Famous Belgians

[Isa]

Kim Clijsters Tennis player of the year 2010
Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire

[Iain]

This post has not only changed course, but has also become an eye-opener for me…, in-as-much as the Scots probably know more about Belgium than I do ! Thanks Bitter-End…, didn't know that Bianchi was Belgian !

Bon ! OK !

President of Europe…, the Belgian Herman van Rompuy.
President of the Olimpics…, the Belgian Rotarian, Jacques Rogge.

• Eddy Merckx, five times winner of the Tour de France
• Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone
• Herge (Georges Remi) , the creator of TinTin
• Audrey Hepburn, actress
• Plastic Bertrand, punk/rock singer of 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' fame
• Peter Paul Rubens, baroque painter
• Rene Magritte, surrealist painter
• George Lemaitre, astronomer who invented the Big Bang theory
• Albert Claude, the first biochemist to isolate a cancer cell
• Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the inventor of bakelite
• George Lemaitre, astronomer who invented the Big Bang theory
• Albert Claude, the first biochemist to isolate a cancer cell
• Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the inventor of bakelite

The following Belgians have recently been suggested to be added to the list:

1. Robert Cailliau who invented the Internet in partnership with Sir Tim Berners-Lee (nominated by Alexis Biller)
2. Tia Hellebaut, the Gold medal winner in the ladies High Jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 2.05m (nominated by Peter Biddlecombe)
3. The Dardenne Brothers, the Belgian film directors who were awarded the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for both "Rosetta" (1999) and "L'enfant' (2005), the only two Belgian films ever to be awarded the honour (nominated by Chris Orgelt)
4. Axelle Red, the Belgian singer who is also extremely popular in France. In 1999 she won the highest French award, the Victoires de la Musique, for best female artist (nominated by Chris Orgelt)
5. Frank de Winne, Belgium's second astronaut after Dirk Frimout. His first spaceflight was a trip to the International Space Station in November 2002. On 27 May 2009, he entered space again for a 6-month mission as the Commander for Expedition 21 to the International Space Station. He is the first ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut to command an expedition. Most people will deny that Belgium has astronauts, in fact, we have two of them! (nominated by Chris Orgelt)
6. Luc Tuymans, one of today's most influential painters. He exhibited solo at the Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery in London and a comprehensive retrospective of his work is scheduled at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2010 (nominated by Chris Orgelt)
7. Julius Nieuwland, who invented synthetic rubber in 1920 and was instrumental to the invention of Neoprene by DuPont in 1931 (nominated by Walter Willaert)
8. Marcel Nicolet, the Belgian physicist who made important discoveries in the field of Astronautics. He is generally credited with the discovery of the heliosphere (nominated by Walter Willaert)
9. Marouane Fellaini, the Belgian international footballer, who joined Everton Football Club in the UK Premier League for an initial fee of £15 million in 2008 (nominated by Graham Bishop)
10. Pierre Celis, who started brewing the famous Belgian beer "Hoegaarden" back in 1966. It is now one of the most popular beers in the world (nominated by Tony green)

Nobel Laureates and Prize Winners
Below, you can see the list of famous Belgians who can be categorized as Nobel Laureates and/or Nobel Prize Winners:

• Ilya Prigogine, Chemistry, 1977
• Christian de Duve, Physiology and Medicine, 1974
• Albert Claude, Physiology and Medicine, 1974
• Georges Pire, Peace, 1958
• Corneille Heymans, Physiology and Medicine, 1938
• Jules Bordet, Physiology and Medicine, 1919
• Henri La Fontaine, Peace, 1913
• Maurice Maeterlinck, Literature, 1911
• Auguste Beernaert, Peace, 1909

Science and Medicine
Below, you can see the list of famous Belgian scientists and doctors :

• Edward de Smedt, chemist and inventor of modern-day road asphalt
• Gerardus Mercator, Flemish cartographer, mathematician and geographer
• Abraham Ortelius, Flemish geographer who produced the first modern atlas
• Andreas Vesalius, famous anatomist and physician
• Adrien de Gerlache, commander of the first scientific Antarctic expedition
• Jules Bordet, bacteriologist who developed vaccine for whooping cough
• Jan Baptista van Helmont, physician / chemist who showed that plants feed mostly on water, not soil
• Georges Lemaître, astronomer who discovered the Big Bang theory
• Lambert Adolphe Quetelet, mathematician and inventor of the Body Mass Index
• Albert Claude, biochemist who was the first to isolate a cancer cell
• Georges Cuisenaire, Belgian teacher famous for his method of teaching mathematics
• Ilya Prigogine, chemical physicist famous for his theoretical framework on the origin of life
• Simon Stevin, famous mathematician and engineer
• Corneille Heymans, winner of the 1938 Nobel Prize for Physiology
• Christian De Duve, winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize for Physiology and discoverer of lysosomes and peixosomes
• Charles Delstanche, pioneer in otology
• Louis Zimmer, world-famous clockmaker

