programme, which is taught in collaboration with Ghent University, have doubled. \ Linda A Thompson

\ LIVING

week in activities Brussels Comic Strip Festival The biggest celebration of Belgium’s beloved comic strips, from childhood classics like Tintin and Lucky Luke to modern masters creating edgy graphic novels. Meet the publishers and see the artists at work, or browse the booths and exhibitions. And don’t miss the balloon parade and Tintin rally on Sunday. 1-3 September, Bozar & Warandepark, Brussels; free \ tinyurl.com/bxl-comic-strip

Belgian Beer Weekend

An annual tradition hosted by the Belgian Brewers’ Guild, this three-day festival starts with pomp and circumstance in the cathedral and city hall. The main attraction is the Grote Markt, which will be filled with tasting booths. Don’t miss the parade of historic beer carts and the brewers’ procession on Saturday. 1-3 September, Brussels; free \ belgianbrewers.be

Manga & Cosplay Festival If you love Japanese popular culture, especially cartoons (anime) and comics (manga), you’ll want to be at the Japanese Garden in Hasselt this weekend. Fans dress up as their favourite characters (costume play = “cosplay”) for fun and for prizes. There’s also taiko drumming, free workshops and Japanese food. 2-3 September 10.0017.00, Japanse Garden, Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 23, Hasselt; €5 \ visithasselt.be

Battle of Thor This challenging event combines a 7km or 12km run with an obstacle course, built for the occasion at an old mining complex in Genk. There’s also a 2km course for kids. Participants complete the course in groups of 200 with staggered start times. Register online. 3 September 10.00-19.00, Oude Mijnsite, André Dumontlaan, Waterschei-Genk; €20-€48 \ sport.be/battleofthor

The Color Run At each kilometre mark of the 5km run, inspired by the Holi Festival in India, participants are showered with coloured powder so that by the end, they’re wearing a rainbow. A dance party follows the race. Register via the website. 3 September 12.00-20.00, Tour & Taxis, Havenlaan, Brussels; €35 \ thecolorrun.be

\ 10

The road to Veganville

Ghent’s vegan visionary preaches pragmatism instead of moralising Daan Bauwens Follow Daan on Twitter \ @DaanBauwens

obias Leenaert, a vegan blogger from Ghent with an international following, has a knack for timing. In the midst of the fipronil egg crisis – yet another scandal revealing how grim the food industry’s practices can be – he launched his first book, How to Create a Vegan World: a Pragmatic Approach. His message to vegans around the world is clear: Preaching alone will not work. “I specifically address those who are already convinced, telling them how we could really attain a world free of animal suffering,” he says. “This is only possible by closing the gap between vegans and non-vegetarians.” Leenaert (pictured) is a speaker, trainer and vegan strategist, and he’s spent years working towards his aim of a plant-based future. He co-founded the Ghent-based Ethical Vegetarian Alternative (Eva) in 2000 – the first vegetarian organisation to ever receive funding from a national government. He went on to lead the organisation for 15 years. His achievements in that time include convincing Ghent’s city government to serve vegetarian food on Thursdays in city-run restaurants and public schools. Donderdag Veggiedag even took off in other cities across Flanders. “We never imposed vegetarianism on anyone,” he says of the initiative, which started in 2009 and made international headlines. “It was possible for people to have meat if they really wanted, but they would have to ask or fill in some forms in advance. The strategy was to make the desired option easy and the undesired option a bit harder.” In his book, written in English, as

In his new English-language book, Tobias Leenaert calls on fellow vegans to spread the gospel without taking the moral high ground

is his blog, Leenaert offers a series of similar evidence-based strategies vegans can use to convince others, without becoming the vegan police. “We need to shift focus,” he says. “The vegan movement has always been ideologically and morally inspired,” he continues. “So our strategies mostly came down to pointing out to other people what we felt was right and wrong. The problem with such an approach is that it very often causes staunch resistance.” Such resistance can even be provoked without direct communication. Leenaert gives the example of a vegan sitting next to a meat-eater in a restaurant. “Imagine the non-vegetarian hears the vegan order his dish or

looks to see what’s on the vegan’s plate,” he says. “The fact that the vegan is making a conscientious decision about what to eat – in contrast to the non-vegetarian – already causes feelings of inferiority or even guilt. The last thing we vegans should do is to add to the guilt with our moral dogmas, because it increases the distance between us and them.” Instead, vegans should empathise with the person they’re hoping to convert. “Taste, health, weight and ecology are also good reasons to stop eating meat, why not use those?” he asks. Furthermore, he argues that vegans don’t necessarily need to convince people to stop eating meat altogether. “In countries where 10% of the population has switched

to plant-based dairy because of health reasons or beliefs, the market reacts with a range of new products. In the same way, people reducing their meat consumption forces the industry into providing alternatives. It means we have the chance to move slowly on the spectrum towards a fully plantbased future.” How to Create a Vegan World calls this future Veganville, a metaphor for the goal of a meat-free world. “We first need to call people to action, then treat them as travellers climbing the hill to the vegan village on top,” he says. “On the way to the top, there have to be places to rest, with food and drinks. We need to make the journey as pleasant and as comfortable as possible.”

