Ft 17 09 13 lowres by Ads & Data Brand Studio

#497 Erkenningsnummer P708816

september 13, 2017 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.eu current affairs \ p2

politics \ p4

WHEN The wild wind blows

Locals trapped on islands devastated by Hurricane Irma are looking to the federal government to help them get home \2

BUSiNESS \ p6

innovation \ p7

Hip to be square

An Antwerp doughnut shop is wowing crowds with its strikingly shaped sweet snacks that come in far-out flavours, too \ 10

education \ p9

art & living \ p10

Gods’ house

The restoration of Antwerp’s Hofkamer is complete, with the gods in their rightful place and a new first floor juxtaposing old and new \ 11

The brains in the basement Unique collection in Duffel begins to unlock its secrets Leo Cendrowicz Follow Leo on Twitter \ @LeoCendro

A collection of more than 2,500 human brains, gifted to a psychiatric hospital in Duffel, could solve mysteries about neurological conditions like depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

he vacuum-sealed plastic containers stacked on the shelves are embossed with text familiar to Tupperware users: “Open lid prior to use in microwave oven” and “only reheatable, not for cooking”. The contents float in fluid, looking like morsels of meat. But they’re not going anywhere near an oven. They are human brains. And there are more than 2,500 of them, pick-

led in plastic containers and glass jars, in a university cellar in Duffel, Antwerp province. “I don’t find it creepy,” says Manuel Morrens, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Antwerp University, reading my mind. “I see these brains as the raw material for research into conditions like schizophrenia and severe depression. This is a gold mine for us.” Duffel is best known as the Flemish town that gave the world the coats and bags that still bear its name, but the brain bank takes the local reputation in a very different direction. It is an unlikely story, and a ghoulish sight, but one that could lead to new insights into the links between

body and mind. The brains were gifted to the Duffel Psychiatric Hospital (PZ Duffel) last year by a London hospital that pioneered brain research in the post-war era. They were part of a larger brain collection started by British pathologist John Corsellis in 1951, who collected brains of deceased patients at Runwell Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Essex. The Corsellis collection includes brains from people with a variety of neurological disorders, including tumours, dementia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and even injuries caused by boxing. Patients who died at the hospital had routine autopsies, and the brains were kept, along with detailed medical continued on page 5

\ CURRENT AFFAIRS

Families flee Hurricane Irma Tour operators move scores of Belgian tourists in hurricane areas to safer places Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

ixteen Belgian families on the Caribbean islands of Sint-Maarten, Tortola, Saint Thomas and Saint-Barthélemy have requested help from the foreign affairs ministry for evacuation, as the region is hit by severe storms. The ministry said conditions were still difficult in the area, and priority was being given to people requiring medical assistance. Meanwhile, Hurricane Irma hit the continental US at the weekend, and the consulate-general in Atlanta asked all Belgians in the area to make their whereabouts known. In Cuba and the Dominican Republic, tour operator TUI found new hotel accommodation for about 70 Belgian tourists as a precautionary measure, while another 60 were moved from Samana in the Dominican Republic to the capital Santo Domingo, a bus trip of about four hours.

Tour operators TUI and Thomas Cook are offering tourists with booked holidays to the region the option to choose another departure date or an alternative destination. A TUI flight to Miami, cancelled on Saturday, flew out on Tuesday. The weather damage will also have consequences for the Belgian insurance sector, industry federation Assuralia said. Financial wire service Bloomberg has estimated Irma alone could end up being the most expensive hurricane in American history. The insurance industry is not only facing a bill for material damage but also risks having to pay more for the services of re-insurers. Many Belgian companies are active in the Caribbean and US and are insured by Belgian insurers, who are in turn insured by re-insurers as a way of covering their own risk.

Works to start on Brussels pedestrian zone

Coast tram sees record summer

The surface renovations of the pedestrian zone in central Brussels will begin this month, BrusselsCity mayor Philippe Close has confirmed. The first stage concerns laying a new surface on Aanspachlaan between Wolvengracht and Grétrystraat. “We are about to start with the first phase, some 50 metres of the Anspachlaan,” Close said. “I would call it a test phase, which will show us what is to come. That’s been the problem up until now: We can show videos and plans, but people want to see how it will be in reality.” Ultimately, the entire zone will be furnished with a unified ground surface in blue stone, green spaces, fountains, smart rubbish bins and cycle lanes. The zone was launched in the summer of 2015, when Aanspachlaan between Fontainasplein and De Brouckèreplein as well as the section of Zuidstraat between Lombardstraat and Bogaardenstraat and between Steenstraat and Kolenmarkt was closed to traffic. Several side streets are also included in the zone. However, the original plans have been adapted along the way, based on complaints by local business, in particular the Metropole Hotel, where guests could not arrive at the entrance by car. \ AH

De Lijn’s coast tram, which runs the length of the Flemish coast from De Panne to Knokke, carried more than four million passengers in July and August, the public transport authority said. That comes to an average of 66,000 passengers a day, although public holidays saw peak performance. On the Assumption weekend in August, the tram carried 303,600 passengers. The Saturday following national day in July found 79,000 passengers taking the tram. Train routes from the interior of the country arrive at the coast in Ostend, Knokke, Blankenberge and De Panne, while the tram – the longest tram route in the world – provides access to the other cities and districts in between. Popular destinations were Plopsaland amusement park in De Panne, the Sea Life centre in Blankenberge and the sand sculpture festival in Ostend. In related news, De Lijn announced that it plans to change the route at Lombardsijde, part of Middelkerke. The tram will be re-routed to follow the coast instead of passing through the village. Lombardsijde will still be accessible from the new stop, and the route will become safer and faster, said De Lijn. The work is expected to be complete by next summer. \ AH

Second sinkhole leads to evacuation and damage to rail line Some 200 residents of Sint-Joost-ten-Node in Brussels were evacuated from their homes last week after a 36-metre sinkhole appeared in the busy Leuvensesteenweg. The sinkhole was caused by a broken water pipe, which affected drinking water supplies. The excess water also caused the railway tunnel linking Brussels North Station and Schuman Station to flood with mud, closing the tunnel to trains. Residents were offered shelter in a sports hall on nearby Sint-Joostplein. As Flanders Today went to press, residents of all but three buildings had been able to return to their homes, and water service had resumed. Rail traffic from Brussels to Flanders has been relatively unaffected, but trains heading to the south of the country are being diverted via Leuven, adding 20 to 30 minutes to travel times.