Literature
Below, you can see the list of famous Belgian authors :

• Georges Simenon, writer
• Georges Remi (Herge), the creator of TinTin
• Emile Leon Cammaerts, poet
• Hugo Claus, poet, dramatist, novelist and film writer
• Julio Cortázar, writer
• Michel de Ghelderode, dramatist
• Henri Pirenne, historian, well-known for his Pirenne Thesis
• May Eleanor Sarton, poet and novelist
• Felix Timmermans, author
• Camille Lemonnier, novelist and founder of the Belgian literary renaissance
• Hendrik Conscience, novelist and short-story writer who "taught the people how to read"
• Maurice Maeterlinck, author (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1911)
• Guido Gezelle, Roman Catholic priest, teacher and poet
• Stijn Streuvels, novelist
• Herman Teirlinck, novelist and playwright
• Karel van de Woestijne, poet
• Margueritte Yourcenar, novelist
• Albrecht Rodenbach, poet
• Georges Rodenbach, poet and novelist
• Ernest Claes, novelist and short-story writer
• Paul Van Ostayen, Flemish poet
• Emile Verhaeren, Flemish poet

Music
Below, you can see the list of "famous" Belgian singers and musicians :

• Toots Thielemans, world-famous jazz musician
• Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt, inventor of the two-finger guitar playing technique
• Helmut Lotti, international pop singer
• Plastic Bertrand, punk/rock singer of 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' fame
• Herman Schueremans, organiser of the annual Werchter Rock Festival
• Jacques Brel, legendary chansonnier / singer
• Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone
• Arthur Grumiaux, eminent violinist
• Koen Wauters, leadsinger of the popular band "Clouseau"
• Raymond van het Groenewoud, singer
• Gilles Binchois, 15th century composer
• Jef Denijn, campanology expert
• César Auguste Franck, composer and organist
• Orlando di Lasso, composer
• Ivan Heylen, Flemish singer
• Bobbejaan Schoepen, Flemish singer and ex-owner of "Bobbejaanland"
• Eddy Wally, world-famous Flemish singer (aka "The Voice of Europe")
• Josquin des Prez, composer
• Eugène Ysaýe, violinist, conductor and composer
• Dani Klein, lead singer of "Vaya Con Dios" (sold 10 million CD's)
• Will Ferdi, first Belgian singer to announce he was gay (real name Werner Ferdinande)
• Henri Vieuxtemps, violinist and composer
• André Grétry, composer
• Cyprien de Rore, Belgian composer who produced the first score for voices
• Esther Lambrechts, singer better known as "La Esterella"
• Johannes Ockeghem, Flemish composer
• Charles-Auguste de Bériot, violinist
• Peter Benoit, composer and founder of the Royal Flemish Conservatory
• Sandra Kim, youngest ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
• Will Tura, Flemish singer (real name Arthur Blanckaert)

Religion
Below, you can see the list of famous Belgians in the religious category :

• Jeanne Deckers (Soeur Sourire), the Singing Sun who had a number one hit in the US with 'Dominique'
• Father Damien (Pater Damiaan), missionary on the leper island of Molokai, Hawaii (now confirmed a Saint by the Vatican)
• Louise Lateau, Belgian lady who experienced "stigmata"
• Lambert le Bègue, first priest to organise communities of Beguines
• Antoinette Bourignon, mystic and advocate of quietism
• Jan van Ruysbroeck, mystic beatified by Pope Pius X
• Pierre Jean De Smet, missionary
• Jean Bolland, Flemish Jesuit and hagiographer
• Cornelis Jansen, Flemish theologian who founded the Jansenism movement
• Arnold Geulincx, Flemish philosopher

Architecture
Below, you can see the list of famous Belgian architects :

• Victor Horta, credited with the introduction of Art Nouveau architecture
• Henri Clemens van de Velde, Art Nouveau architect
• Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, designer of the magnificent Antwerp Town Hall


Miscellaneous.

• Hercule Poirot, Belgian detective
• Johann Tserclaes Tilly, field marshall
• Louis Hennepin, first European to explore the upper Mississippi river
• Pierre Culliford, alias "Peyo", the creator of "The Smurfs"
• Andre Franquin, creator of the "Guust Flater" and "Marsupilami" comic series
• Henri-Marie Lafontaine, winner of the 1913 Nobel Peace Prize
• Christophe Plantin, bookbinder and typography expert
• Dominique Pire, winner of the 1958 Nobel Peace Prize
• Dirk Frimout, the first Belgian astronaut
• Walter Arfeuille, Guinness Record - lifted 281.5kg a distance of 17cm off the ground with his teeth in 1990

Also, we also have dozens of pedophiles, gangsters and famous terrorists. Not to mention that although he was not Belgian, Belgium gave some publicity for Wellingtons' boots at Waterloo.