BITE Brothers’ second Ghent restaurant is all about inclusion The name of the restaurant means “the distillery”, but it’s more specialised in beer and wine. And the signature dish is a stew of pork cheeks with fries, but they’ll also cater to vegetarians, vegans or the gluten-sensitive. De Stokerij is the second Ghent restaurant opened by the Claes brothers, chef David and sommelier Jean, who no longer takes part in running the place, other than to suggest suitable beers and wines to go with the dishes provided by David. He’s busy enough with the shop-cum-bar l’Amuzette a few minutes away. Their first restaurant, still operating, is the more informal eetcaffee Multatuli, also in the neighbourhood. De Stokerij is a former brewery and distillery, as can be seen from the giant chimney. “We were looking for a house to install a big kitchen, because the one in our other restaurant was too small,” Jean explains. “We ended up here, and it was too nice to do nothing with it. The building

had been empty for 30 years when we found it.” What should have been a kitchen to serve Multatuli (the pseudonym of 19th-century Dutch author Eduard Douwes Dekker, who wrote the novel Max Havelaar) became a restaurant in its own right, now housing 120 covers, 40 on the ground floor and 80 upstairs. The two brothers are from Poperinge in West Flanders, the epicentre of Belgium’s hop industry. Like so many young people from West Flanders, they came to Ghent to study – Jean is an archaeologist, David a social worker – and simply stayed. Multatuli opened about nine years ago; De Stokerij five years after that. As befits a business opened by outsiders, it’s all about inclusion. David describes his style as “Belgo-French with vegetarian touches”. Aside from the stoverij (stew), the healthy options include tomato carpaccio with burrata cheese and sourdough toast, quinoa with goat’s cheese

DESTOKERIJ-GENT.BE

and beetroot, and pasta with rocket pesto, paired with Steenuilke beer from De Ryck – just one of the speciality beers on the menu. Others include Taras Boulba from Brasserie de la Senne in Brussels and the rarely found Keikoppen from De Plukker, brewed by organic hop grower Joris Cambie from their native Poperinge. \ Alan Hope

august 30, 2017

‘Everybody likes to look nice’ Mobile salon provides free haircuts to Antwerp’s homeless Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

new haircut is something we often take for granted. But to many people it’s a luxury they can’t afford. With her mobile hair salon De Haarkar (The Hair Cart), Peggy Jonckheere of Antwerp aims to bring hair care to those who lack the means to visit a regular hair-

they are not. Things we take for granted, like getting a haircut, are out of reach for many. Here, at De Haarkar, everybody is welcome, no matter their social status or financial means.” De Haarkar is basically a hair salon on wheels. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Jonck-

Things we take for granted, like getting a haircut, are out of reach for many dresser. Because a decent haircut, she says, is a basic right. Self-respect and dignity are central in the story of De Haarkar. “To most of us, these simple things are easy,” says Jonckheere. “But to a lot of people in our society,

DEHAARKAR.BE

heere transformed an old caravan into a fully operational and neatly decorated salon. She can handle up to eight clients a day. Jonckheere wants to give people who can’t afford a haircut at a typical salon a chance to refresh their

‘Everybody likes to look nice’: Peggy Jockheere with one of her clients

image. Her customers come from all walks of life. Some of her clients “don’t hesitate to spend €30 on a haircut,” she says. “Homeless people get a haircut for free; people in a difficult financial situation pay as much,

or as little, as they can. With those three groups of clients, it all kind of evens out.” At university, Jonckheere studied social work but decided on a career change after a skiing accident. While recovering, she

took up a course in hairdressing. With De Haarkar, she was able to combine her earlier education with the newly acquired skills. Finding financially secure customers hasn’t been a problem, she says. The real challenge is reaching out to the homeless and those on low incomes. So she’s partnered with social organisations in Antwerp. To the critics who argue that giving impoverished people haircuts is a frivolous idea, she says: “One of my aims is to make people think about basic human decency. A visit to a hairdresser is a basic right, a step towards a more normal life.” With a well-groomed look, she continues, “homeless people might get a simple hello on the bus or in the shop. Because all too often, we forget how important looks are in our society. A decent haircut makes you feel good and normal again. Everybody likes to look nice.”