\ AH

540

245,758

experiments carried out on animals in Flemish research centres in 2016, according to figures from minister Ben Weyts. In one in five cases, the animal was judged to have suffered serious pain

The situation is expected to continue this week until the mud can be cleared and damaged infrastructure repaired, an NMBS spokesperson said. The link between the two stations is expected to be re-opened by next Monday. The portion of Leuvensesteenweg at Clovislaan, where the sinkhole occurred (pictured), is expected to be closed for one to two months, water authority Vivaqua said. The Sint-Joost sinkhole is the second to open up in Brussels in a week’s time. Kardinaal Mercierstraat, near Central station in Brussels, remains closed to traffic after a 4x6 metre sinkhole opened up in the road surface a week earlier. That sinkhole was also caused by a water leak, water company Vivaqua said, made worse by heavy rainfall a week ago. Repair works are expected to take several weeks.

raised by the federal finance ministry from the sale of 91 seized vehicles sold at public auction. The vehicles included a Maserati and a Humvee, as well as 11 mopeds, 10 vans and two trailers

children on the waiting list for the new Islamic primary school in Vorst, which opened this week. It is the fifth such recognised school in Brussels. There are no recognised Islamic schools in Flanders

1,415

lost to the national rail authority NMBS over the last three years because of strike action, according to the federal mobility minister. Strikes in 2016 alone cost €14.8 million in lost ticket sales

ideas submitted to Brussels Airlines from the public for the next themed airliner, following planes decorated with images of Tintin, the Red Devils and Magritte. A jury will choose two for a public vote

september 13, 2017

WEEK in brief Rail authority NMBS has announced that it will cut the opening hours of staffed ticket windows in a number of stations starting on 2 October. Passengers are now more likely to buy their tickets from automatic ticket machines, said a spokesperson. The windows will not close entirely, remaining open at the busiest times – generally weekday mornings. Brussels-born filmmaker Agnès Varda will be awarded an Oscar for lifetime achievement in November. A pioneering female director, Varda is best known for the 1962 film Cléo from 5 to 7 and the 1990s film Jacquot. Over the years, Varda has been awarded an honorary Golden Palm by Cannes and an honorary César, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the European Film Awards. A group of 370 school children in the West Flanders village of Ichtegem have broken the world record for the longest scream. The collective scream lasted more than 10 minutes. The record attempt took place in the presence of Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits. The previous record stood at eight minutes and 45 seconds. Dutch publisher WPG Uitgevers, which publishes books by many Flemish authors, including chef Jeroen Meus and crime writer Pieter Aspe, has signed an agreement for a management buyout to sell a majority of shares to subsidiary WPG België and a group of external investors. The publisher – which owns Manteau, Standaard Uitgeverij and Davidsfonds – would then become Flemish owned. The new mayor of Brussels-City, Philippe Close, has announced that he will break with tradition by not chairing city council meetings. According to reports,

face of flanders his place in the chair will be taken by a fellow socialist. The price of a personalised number plate is about to come down from €2,000 to €1,000, federal mobility minster François Bellot has announced, after being increased in 2015. Since then the number of requests has fallen from a maximum of 740 a month to a maximum of 200, reaching a low of 130 in May this year. Belgium will continue to have 21 members of the European parliament after the departure of the UK from the European Union, parliament has decided. Only 22 of the 73 British places will be re-distributed to other member states after 2019, bringing the total number to 699 instead of 750 at present. The gains go mainly to France and Spain, both of which gain four seats, and Italy with three. Starting with the 2018-19 school year, no more soft drinks containing sugar will be sold in Flemish secondary schools, education minister Hilde Crevits has confirmed. The ban is already in place in primary schools and is in keeping with new EU regulations. Dominique Dufourny, mayor of the Brussels municipality of Elsene, has banned the possession of alcohol around the lakes next to Flageyplein after 2.00, following complaints from residents about noise nuisance and litter. The ban also includes terraces of bars and restaurants such as the popular Café Belga attached to Flagey. Later this year, commuters in Ghent and Antwerp will be able to buy a monthly transport pass for €60 that will cover trams and buses operated by De Lijn as well as train travel within the city.

The new Citypass will be available to some groups at a reduced rate. A similar joint subscription, the MTB ticket, already exists in Brussels at a price of €55.50 a month. The second incident this month between police and residents in the Borgerhout neighbourhood of Antwerp has led to the arrest of a 20-year-old, who is being held on suspicion of assault. The man was arrested on the basis of video identification. The officer was put on three days’ medical leave. Customers of food delivery service Deliveroo in Brussels order fries more than anything else, according to a survey. The top five orders also include hamburgers, pizza, pad thai and sushi. A 23-year-old man from Mechelen has been charged with fraud after allegedly hacking the websites of airlines and obtaining free plane tickets, the Antwerp prosecutor’s office has said. The complaint was filed by Brussels Airlines, but the man is also thought to have hacked the sites of American Airlines and Lufthansa. Two workers for the parks department in Herentals, Antwerp province, had to be rescued last week when they took refuge in the branches of a tree eight metres high after their mechanical lift caught fire. The two men were pruning the tree at the time. Bianca Debaets, the secretary of state in the Brussels regional government responsible for road safety, has presented a proposal to dedicate a monument in Jubelpark to the victims of road accidents. Speaking to the newspaper La Capitale, Debaets said that the monument would be placed by the end of 2018.