But ! But ! But we also have another famous Belgian !!!! But this must remain a secret between ourselves ! Oops… I nearly said "me"! Anyway…, listen to this program and you'll find another famous Belgian that totally changed British, and as a result, Scottish history. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/mak ... 0522.shtml


Now…, where do I start to defend my New Year's resolution !

[Iain]

Kim Clijsters Tennis player of the year 2010
Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire

Isa..., Kim is Flemish ! (to the North) Justin Henin lives about 10 kilometers from here !

[bill]

Aye Iain the internet is great for copying great long lists of meaningless information.

Name a famous Belgian? here are two for the motor racing fans

Lucien Bianchi and Jacky Icks

Also Thierry Boutsen 3 time F1 race winner is Belgian.

[Isa]

Kim Clijsters Tennis player of the year 2010
Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire

Isa..., Kim is Flemish ! (to the North) Justin Henin lives about 10 kilometers from here !

Iain, I thought that Flemish people were Dutch speaking Belgians. I know she tours the Tennis circuit as a Belgian national and her fans wave the Belgian flag. Now I am confused

[bill]

Now I am confused

I'm confused about Charlemagne,as Belgium only came into existence in 1830.He may have been born in the area now known as Belgium,but does that make him Belgian.

Audrey Hepburn was definitely born in Belgium,but Malky says she is British.

name me a famous Belgian"

Eddy Merckx ffs!!!!!

probably the greatest cyclist of all time.

[EMDEE]

"name me a famous Belgian"?

Henri Vieuxtemps

A reply from a true musician Emdee ! So I suppose we could add Adolphe Sax..., the inventor of the saxophone !

Unsurprisingly, the other two I had in mind were Eugene Ysaye and Arthur Grumiaux.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

My favourite Belgians are Duvel and Chimay

Anecdote alert!

Long time ago, when Hoegaarden first appeared over here on draft, me and 3 mates used to drink it all the time. The standard chat was you would go to the bar and order 3 pints of Hoegaarden and a pint of ordinary "cooking" lager. They were distributed at random amongst us 4, and whoever got the cooking lager would have to say "Oi where's mine?" at which point the purchaser of said round would have to launch into a chorus of "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a Hoegaarden!"

Terribly, terribly sad and tragically true! What keech patter

Noo, wher did a pit ma jaiket!

[Iain]

My favourite Belgians are Duvel and Chimay

Isa, you're quite correct…, it was just the stupid way I phrased the sentence !

As for Hoegaarden, (Flemish) that's a great beer story. Bet you could make a fortune with Bud Light commercials !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUtwNtE1 ... re=related

[Isa]

Iain not sure how your New Year Resolution thread got hijacked but it has turned into an interesting one and after reading it my resolution for 2011 is to come visit Belgium

Bill, according to Wikipedia "Charlemagne was born in Herstal near Liege in modern day Belgium"

[bill]

Bill, according to Wikipedia "Charlemagne was born in Herstal near Liege in modern day Belgium"

"In modern day Belgium" which came into being in 1830. Yer man was born in round about 740 in what was a province of the Roman Empire which is now modern day Belgium.So I think you are streching it a bit to say he was Belgian.

[Iain]

Bill, according to Wikipedia "Charlemagne was born in Herstal near Liege in modern day Belgium"

So I think you are streching it a bit to say he was Belgian.

So, perhaps he was Russian ! Or..., Welsh ?

This reminds me of the "Man from Spy." (http://users.swing.be/grottedespy/page13.html Similar to some research done in Devon with their, archeological find) Following a find in a cave not far from here, scientists tested hundreds of families in the region and found that some of them had similar ADN features as the "cave-man"!

Now, Charlemagne…, perhaps he was on a Canadian long-weekend before becomming entwinned with the arms manufactured in Herstal, Liège. http://www.browningint.com/fr/homepage.php

[Isa]

So, perhaps he was Russian ! Or..., Welsh ?

Iain I suppose we could split hairs with many historical characters. For the moment I'd rather stick with my History teacher and Wikipedia

[Iain]

Iain I suppose we could split hairs with many historical characters. For the moment I'd rather stick with my History teacher and Wikipedia

This is curious ! I had never made the connection !

One of my best engravers is a man called Alain Lovenberg. http://www.maitre-graveur.com He has the reputation of being one of the world's top ten engravers…, having, among others, engraved a shotgun for Steven Spielberg. He lives not far from here just outside Durbuy…, the smallest city in the world. http://www.durbuyinfo.be

Some years ago, I manufactured a gold watch which I called "The Alhambra," and Alain engraved the back. Just look, at the detail !



Now…, as you can see on his site, Liège has for many centuries been an arms-industry region. But I had never made the connection with Charlemagne and his wars !! Thanks Isa !

And by the way…, as I have probably mentioned before, I am a total recluse, so please don't ask me to venture out of my countryside Walloon surroundings ! On the other hand…, thanks to the Internet, if you give me your dates and needs I'll try to give you all the advice necessary for a great holiday.

[Mod8]

Amended thread title for relevance