Statues given refugee status in new campaign

Gordel Festival focuses on cycling, beer and nature in Flanders ‘belt’

The organisation Vluchtelingenwenwerk Vlaanderen (Flemish Refugee Action) has dressed up statues in cities across Flanders and Brussels to represent refugees in a campaign launched ahead of its annual Refugee Walk. The statues chosen include a mineworker in Genk, the Van Eyck brothers in Ghent and the “Kotmadam” in Leuven, a popular statue perched on a bench on Oude Markt portraying a landlady of student rooms. The organisation, which works for the rights of refugees in the region, decorated the statues with signs of the current refugee experience, including a life-jacket and a backpack contain-

De Gordel started in 1981 as a cycling event staged in the Flemish municipalities dotted around Brussels. The event was meant to raise awareness about the language situation faced by these municipalities, which had become home to a large number of French speakers, and defend them as Flemish territory. The first edition of the 100-kilometre cycling tour in what the Flemish refer to as de rand – or belt – around Brussels, drew thousands of participants. Over the years, the event grew even bigger, reaching 112,000 cyclists at its peak in 1993, and becoming synonymous with the end of summer. But to many French speakers, the Gordel (which also means “belt”) was also synonymous with Flemish nationalism. Occasionally opponents of the event would show up to spread tacks around to burst bicycle tires or move signs to throw cyclists off the path. In 2013, Gordel organisers changed their approach, largely abandoning the political angle and putting an emphasis on expanded activities and the natural areas surrounding Brussels. The politically charged Gordel became the more tourismfriendly Gordel Festival. This year, the festival has partnered with Cycling Vlaanderen and the Vlaamse Wielerschool (Flemish Cycling School) to turn the iconic 100km loop into an event featuring pace motorcycles, ambulances, pilot cars and more. The route begins and ends at the

ing water, a train ticket and a passport. Statues in Brussels, Mechelen and Ostend were also decorated. “We want to show what it is like to leave your home behind,” said Vluchtelingenwenwerk Vlaanderen director Charlotte Vandycke. “Imagine if you had to gather your every possession in a backpack – practical matters such as shoes, clothes, a passport and money are easy enough to pack, but what about things that have a sentimental value?” The Refugee Walk takes place on 24 September in the Hoge Kempen national park in Limburg. Participants walk 40 kilometres to raise money for the organisation. Last year, 700 people raised €210,000. \ Alan Hope

GORDELFESTIVAL.BE

cycling village in Sint-PietersLeeuw’s Coloma Park, with stops in Overijse and the Grimbergen Airfield. The race is non-competitive, with groups of 125 cyclists leaving the starting point every 20 minutes. Each participant is provided with snacks and drinks to ensure they have enough energy to complete the route. There are also cycling routes called Proef de streek (Taste the Region). Stretching 20, 40 and 60 kilometres, the routes include stops at bars and breweries serving local geuze and kriek. The absolute must-see is the iconic bar In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst (Insurance against a Great Thirst), voted

3 September, 8.00-19.00

Belgium’s best bar earlier this year. Other activities include familyfriendly and wheelchair-accessible walks and thematic and mountain bike tours that show off the picturesque scenery of the hilly Pajottenland and the Zenne river valley – dotted with castles, an old paper factory and a rose garden. In addition to the cycling village, there is a bigger festival site at Huizingen provincial park, with workshops and activities for all ages and a market featuring regional products. Both sites also host concerts by popular Flemish artists, including Stan Van Samang and Natalia. \ Tom Peeters

Across Flemish Brabant

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IN A CHANGING WORLD,

\ ARTS

august 30, 2017

week in arts & CULTURE Matthias Schoenarts posts cryptic messages

World-famous Flemish actor/ heartthrob Matthias Schoenaerts aroused curiosity this week when he posted two extraordinary photos to Instagram. In one, he is having dinner with Robert De Niro and in another he poses for a group shot with Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, Al Pacino and director David O Russell (American Hustle). “Something cooking…. and it smells gooooood,” wrote Schoenaerts. “Surprise surprise”. The actor released few other details except to say in a later post that “I decided to go to sleep so I could wake up and realise this was not a dream at all”. The posts suggest that a movie project could be in the works starring Schoenaerts alongside the legendary American actors.