OFFSIDE Show off A planned airshow in the East Flanders village of Elsegem organised by colourful business exec Willy Naessens will not go ahead, Naessens has announced. The event was scheduled for this weekend during the Belgian championships of mennen – a horse and carriage sport. Naessens (pictured) is a football sponsor and equestrian enthusiast as well as being an entrepreneur in the construction industry. He had planned to lay on a small-scale airshow with several light aircraft and a helicopter. However, in order to obtain the necessary permits, he had to

Hannelore Vens Early last week, Hannelore Vens could be seen in the new VTM series Over winnaars (About Winners) carrying out the admirable feat of climbing the steps of Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in Peru. By the end of the week, a crowdfunding campaign had raised €90,000 to buy her new state-of-the-art leg prostheses. Three years ago, Vens (pictured with TV presenter Koen Wauters) was involved in a freak accident in which she fainted on a train platform, falling onto the tracks. A train ran over her legs, and now the 27-year-old uses prosthetics, which don’t stop her from cycling to work in Aalter from her home in Bruges. She was Over winnaars’ first guest. The new series hosted by Koen Wauters follows five people who have had to overcome adversity making a dream come true. For the trip to Machu Picchu, Vens was provided with a set of prototypes of a new type of prosthesis, controlled by micro-processors and rechargeable. The trouble is, a pair of the stateof-the-art legs costs €90,000. Such was the effect of her remarkable climb, however, that radio station Qmusic, newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws and magazine Dag Allemaal launched

a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money. It only took a single donor, however, to reach the goal: A business person in Ghent, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated the whole amount. “Hannelore made such a strong impression on me because she’s so positive about her situation,” the donor told De Standaard. “I wanted to help because she keeps on fighting despite the terrible problems she’s had to suffer.” In the end, the crowdfunding campaign raised €146,000, and the surplus will be donated to the Antwerp chapter of Project U/turn, an international organisation that arranges adventure holidays for people with a handicap. Project U/turn accompanied Vens on her trip to Peru. “We’ve been riding a rollercoaster of emotions since Monday,” Vens said, on news of the crowdfunding success. “The reactions from all over have been unbelievable.” Meanwhile, federal health minister Maggie De Block has announced changes to the 2018 budget that will see medical insurance agency Riziv reimbursing the cost of electronic knee replacements. It’s a start. \ Alan Hope

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

ensure that people living on the street below over-flying planes vacated their homes for safety reasons. Naessens arranged free tickets and a reception for residents who left their homes for the 90 minute duration. He got every-

one to agree. Almost. One 92-year-old woman feared she might not be able to return to her home immediately when it was all over and refused to leave. Her family agreed, and the airshow has been cancelled. “Of course I find it a terrible pity, but I respect everyone’s opinion,” Naessens said. “The law is the law.” But, as Knack magazine put it, “Willy Naessens wouldn’t be Willy Naessens if he didn’t have another stunt up his sleeve.” Instead of an airshow, he’s organising a crooner festival, with last-minute appearances by De Romeo’s, Christoff and Laura Lynn. \ AH

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.

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

Editorial address Gossetlaan 30 - 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden tel 02 467 23 06 flanderstoday@ackroyd.be subscriptions tel 03 560 17 49 subscriptions@ackroyd.be order online at www.flanderstoday.eu Advertising 02 467 24 37 advertising@ackroyd.be Verantwoordelijke uitgever Hans De Loore

\ POLITICS

5TH COLUMN United front

During the government of Flanders’ annual “awayday” last week, the ministers visited the Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (Mima) in Brussels. One photo of the visit stood out: All the ministers on the same side of table football. Anyone who is familiar with the game knows that competitors stand on opposite sides of the table. Maybe that was the government’s idea: to show a united front. The away-day, held just after the summer recess, is meant as a chance to leave your troubles behind at the office for a day, ahead of getting down to business. And there is plenty of business to come, with decisions made preferably before next summer, when local election campaigning is expected to commence. That process makes decisionmaking impossible. One of the issues is an alternative to the Turteltax – the outrageously unpopular temporary tax on electricity meant to make up for the debt caused by oversubsidising solar panels. The issue is politically sensitive: the €100 annual tax led to the resignation of energy minister Annemie Turtelboom (Open VLD). Her successor, Bart Tommelein (Open VLD), has come up with an alternative of a mere €10 annually, but there are still doubts as to whether this takes care of the debt. Tommelein is also the Flemish government’s minister of finance. He wants to leave his mark here, as any liberal would, by lowering inheritance and property registration taxes. He has yet to convince his coalition partners to do either, however. Environment minister Joke Schauvliege (CD&V), meanwhile, saw her boskaart, or Forest Map – designed to protect vulnerable woodlands – overruled by minister-president Geert Bourgeois earlier this year. Schauvliege now has to come up with an improved version that will not take land away from owners who planned to their build dream homes on it. And education minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V) has her work cut out for her. She is expected to come up with a plan to better fund primary education, which now receives proportionately less than secondary education. She also wants to make universities the only institutions allowed to provide teaching degrees, which are now also given by university colleges and schools for adult education. Both universities and university colleges have contested the idea. \ Anja Otte

Mayor calls for body cameras

Police bodycams would provide accurate record, says Bart De Wever Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

ntwerp mayor Bart De Wever has called for the federal parliament to approve the use of bodycams for police following an incident earlier this month in which two officers claim to have been attacked by a crowd while trying to restrain a woman who had crashed her car. Following the episode in the district of Borgerhout, footage released by witnesses at the scene called the police’s version into question. An Antwerp court later confirmed that a number of images collected from various sources proves that the officers were attacked. According to De Wever, bodycams would provide an accurate record of events and avoid similar disputes. The federal government has a law ready to allow the use of bodycams in limited circumstances, home affairs minis-

ter Jan Jambon said. The use of the cameras would be authorised only during a police intervention and would require the public to be informed that the cameras were operating. The proposal is currently before the Council of State for their opinion, after which it has

to be voted on by parliament. Local councils, however, can already approve the use of bodycams for their own cities, at their own expense. The cameras are already in use in Mechelen, following an incident in 2010. “The bodycam is not standard issue for our officers, but we regularly use them for interventions where they offer some value,” a police spokesperson said. The police union VSOA is not in favour of the use of bodycams, which can cost up to €1,000 each. The cameras, a union spokesperson said, are just another means of spying on officers facing difficult situations. “They’re trying to reverse the burden of proof,” said the spokesperson. “Police are being forced to prove their innocence using the recorded images. It’s unworthy of the rule of law.”

Belgium will sign on to European labour fraud proposal

‘Heritage loans’ to encourage owners to restore listed buildings

Federal labour minister Kris Peeters has come out in support of a Europe-wide proposal to combat social dumping in the road haulage sector. The issue concerns companies that set up fake subsidiaries in eastern Europe and employ lorry drivers from those countries to drive routes in western Europe. The practice, known as social dumping, undercuts the wages of local drivers and allows the employers to avoid paying social security charges. The French and German governments have presented a proposal to tackle the problem at the European level. Countries in western Europe, including Belgium, are home to businesses that hire employees from elsewhere, pay them wages on the level of their homeland and avoid paying Belgian social charges. Social dumping is a form of unfair competition, compared to companies that employ local driv-

The government of Flanders has introduced a new “heritage loan” to encourage both private citizens and developers to invest in protected buildings. The low-interest loan has a ceiling of €250,000, to be used for restoring, renovating and re-purposing heritage sites. In a recent example of the latter, a railway warehouse in Essen, Antwerp province, is to be converted into a brewery. “As minister for heritage, I’m always trying to improve our policy,” said minister-president Geert Bourgeois, announcing the loan. “The opportunity to obtain a cheap heritage loan makes becoming the owner of a listed monument easier, helping avoid long-term vacancy and run-down buildings, in order

ers. “It is unacceptable for companies to set up fictitious subsidiaries in eastern European countries to work with employees with an eastern European contract, and let them work for a low wage in Belgium,” Peeters said. “The principle ought to be that people get paid the same wage for the same work in the same place. We support the French and German proposal to put an end to secondments by PO Box companies.” Peeters now intends to send a letter, co-signed by prime minister Charles Michel, to French president Emmanuel Macron expressing support for the proposal. According to the proposal, all companies would be required to make one-quarter of their earnings in the country in which they are established. Only then would they be allowed to put drivers to work in another member state. \ AH

Employers accused of recruiting cheap labour among refugees Inspectors are visiting Maximiliaan Park in Brussels to look into the activities of employers who are said to be recruiting illegally from among the refugees camping there. About 700 people waiting to be processed by the Immigration Office are staying in the park. Until they have been processed as asylum-seekers by the office, the newcomers are considered illegal immigrants and are not allowed to work. Some contractors take advantage of the situation to obtain cheap day labour, with no employment rights. “There are indications that the people in Maximiliaan Park are being recruited by unscrupulous employers,” federal labour minister Kris Peeters said in a statement. “They are offering migrants

jobs outside the regular framework. The jobs appear to take place in miserable circumstances, no social charges are being paid, and regular enterprises are complaining of unfair competition.” The inspectors will take action against any companies found to be recruiting from among the refugees. The labour ministry is said to be working with the public prosecutor. \ AH

The Sint-Alfonsus church in Borgloon, Limburg, has been converted into a restaurant

to protect our valuable heritage.” The loans will be open to individuals, developers, public bodies and heritage associations at an initial interest rate of 1%. Administration of the loans and applications will be handled by the Flemish Investment Fund. \ AH

Minister-presidents ‘blocked Samusocial investigations’ The offices of two successive minister-presidents of the Brussels-Capital Region – Charles Picqué and current minister-president Rudi Vervoort (PS) – blocked attempts by ministers to look more closely into the affairs of Samusocial, an investigative committee has heard. The committee has resumed following the summer recess. Samusocial is Brussels’ homeless agency and the source of the problems that led Brussels-City mayor Yves Mayeur to resign this summer. Mayeur was alleged to have received attendance fees for Samusocial board meetings that had not taken place. The allegation about blocking attempts to investigate was made by Evelyn Huytebroeck (Ecolo), a member of the GGC commission, which brings together the two language communities for social aid. At that time, Samusocial was

chaired by Mayeur, who later became mayor of Brussels-City. “They threatened not to organise any shelter for the homeless in winter if they were going to be investigated,” Huytebroeck said. She accused Picqué of blocking an attempt by the GGC to send an investigator into Samusocial in 2013. When Vervoort took over later that year, the inspector went in, but his report was ignored, she alleged. The allegation was backed up by Brigitte Grouwels (CD&V), who took over responsibility for social aid at the GGC from 2009 to 2014. Even questions on the accounting of the agency or the number of people employed in winter shelters were blocked. “Anything that pointed towards openness was immediately contested by an email or a phone call to the minister-president’s office,” Grouwels told the committee. \ AH

\ COVER STORY

september 13, 2017

The brains in the basement Rare non-medicated brains open up brand new opportunities for research

pz-duffel.be

continued from page 1

records. Corsellis passed away in 1994 and, after his successor died in 1997, the collection was transferred to the West London Medical Health Trust and kept at St Bernard’s Hospital in Ealing. When the hospital ran out of storage space, they offered the collection to medical institutions around the world. That was when Morrens and his team stepped in. One of Duffel’s PhD students, Livia De Picker, contacted the hospital and asked if they could have the brains of the psychiatric patients. “They would have been destroyed if they’d not found a new home for them,” Morrens says of the stacks of containers. “They offered us the brains, and we only paid the shipping costs.” But getting them to Duffel was a challenge. “We asked DHL and other express companies if they could courier them over,” says Morrens. “They asked how many brains there were, expecting 10 or 20. When we said 2,500, they said they couldn’t.” Eventually, a shipping service loaded them onto a big cargo truck, took the ferry and drove them over. “Imagine what it was like at the border when they had to declare it,” Morrens laughs. Morrens is, if you like, the brains behind the Duffel research team. A 40-year-old from Brussels, he heads the research department at PZ Duffel, a satellite of Antwerp University Hospital. He is also a professor at the Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, which is part of Antwerp University. Although Morrens is responsible for a macabre basement collection, he is sanguine and even chirpy about his strange inheritance. He confesses that he enjoys the 1983 Steve Martin comedy The Man With Two Brains, about a brain surgeon who develops a technique to access the organ by unscrewing the top of the head. But he is very serious about what the collection offers researchers. “This collection gives us a huge opportunity to learn more about brain disorders. It will really contribute to our understanding of what is going on inside the brain.” The original Corsellis collection numbers around 8,500, but Duffel has mainly taken those that relate to psychiatric research – brains from people with psychosis, manic depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol-related diseases and intellectual disabilities. Morrens is uncertain if it’s the biggest collection in the world, noting wryly that “we don’t have a database of brain collections, so we don’t know. Most of them linger in basements”. But it is the world’s