Panorama is a wide-ranging look at design’s role in the local imagination and in citizens’ everyday lives

Groeten uit… nominated for Rose d’Or

Design of the times

Art and design museum tells the story of a century through local creativity Mari Eccles More articles by Mari \ flanderstoday.eu

The latest exhibition at Brussels’ Adam museum looks back at a changing society via locally made objects, and questions whether Belgian design really exists.

“I

’m not really sure if there is such a thing as a national design,” says Katarina Serulus, co-curator of the newest exhibition at Brussels’ Adam museum. It’s a curious way to introduce the exhibition, Panorama, which is dedicated to Belgian design from the turn of the century to the 1980s. But it makes sense, as what follows is not an homage to one contrived “Belgian” style over another, but rather a broader look at design’s role in the local imagination and in citizens’ everyday lives. That role, we discover, was often guided by successive governments, which could be inconsistent in their response to the form. Take Art Nouveau. Conceived in Belgium and one of the most celebrated styles of all time, it was never really promoted by the Belgian state, which favoured classical styles in public contracts. It was introduced to – and popular with – the local public when it was used in the Congolese pavilion at the 1897 World Exhibition in Brussels, leading Art Nouveau to become known as “Congo style” art. Panorama references that link through a pair of wall hangings, which serve as an unflinching portrait of the country’s brutal role in the Congo. Because as well as demonstrating the contemporaneous perception

of design in Belgium, the exhibition uses the form to explore what was happening in society, too. And so what follows is a walk through 20th-century life. We see, during the 1920s and ’30s, Belgian designers exhibiting in Paris move from experimental avant-garde creations to more financially viable pieces, while after the Second World War, government ministers push for a design policy driven by economic factors. The 1950s usher in an age of debate on housing culture, and we

home, there are nevertheless nods to the country’s big names, from celebrated figures in the design world, like Victor Horta, to the royal family. One of the exhibition’s heavy hitters, and getting its first public outing, is a jazzy blue, white and orange rug used by King Leopold III in his study. It almost didn’t make it into the show, Serulus says, until a phone call came in from the palace, informing her that the rug had been found during a chance inventory. But Panorama also strives to high-

You can say that again. During her tenure at the Signe d’Or, she ensured that public commissions on infrastructure projects took design into account, too. “That was her ideology – to get a real design policy in Belgium,” says Serulus. Public infrastructure design is most prominent towards the end of the show, where visitors are greeted by a large blue metro sign (“very difficult to get hold of ”) and a model metro carriage, its silver metal doors and orange interior familiar still to today’s Brussels

The VTM TV show Groeten uit… (Hello from…) has been nominated for a Rose d’Or (Golden Rose) by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The Rose d’Or is Europe’s most prestigious TV award. There are 10 Rose d’Or categories with four nominations each. Groeten uit… has been nominated in the Reality and Factual category. The four-part series, which aired in January, whisked Flemish celebrities back to the year when they were 12. The celebrity and their families had to dress in period fashion and were surrounded by a set that reflected the decor of the day. They reminisced about their youths and were reminded of what was in the news and on TV at the time. The Rose d’Or ceremony takes place on 19 September in Berlin. \ rosedor.com

There weren’t many women in the design world at that time… and she was a very powerful one see examples of modern furniture, affordable to all social classes. The 1950s and ’60s are Belgium’s boom years in production, demonstrated in Panorama by the Tupperware boxes in gaudy colours and bright plastic furniture. While they could pass for something in a Swedish furniture store today, they are “Ikea avant la lettre”, created by the Brusselsbased factory Meurop, which sold its products in Germany, France and the Netherlands. They also attest to Belgium’s growing emergence as a European-focused nation. Although Panorama often focuses on the historical or social aspect of design, and the kind of pieces that might be found in a typical Belgian

light the contributions of less well-known names, such as Josine des Cressonnières, a woman who ensured design had a place in public policy. From the 1960s to the 1980s, she was director of Brussels’ Design Centre, an organisation that aimed to capitalise on the Belgian boom years and promote local designers as had been done in Germany, Italy and Scandinavia. She was also the secretary general of a prestigious design prize, the Signe D’Or. “There weren’t many women in the design world at that time… and she was a very powerful one,” says Serulus.