Not for cooking: Brain caretaker and professor of cognitive neuroscience Manuel Morrens in front of his thousands of tupperware containers

largest known collection of brain tissue samples from psychiatric patients. A few of the brains are still intact, but most of them have been sliced into about 10 pieces and preserved in formaldehyde. Some smaller brain pieces, like the frontal cortex and the hippocampus, are fixed inside solid paraffin. Each brain – or part thereof – is accompanied by the medical file that was kept up until the death of the patient. The tissue and medical records of the Corsellis collection are so well preserved and organised that it’s a treasure trove for researchers.

brain tissue. “We didn’t have any brains to work with,” he says. They only looked at blood samples or brain scans (MRIs), which use contrast agents, or tracers, for visibility. But these measures said little about the activity of the brain. For example, MRI scans cannot identify the different proteins or enzymes that are activated by illness. “Now we can look at it directly. We can examine the brains at a microscopic level,” says Morrens. Having a collection of brains in pots from almost seven decades ago provides another crucial opportunity for researchers, in that they

So many brains from this era were not affected by the confounding aspects of medicine In recent years, it has been harder to access the brains of psychiatric patients. Not only are there new, stricter ethical regulations about collecting post-mortem tissue but, inherent to some psychiatric inflictions, informed consent from patients is often unclear. “It was almost impossible to find actual brain tissue,” Morrens says. He explains that no one in his team – or even any psychiatrist in Belgium – had worked with actual

have not been touched by modern medication. When Corsellis began his collection, the first psychiatric drugs were only just coming onto the market, and many patients had never received any. That means scientists can now research certain diseases and disorders using these “uncontaminated” brains and unaltered tissue. “Contemporary research is disadvantaged because the brains are taken from deceased patients who

have been given drugs,” Morrens says. “But well into the 1950s there were no pharmaceutical treatments for psychiatric conditions. So many brains from that era were not affected by the confounding aspects of medicine. This is something we can tease apart with the collection we now have. We can investigate the disorders in their purest form.” This ties in with developments in brain science over the years. Morrens says most brain collections around the world are not focused on neurological conditions. For example, pharmaceutical trials to see if a new drug works usually look just at changes in behaviour. This approach stemmed, in part, from claims by the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, who said that most psychiatric conditions were psychological in nature, rather than biological. “So people did not look at the neurological nature of brains,” Morrens says. “We have the whole evolution of psychiatric treatment in this collection.” That could mean breakthroughs in biological psychiatry science, a field specialising in researching mental disorders through the physical function of the nervous system. The researchers at Duffel are now in a position to see what molecular processes are taking place inside the brains of psychiatric patients, and compare them with those of people who display

none of these conditions. The initial results of their research will be available later this year. One of them is by Stuart Maudsley, vice chair of the department of biomedical research at Antwerp University. He puts brain tissue inside a special €1 million device to analyse the proteins and see the activity of what Morrens calls the “messengers” of the brain. “We are looking at differences between the mechanisms of healthy and schizophrenic patients, and at the effects of medication on the illness,” Morrens says. “This will be first study of its kind in the world.” The research will investigate “which proteins increase and which decrease,” he continues. “It will show which processes in the brain are more active and which are less active, and from this we can see which are illness-specific and which are medication-specific.” Another paper will look at an issue that Morrens says is a hot topic in the world of brain research: the role of inflammation, and how it could be a factor in the pathophysiology of manic depression. But before the first papers are even published, the Duffel collection has already caused a stir and made people think about the nature of the body and the brain. Morrens chuckles at the thought of a recent visit they had from a television crew making a children’s news programme. “They had a child reporter who found it really creepy!”

\ BUSINESS

week in business Produce Ardo The frozen veggie and fruit producer, based in Ardooie, West Flanders, is taking over the Canadian VLM Foods, headquartered in Montreal, its distributor in North America. As part of the deal, Ardo has acquired Compana Frutera La Paz, the largest frozen pineapple producer in Costa Rica.

Air CityJet The Irish carrier is suspending its 17-flights-a-week service between Antwerp and London City Airport at the end of next month because of unsatisfactory results. Airport authorities are looking for an alternative airline to take over the flight route.

Air Cathay Pacific The Hong Kong-based carrier is launching a four-flights-aweek service to Brussels next March, with an Airbus A350.

Mining Nyrstar The Brussels-based mining and smelting group has sold its Contoga mine in Peru for $21 (€17.4) million to Switzerland’s Glencore, the world’s largest mining group. Nyrstar has chosen instead to invest in its middle Tennessee Myra Falls mining and smelting operations.

Food Ter Beke The producer of meat products and ready-meals company, based in Waarschoot, East Flanders, is taking over the Dutch Zwanenberg Food group’s delicatessen production unit.

Retail Arket The clothing and housewares chain, part of the Swedish H&M group, opened its first store in Belgium on Brussels’ Guldenvlieslaan this week.

Lobbies ECTA The European Competitive Telecom Association, which represents alternative telecom and internet operators, has moved its headquarters from London to Brussels.

Wine Phelan Segur The Van de Vyvere family, owners of the Antwerpbased Sea-Invest, Europe’s leading container terminals operator, is buying the Saint Estephe estate, with 70 hectares of vineyard in the Bordeaux area.

Antwerp start-ups visit Israel Local industries meet investors and pros in leading tech country Alan Hope More articles by Alan \ flanderstoday.eu

delegation of technology and research specialists organised by the City of Antwerp visited Israel last week. The focus was on two areas of importance to Antwerp: clean technologies and digital innovation – in particular the Internet of Things and eHealth. Israel has made significant advances in both industries. The visit included tours of the Technion institute of technology and the Rambam Medical Center, both in Haifa. The visit also took in the DLD Innovation Festival in Tel Aviv, which brings together start-ups, established companies and investors. “It’s no coincidence that this working visit is focused on digital innovation and cleantech,” said Caroline Bastiaens, city councillor

in charge of economic affairs, who was leading the trip. “Our research shows that these are two sectors where growth is expected. Our visit aims to realise partnerships between businesses from Antwerp and from Israel, as well as

encouraging Israeli investors to invest in our city, and getting start-ups on both sides to work together.” Tel Aviv is considered one of the most innovative cities in the world, a leader in a country with more start-ups per head than any other. Antwerp, meanwhile, has created an innovation ecosystem of 350 start-ups and 10 incubators, and a broad international network of partners. Antwerp start-ups had the chance to pitch to a number of major Israeli venture capital firms, as well as take part in business-to-business events. The delegation was made up of about 70 members, including representatives of businesses and start-ups, Antwerp University and regional initiatives such as Leuven-based nanotech research centre imec.

One in five Belgians feels ‘helpless’ in digital society

Unia condemns ‘stigmatising’ statements by union chair

About 20% of Belgians feel lost in the digital society and experience stress because of it, according to Flemish family association Gezinsbond. The organisation carried out an online survey with Okra, which represents people aged 55 and over, and French-speaking family organisation La Ligue des Familles. The survey among 1,000 Belgians was carried out as part of International Literacy Day. More than one in five respondents said they feel helpless because so much is arranged via the internet. Onethird, on the other hand, were worried about how much time they spend online, especially on social media. Just over half of those surveyed said that they rarely or never deal with administrative requests online, while 40% complained that there

Unia, the federal office for equal opportunities, has criticised a statement by Christine Mattheeuws, president of self-employed union NSZ. Mattheeuws stated that it made sense that shopkeepers pay special attention to customers of foreign origin, as they were more likely to steal than others. Mattheeuws was responding to the recent news that shop workers treat clients differently based on their gender and ethnic origin. The news was based on master’s research at the Free University of Brussels (VUB). The study showed that retail staff are more vigilant in the presence of customers who are not white or who are of foreign origin. The head of the union said that statistics show that foreigners are more likely to steal, meaning keeping a closer eye on them was “good business”. Gangs of shoplifters, she said, were mainly made up of men of foreign origin. “This has nothing to do with prejudice or discrimination, only with the facts” she told VRT radio. “This has set off a witch hunt against people of different origins,”

are too few possibilities to arrange matters with government administrations over the phone or via a counter. For bank affairs, however, most people prefer digital, with 90% always paying bills online. At work, digital is the norm, with 46% saying they work behind a computer almost all day. But one in three said that digital evolutions happen too fast, and one in 10 fears that they will lose their jobs because they can’t keep up. Gezinsbond and Okra have asked the government to launch more information and training campaigns to deal with the growing risk of digital illiteracy. They also emphasise that the government has to keep providing alternatives for those who cannot keep up with the digital revolution. \ Andy Furniere

Hidden cameras will be removed from advertising panels Advertising company JCDecaux has begun to remove cameras from its ubiquitous advertising panels because the results of the experiment proved disappointing, a spokesperson for the company said. Privacy experts have responded that passers-by being unaware of being under surveillance is problematic. The camera-equipped panels were intended to count customer numbers at certain sites like shopping centres and track their reactions to the ads on the panels. The company stressed that the system retained only data and that images were not recorded. The technology, however, had trouble recording reactions and numbers when crowds grew too large, and distinguishing between male and female shoppers was also problematic. “We want to provide advertisers with reliable data, so we have decided to let this system go,”

said Unia director Els Keytsman (pictured). “These statements are regrettable and stigmatising. Where do these ideas come from? What figures are they based on?” Mattheeuws also claimed that the research by VUB student Dounia Bourabain was influenced by being of immigrant origin herself. “As if someone who wears a headscarf is unable to carry out scientific research,” responded Keytsman. She called on both NSZ and the retail sector to take the lesson of the thesis to heart by raising the awareness of shop staff to the “everyday racism” at work in the sector. \ AH

New project aims to help small food companies save energy © JCDecaux

a JCDecaux spokesperson for said. “The cameras have been removed from a number of locations already, and there remain 10 or so to be removed.” According to De Morgen newspaper, JCDecaux has not revealed when the cameras were placed. Local privacy experts have pointed out that it is illegal to film people in public spaces for commercial purposes. Privacy state secretary Philippe De Backer has asked the Privacy Commission to look into the matter. \ AH

Flemish energy minister Bart Tommelein and food industry federation Fevia have launched the trial project Easy Food Energy Savers (EFES). The project is meant to help SMEs with energy efficiency. Last year, the government came to agreements with several large companies to commit to better energy efficiency. But small and medium-sized businesses make up 90% of Flanders’ food industry, and SMEs in general have considerable energy-saving potential. Because of lack of time and knowledge, this potential is under-

exploited. EFES, which will run for two years, provides SMEs in the food industry with help in implementing simple measures, such as insulation of pipes and tracking down compressed air leaks. The trial project will also focus on producing renewable energy. “We hope to provide the many SMEs in the food industry with the necessary tools to reduce their energy consumption,” said Jan Vander Stichele, president of Fevia Vlaanderen. “This will benefit both the environment and the companies’ accounts.” \ AF