Until 7 January

commuter. (It’s orange, we’re told, because of a public vote in which residents plumped for that colour over the blue alternative they were offered.) Each of these details helps to create a patchwork of local society through the 20th century and are explained best by the inscription on the exhibition’s wall by renowned architecture critic Geert Bekaert. Belgian design’s key feature, he said, is the “absence of Belgian identity”. And it is this “non-identity” – the mix of styles, policies and attitudes – that helps Panorama to encapsulate a tumultuous century.

Adam

Cookbooks best sellers in Flemish book market The book market in Flanders is holding steady and even rose 0.3% in the first half of 2017 compared to last year, according to the industry sector organisation Boek.be. The nonfiction category alone jumped by 7%, thanks to cookbooks and health and wellness titles. VTM television chef Sandra Bekaar’s books accounted for the top three slots. The organisation attributes the slower sales in fiction this year to an increase in online sales and to the lack of a breakaway hit. Last year Flemish author Lize Spit’s Het smelt (The Melt) was a huge best-seller.

Belgiëplein 1, Brussels

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\ ARTS

Last rites

Spiritualised new programme at Kaaitheater moves with the seasons Christophe Verbiest More articles by Christophe \ flanderstoday.eu

n 31 August Brussels’ Kaaitheater will open for Het Theaterfestival, 11 days of the most intriguing stage performances from the past season. But the real opening of its new season will be a few weeks later, on 21 September, the first day of autumn. The thread running through the coming season is Re:Rite. It’s linked to the themes of the two previous seasons: Re:Think and Re:Make. The former was an attempt to put the focus on reflection, explains Guy Gypens, Kaaitheater’s general and artistic director. “It was a reaction to the depoliticisation of our society. Does our highly commercialised society still have room for reflection?” It was directly inspired by the decision of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam to shut its faculty of philosophy. “After a year filled with philosophical theory,” Gypens says, “we wanted to do something more tangible. What are the tools to build our society? This became Re:Make, last season’s theme. “We realised that it was all very hardcore politics. We felt the absence of a spiritual component.” And that’s what feeds Re:Rite. “In recent years, rituals and spirituality have been much more present again in the arts,” Gypens says. “The Venice Biennale, for

KAAITHEATER.BE

instance, had a shamanistic pavilion, which featured rituals. You can see that artists are looking for a connection between their life and their work.” Often these are not your usual shows. Take A-Life by The Monastery, which opens the season. “You’re invited to spend a day in their monastery,” Gypens says. “You don’t just go to a show, but you become, for a day, part of this practice at the intersection of art and ritual.” The day in this experimental spiritual urban community is divided into periods with intriguing titles like “pre-work destress ritual”, “tea & talk ritual” and “touch ritual”. Another example: Choreographer and performer Robert Steijn has created a meditative walk through Brussels, Walk into Nothingness, which Gypens describes as “a last walk before death, a farewell to the city”. Once again, not your usual show, but a ritual. Kaaitheater has grouped the Re:Rite activities into different focuses throughout the year, and this is part of one they’re calling Our Daily Death. Around 21 December, the shortest day of the year, Gypens explains, the focus is on sleeping. It’s not a coincidence that Re:Rite has focuses at the start of the four seasons.

General director Guy Gypens says the Kaaitheater had been feeling the absence of a spiritual component

(There are others in between, too.) “These are ritual moments in our society,” explains Gypens. “Nowadays maybe less than before, but even so: The shortest and longest days in particular give rise to different rituals.” Kaaitheater is not presenting an historic overview of rituals, he explains. “It’s not an anthropological study. We’re interested in what rituals are possible in a society wherein religion is much less popular for a part of the population, but for another part of the population, it’s becoming even more important. And this leads to tensions.” Of course, theatre itself was born out of rituals. Re:Rite is also a way of investigating what theatre can be in this day and age. One key guest is Richard Schechner, a professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and founder of the experimental Performance Group, which became The Wooster Group. Gypens: “He has built his academic career on the ritualistic aspects of theatre.” But the new season at Kaaitheater consists of more than Re:Rite: there’s also the regular programming with lots of productions. Among them are new works from regulars like Rosas and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Jan Decorte, Ictus Ensemble and Meg Stuart’s Damaged Goods.

40 years of Kaaitheater For four days at the start of October, Kaaitheater is celebrating its 40th birthday. It started in 1977 as a theatre festival, with vanguard international theatre. Ten years later it became a real house for performing arts, always looking out for cutting-edge theatre and dance. The central production of the festivities is Real Magic (pictured) by Forced Entertainment. Gypens: “When we were first discussing the birthday programme, someone asked me: Which production for you symbolises the Kaaitheater? I’d recently seen Real Magic and didn’t have to look further for the answer.”

The production combines, he says, “a radicalness that we’re always looking for with intense performances – acting of a very high standard. It’s an international company, and Kaaitheater has always been interested in international productions that can add to the local landscape of performing arts.” And last but not least: “It’s a production about the magic of theatre.” A lecture by Richard Schechner, founder of The Wooster Group, is the discursive part of the celebrations. “It’s been ages since he came to Europe,” Gypens points out. “His presence is no coincidence, since The Wooster Group

has been a regular guest at Kaaitheater over the past four decades. On each of the four days, Kaaitheater will also produce two hours of radio, to be broadcast online. “Because I don’t think the VRT will broadcast this,” Gypens says with a smile. Each of the eight hours is centred on a theme, he says, that they have distilled from the history of Kaaitheater. “For instance: the move in 1993 from the small theatre studio to the huge theatre where we’ve been based since then. It was an existential moment for us and changed the organisation completely.”

What child is this: Flagey presents programme of female Flemish filmmakers flagey.be

“Tonight the Academy honours ‘Women and the Movies’,” said Barbara Streisand as she stood on the stage of the Oscar ceremony in 1993. “And that’s very nice. But I look forward to the time when tributes like this will no longer be necessary.” Flanders has experienced a renaissance in cinema this century, with a much more regulated industry, including funding and promotions agencies and a tax shelter that has done wonders for investments in audio-visual productions. There are more movies, more international attention for those movies and striking first productions by young film school graduates. But, as Flagey so succinctly points out to us, most of those graduates

\ 14

are boys. Its Flemish Women Filmmakers cycle in September tries to even the balance a bit. The films range from 1998’s unsentimental coming-of-age film Rosie

by Patricia Toye all the way up to this year’s Past Imperfect by Nathalie Teirlinck, which finds a prostitute suddenly confronted by her estranged six-year-old son

(pictured). Those are certainly films to look out for, as is Fien Troch’s Home – a documentary-style drama that keeps you nervously waiting for the tensions to finally explode, though still manages to surprise you with how. And Dorothée Van Den Berghe’s My Queen Karo, which finds a girl on the verge of adolescence walking the line between her loving but selfish father and the mother who suffers for it amid the social revolution of 1970s Amsterdam. So do all these filmmakers being women tie the movies together somehow? One way does seem

1 September to 28 October

relevant: Children figure heavily in almost every film, whether as actual point-of-view subjects or as crucial to the adults’ activities. Whereas Flanders’ male director are often preoccupied with relationships between men or couples, the females appear to be considering what shaped their place in the world. This is an interesting perspective, and I am delighted that Flagey has dedicated a programme to Flemish women directors. But I look forward to a time when it will no longer be necessary. \ Lisa Bradshaw

Flagey

Heilig-Kruisplein, Brussels

\ AGENDA

august 30, 2017

Tragedy, thy name is Polański

CONCERT

Roman Polan´ski cycle 1 September to 15 October

flagey.be

unwillingly, his film career, which reached an apex in 2002 with The Pianist. Polan´ski incorporated his war memories in the biopic of the Polish composer and musician Władysław Szpilman, who also survived the Kraków ghetto. The Pianist received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. When Polan´ski fled the US, he was already a world-famous director, having made a number of high-profile films, including Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. Flagey’s programme skips over these in favour of his pre- and post-America career. Being a fugitive, Polan´ski could never go back to the US and had to restart his career from France. This period led to Frantic, a thriller with Harrison Ford, who loses his wife in Paris, the Thomas Hardy adaptation Tess and Bitter Moon, the story of a destructive passion.

\ deroma.be

VISUAL ARTS Brussels

Adrien Brody (left) and Roman Polański on the set of The Pianist

The outbursts of tense violence in 2011’s Carnage are characteristic of the director’s oeuvre. They were already there in his debut, his only Polishlanguage film, Knife in the Water. Sometimes they are delivered with a humoristic twist, like in his early horror spoof, The Fearless Vampire Killers. \ Christophe Verbiest

CLASSICAL

PERFORMANCE

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Pinocchio

In the context of its international guest series, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra invites its Midwestern counterpart to perform works from the American classical songbook. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and French conductor Louis Langrée (pictured) have curated a programme that spans film soundtracks and concert

Glenn Miller Orchestra: Big band hits from the 1930s and ’40s, featuring 16 musicians, singer Ellen Bliek and The Moonlight Serenades choir. 3 September 15.00, De Roma, Turnhoutsebaan 329