\ INNOVATION

september 13, 2017

Hack to the future

week in innovation

Bozar invites artists and innovators to shape the future together Mari Eccles More articles by Mari \ flanderstoday.eu

ne of Brussels’ best-known arts centre is looking for creative types and the scientifically minded to work on a new project that unites two communities who don’t often get the chance to collaborate. Being launched this month, Bozar Lab is a new department that will bring together ideas from the arts, music, theatre and literature and combine them with new thinking in technology. It will do this by partnering creatives, cultural institutions and its own staff with start-ups, experts and researchers in the field of technology and innovation. The aim is twofold. Firstly, the Lab will allow the museum’s staff to learn about ways in which new technology can benefit the centre, an institution with a formidable reputation but one that is associated with fine art. Secondly, and more boldly, the initiative is seeking to create a dialogue between different sectors as a means of solving some of the modern world’s problems. “I hope the Lab will stimulate a creative reflection, to see where the future will lead us,” says Christophe De Jaeger, one of the co-ordinators behind the project. “We’re looking to solve creative problems.” As part of the Lab, Bozar has launched a residency programme with two open calls a year. Organisations can send proposals for projects,

In November, Bozar will display the results of the Generation Z challenge for young innovators, part of the new Bozar Lab

and successful submissions will be able to use the museum’s media lab to learn to use new technology and try out their experiments. Some themes for the Bozar Lab to cover are already in the works and include the future of the media and smart cities. But the organisers will not be too prescriptive with the brief, De Jaeger insists. Although he cites books, debates and games as possible outcomes of the collaboration, he is hoping the scheme will attract ideas that are as innovative as possible. As well as this programme, the Lab will host an exhibition space, welcoming works from specialised institutions around Belgium and Europe. This platform, the venue says, will

“keenly focus on the role of arts as a catalyst for scientific and technological knowledge”. It will also present artistic works that influence or change the way the public have looked at technology or the results of successful collaborative practices between researchers, the industry and the world of art and culture. The Lab will open to the public on 14 September with a day-long line-up of debates and conversations that spans programmable cities, arttriggered start-ups and collaborative practice in the modern age. Partially supported by European Union funds, Bozar Lab is fully in keeping with a new initiative launched last year by the European Commission’s digital arm, the Starts programme – science, technology and the arts. This programme highlights the creativity of artists as a major driver for innovation in the world of research and industry. It’s part of a growing trend across Europe to focus on collaboration between the worlds of arts and technology. De Jaeger says the decision to create the department was inspired by a long line of illustrious institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Paris’ Centre Pompidou, which have also looked to broaden their visions to support technological innovations.

Electric avenues The opening of Bozar Lab coincides with Bozar’s annual Electronic Arts Festival. Founded in 2011, the festival was the centre’s tentative first step in moving away from being solely a fine arts institution. “It’s since broadened its scope to include digital culture,” De Jaeger says. Now in its sixth year, the festival, which has picked up plaudits along the way – last year it won tourism agency Visit Brussels’

“Evening Experience of the Year” award – will include the formal opening of Bozar Lab. This year, the festival will welcome Oscar nominee Jóhann Jóhannsson, who recently composed the score for Blade Runner 2049, as its big-name musical guest. There will also be a tribute to David Bowie from American composer William Basinski and a performance by Japanese avant-garde artist Phew. The festival will also welcome six

female Belgian artists whose work is inspired by science and technology as part of the Tendencies exhibition, while the winners of this year’s Starts prize – connected to the EU initiative of the same name – will reveal their installations. And it will of course also host the results of some of the interactions

14-30 September

at Bozar Lab. De Jaeger says he sees the Lab as an extension of the creative and scientific fusion that the festival has always encouraged. “It’s basically about allowing young people, hackers, researchers and artists to develop new projects together.”

Bozar

Ravensteinstraat 23, Brussels

Leishmaniasis is transmitted through the sand fly, is that correct? Yes, anybody who comes into contact with an infected sand fly is at risk; essentially people living in rural areas of tropical countries. Worldwide, we are seeing an urbanisation of leishmaniasis, meaning the insects are adapting to urban settings. Does this disease affect people in Flanders? Yes and no. Leishmaniasis has existed for decades in southern Europe, but it hasn’t been observed in Flanders. Every year, however, thousands of tourists travel to countries where leish-

maniasis exists, and a few dozen return with the disease. Most contract the infection around the Mediterranean basin, but sometimes we have patients infected further away. This is no cause for panic: there are more victims of traffic accidents than of leishmaniasis. General practitioners might not always think about leishmaniasis when making their diagnosis, but if patients are quickly directed to tropical medicine specialists, they will be diagnosed and treated adequately.

maniasis treatment failure in Latin America. The current drugs were ineffective in patients, and not because of drug resistance. Something else was going on. Recently, Marlene Jara, a Peruvian PhD student, joined our group, and along with other Peruvian researchers she discovered that the parasites were “sleeping” in some phases of their life cycle. Protein synthesis was lower in the parasite living in mammals than in sand flies. So leishmaniasis “sleeps” in the mammal host, but we don’t yet know if this is responsible for treatment failure. Generally, drugs need active cells to be effective. We are now testing this hypothesis at the Institute of Tropical Medicine.

What is this new breakthrough in treatment all about? Years ago, we were studying leish-

What are the next steps? Private companies have little interest in developing new drugs:

The Rega Institute for Medical Research, part of the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), is moving to a new building equipped with the most modern technology to battle diseases on the university’s Gasthuisberg campus this week. The centrepiece of the new building is an ultramodern bio-safety laboratory. “It’s a fully automated lab-ina-box allowing us to examine pathogenic micro-organisms,” said Johan Neyts, KU Leuven virology professor. The institute hopes to develop new vaccines against viral infections and antibiotics against parasitic diseases.

Student develops alternative to bypass surgery Charlotte Palmers, a graduate student at Antwerp University, has developed a device that offers an alternative to traditional heart bypass surgery. Palmers won the Belgian James Dyson Award, a prize for young design engineers, with her invention, called LADflow. Bypass surgery is necessary when a part of a coronary artery, which pumps blood to the heart, becomes too narrow. Surgeons take part of another blood vessel and link an artery from the chest with the coronary artery – bypassing the narrow section. Palmers’ LADflow instead links two separate arteries through a tube to create the bypass. Because the chest doesn’t need to be opened up, patients should recuperate in about a week. Palmers is looking for funding to carry out further tests and eventually market the device.