Flagey, Brussels

he life and career of Polish director Roman Polan´ski has been a steeplechase. At 84, he has enjoyed the greatest of successes, but his life has been marked by extraordinarily bleak experiences. Polan´ski grew up in the Jewish ghetto of 1940s Kraków, alone once his parents were shipped to concentration camps. He spent six years doing nothing but trying to survive. In 1969, while living in the US, Polan´ski’s wife Sharon Tate was brutally killed by the Manson Family in one of the most notorious murder cases in American history. Tate was pregnant at the time. In 1977, Polan´ski was convicted of the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, which led to a media circus and judicial manipulations that would see him flee the country. Those three events have shaped, willingly or

5 September, 20.00

Antwerp

Queen Elisabeth Hall, Antwerp elisabethcenter.be

hall favourites. At the top of the bill is Leonard Bernstein’s awardwinning soundtrack to On the Waterfront, followed by George Gershwin’s jazzy “An American in Paris” and Antonín Dvorˇák’s New World symphony, written during the famous Czech composer’s sojourn in New York. \ Georgio Valentino

5-16 September

\ bozar.be

Waregem (West Flanders) De Munt, Brussels demunt.be

The historic opera house De Munt has been closed to all but construction crews for two years, forcing the organisation to stage productions elsewhere in an Extra Muros programme. Now the Brussels venue is inaugurating its newly renovated opera house with the Belgian premiere of Flemish composer Philippe Boesmans’ Pinocchio. Created in collaboration with French playwright and director Joël Pommerat for this year’s Aix-enProvence Festival, the production is a darker take on the well-known tale, more in keeping with Carlo Collodi’s original than Walt Disney’s adaptation. Soprano Chloé Briot stars as the eponymous puppet. (In French with Dutch surtitles) \ GV

MUSIC FESTIVAL Brussels Marni Jazz Festival: This 14th edition of the festival sees drummers taking centre stage, with a series of concerts by international and local groups. 7-16 September, De Vergniesstraat 25 \ theatremarni.com

EVENT

Motel Moteur

The Living Room XL

2-3 September Housed in a distinctly 1970s bungalow slated for demolition, this pop-up exhibition celebrates vintage modernist architecture and contemporary visual arts. The building was designed in 1972 by avant-garde architecture firm Konstrukto but fell into disrepair before being abandoned and eventually condemned to make way for a new apartment block. But first, a group of young Flemish artists have squatted the building and created site-specific works in its various retro-futurist spaces. The centrepiece is Floris Caes’ installation “Lex Humana”, a full-sized Florida alligator carcass bound and hanging from a noose in the villa’s swimming pool. \ GV

motelmoteur.com

2 September, 14.00 For those who wonder what happened to the happening, the Living Room XL resurrects the multidisciplinary arts extravaganza pioneered by Andy Warhol in the 1960s. This contemporary happening takes place at Antwerp’s artist summer bar Bodem (pictured) and is organised by neighbouring Air Antwerpen. Participating artists are

Navid Nuur: Funnelflux: Largest-ever solo show in Belgium by the Iranian artist based in The Hague, who calls his works “interimodules” to emphasise their temporary and correlated nature and avoid categorisation in installation, sculpture, painting or photography. Until 26 November, Be-Part, Westerlaan 17 \ bepartlive.org

VISUAL ARTS Rumbeke (Roeselare)

Patterns for (Re)cognition: Brussels-based American artist Vincent Meessen exposes a gap in the modern art historiography of Belgium and the Congo with modular structures, 16mm films, 19th-century objects and a sound installation set against the watercolours of late Congolese painter Tshela Tendu. Until 10 September, Bozar, Ravensteinstraat 23

EVENT Ghent

Bodem, Antwerp airantwerpen.be

each given 30 minutes to install and present their work before ceding the space to another. It’s all one fluid, unfolding situation meant to be experienced in its 12-hour entirety. Over a dozen artists are on board, including Greek artist-inresidence Paky Vlassopoulou and Flemish video artist Wim Catrysse. Entry is free. \ GV

Ghent Sings Disney: Public sing-along to the greatest hits from the most beloved Disney films of all time. 2 & 9 September 20.30-22.00, Stadshal, Poeljemarkt \ 123-piano.be

Open VRT: The Flemish public broadcaster presents an evening for young, digitally oriented creatives, with talks by inspiring speakers, including actor and writer Geerard Van de Walle, London filmmaker Anna Ginsburg, Ghent blogger and baker Laura Verhulst and radio host Marthe Crab. 6 September 19.30-23.00, Vooruit, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23 \ vooruit.be

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\ BACKPAGE

august 30, 2017

Talking Dutch

VoiceS of flanders today

Manneken Pis goes with the flow Derek Blyth More articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

s Brussels trying to put off tourists, you might have wondered recently, when the famous Manneken Pis statue in central Brussels started acting very strangely. Wie zich woensdagochtend komt vergapen aan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anyone who turned up on Wednesday evening to gawp at het meest symbolische beeldje van heel Brussel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most symbolic little statue in the whole of Brussels draagt maar beter gepaste regenkledij â&#x20AC;&#x201C; would have been well advised to wear suitable rain gear, Bruzz reported. No, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t because of typical Brussels summer rain. Wie zich in een straal van enkele meters van het beeldje waagde â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anyone who strayed within a few metres of the little statue werd onverbiddelijk getrakteerd op een koude douche â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was mercilessly treated to a cold shower. The Manneken Pis was no longer a cute little statue of a peeing boy. Want waarÂ het bronzen beeldje normaal gesproken proper in zijn fonteintje plast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Because whereas the bronze statue would normally pee nicely into his little fountain, reikt zijn straal vandaag wel hĂŠĂŠl ver â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his stream was now going a whole lot further: helemaal tot aan de gevels aan de overkant van de straat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; right across to the buildings on the other side of the street. What on earth was the little chap doing? Heeft de Brusselse trots nood aan een dagje zonder toeristen die hem aangapen? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Did the Brussels mascot need to have a day off without tourists staring at him? De Morgen speculated. Of wil hetÂ ketjeÂ de Brusselaar simpelweg wat verkoeling bieden â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Or did the little fellow just want to cool off the locals op wat een zonnige dag belooft te worden? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on a

day that promised to be sunny? The city official responsible for the statue launched an investigation. The Manneken wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to blame, she reported. Het betreft een grappenmaker â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It was the work of a prankster die â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nachts over het hek van het standbeeld is geklommen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who had climbed over the railings around the statue during the night en er het kraantje heeft opengedraaid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and then turned up the tap, waardoor de straal sterker wordt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so the stream became more powerful. Ondertussen is de straal van Manneken ÂŠ Ingimage Pis wel al tot normale proporties herleid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Meanwhile, the Manneken Pisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stream has been restored to its normal level. And you might be pleased to learn that the police are not going to be hunting for the perpetrator. He was just taking the piss, they seem to agree.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

In response to: Calls for removal of statues of Leopold II Joseph Conrad: Statues should not be removed or toppled but rather fitted with an informative plaque detailing the positive and negative aspects of the heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works.

In response to: Women equal men in post-doc research for first time Jossy Garcia: It was about time đ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030;

Mihaela Popescu: One of the most beautiful cities I have seen. Happy to live in #Ghent Â¤

Sacha Van Wiele @SachaVanWiele Enjoying street art in my neighborhood. #graffiti #Berchem #Antwerp

Jeroen Aeles @AelesJ Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of the year again. Pole vault & beer in the middle of #Leuven city centre!

Eric Hoffman @TheHusbandInTow Oh, that sound delicious. Perhaps a Fall trip to #Flanders should be on our to do list.

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the last word Of a certain age

Making waves

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A peculiar measure, especially considering someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily say anything about their attitude or lifestyle.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to turn professional later, but for now I can discover the world. We still have to go to school, except the classes are held on the beach.â&#x20AC;?

VUB sociologist Eric Corijn on plans to build an apartment block in Hasselt for people under the age of 32

Trashy talents â&#x20AC;&#x153;We sold 1,500 tickets to the Dutch, and also 800 to Germans. Hence our international plans.â&#x20AC;? John Noseda, organiser of Flandersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kamping Kitsch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a celebration of folkier tastes such as schlager, pintjes and undershirts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has plans to expand over the border ÂŠ JOLIEKE MELLAERTS/Belga

Fourteen-year-old Robin Goetgebuer of Nazareth, East Flanders, will spend his upcoming school year kite surfing in Brazil, Mexico and South Africa

Cook it quick â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyone who has a family knows that cooking shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take up too much time. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shell the peas myself; they come out of the freezer.â&#x20AC;? VTMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new celebrity chef Sandra Bekkari has no time to waste

FAREWELL, FORD Economy minister Philippe Muyters and Genk mayor Wim Dries were among those on the scene as work began on taking apart the Ford Genk car plant last week. The factory closed at the end of 2014, with the site scheduled to house transport company Essers, Genk Green Logistics and a new public space

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