Researchers develop new rail schedule model

Q&A Professor Jean-Claude Dujardin is head of the department of biomedical sciences at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, which has made a breakthrough in the treatment of Leishmaniasis, which kills nearly 50,000 people a year.

Rega Institute gets new home

Leishmaniasis is a disease that mostly affects poor people, and return on investment is low. In our lab, we have considerable experience in drug resistance and now in dormancy. We plan to apply this knowledge to guide further R&D on new drugs. Perhaps we will succeed in designing drugs capable of killing the hibernating parasites. \ Interview by John Bean

Researchers at the University of Leuven have developed a model that could greatly limit train delays in Belgium. PhD researcher Sofie Burggraeve focused on the railway “bottleneck” – the tunnel connecting Brussels North and South stations – as most delays begin there. Burggraeve based her model on simple principles: Start scheduling based on the number of tracks, not on the number of trains and plan more time between trains passing the same junction. According to the researchers, travellers could improve their time by an average 17% using Burggraeve’s model. The model can be tested when new timetables are created. \ Andy Furniere

EXPATS FEEL AT HOME RIGHT AWAY.

GET YOUR FREE PREMIUM PACK! The Premium Pack includes 3 multi-currency accounts, up to 2 Gold credit cards* and many more advantages. BNP Paribas Fortis offers you personalised banking & insurance solutions. Apply from home now, it’s really easy!

bnpparibasfortis.be/expatinbelgium

* Subject to approval of your application.

Publisher: E. Jacqueroux, BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV, Montagne du Parc/Warandeberg 3, 1000 Brussels, RPM Brussels, TVA BE 0403.199.702, FSMA n° 25.879A

IN A CHANGING WORLD,

\ EDUCATION

september 13, 2017

Within the mainstream

week in education More support for adult education centres

Pupils with autism to qualify for temporary home schooling

Education minister Hilde Crevits is providing extra support to the region’s centres for basic adult education. The 840 staff members of the 13 centres across Flanders currently don’t receive the advantages connected to the education statute: they have less job security, no right to a government pension, and certain leave systems don’t apply. Thanks to the statute changes, the staff at the centres will have the same rights as other education staff, from 1 January. The government is also investing in more teaching materials, infrastructure, logistics and training programmes, and 40 more full-time staff will be hired. Centres with a larger number of job-seekers and lowskilled students in poverty will also get a higher budget from 1 September 2019.

Mieke Kooistra More articles by Mieke \ flanderstoday.eu

tudents in mainstream education with an autism spectrum disorder now qualify for subsidised temporary education at home if they are regularly absent from school on the advice of a doctor. The measure already exists for children who are chronically ill. Last month Flemish MP Kathleen Helsen convinced education minister and CD&V party colleague Hilde Crevits to broaden the existing regulations to include autism, in the hope of keeping such pupils within the regular system. Under a regulation introduced in 2015, pupils who are part of the mainstream school system but who have been diagnosed as chronically ill on the basis of a doctor’s certificate are permitted to remain at home, on a case-by-case basis. The concept of temporary education at home stipulates that for every nine days’ absence, students who qualify are entitled to four hours of lessons at home from a specialised teacher. It allows them to keep up with the school’s requirements and remain part of the regular school system. Crevits points out that broadening the new measure will not apply to all students with an autism spectrum disorder. “It is first and foremost the intention that all students will be supported at their school,” she says. “But for some students, temporary home education is definitely needed.” For children with autism, social and emotional stability is just as important as their education. Without this, even the most academic student can flounder. The new approach allowing them to stay at home on certain days can be helpful in some – but not in all – cases. “It is just one option added to all available options for children with autism,” says Marijke van Bogaert of the Catholic Education Network, adding that it will only be offered within a very specific context. “Sometimes it can be best to take a child temporarily out of the classroom, give them another task or just let them sit by themselves,” she continues. “Ultimately, the idea is that children with autism spectrum disorders in regular education are participating and integrating to a maximum of their ability. Part of education is preparing youngsters for adult life, where it will not always be possible to retreat or take a day off when things are difficult.” But, she says, “in specific cases, staying at home could be absolutely necessary”. Belgium has more pupils in special education than many other European countries. Until 2015, 4.4% of pupils in Flanders were in special educa-

The measure will grant four hours’ specialised home education for every nine days a pupil is advised by a doctor to stay off school

tion schools. Following the ratification of the UN treaty on the rights of people with a handicap in 2009, which stipulates that they have the right to full participation in society, including education, Flanders introduced the M decree, to allow students with autism and other special needs to enrol in regular schools. To keep them there, schools will need to be supported financially as well as with skills development and specialised training for staff. Educators in Flanders tend to see mainstream schooling as positive for everyone. All students benefit socially by forming positive relationships and learning how to be more at ease with a variety of people. In practice, however, it can be difficult to offer students the care they need to succeed. In recent years, Flemish schools have been struggling with persistent teacher shortages and a growing lack of space. “In an average classroom with 25 children, it’s not possible to give that much-needed attention or show the patience that is sometimes required,” says Katrien Debergh from West Flanders, whose son went from special to regular school and eventually back to special education. “Even if the teachers have been given training and know a lot about autism, there is often simply not the time to support them.”

The only way her son, who is in grade five, was able to function in regular school was because a personal assistance grant allowed her to hire an individual teacher to help him with homework and other skills. Without that personalised support, her son could not stay on in the regular system. “Having a child with autism in a mainstream class can be hard for teachers, parents and the child,” she says, but she wouldn’t see sending them home as a solution. “For working parents, that would be extremely difficult.” Rozina Spinnoy of Brussels, whose 11-year-old son is in a special needs school, agrees. “I am not a teacher. I would find it very hard to assist my child with schoolwork at home,” she says. “And with two working parents, it’s not a realistic option. There is already so much time where school is closed for teacher training and soon the autumn break coming up. It would definitely not be feasible for me, and I suppose this would be the case for many parents.” Van Bogaert agrees that there should not be one solution, but many. “These students are a very diverse group so schools should be able to offer a very diverse approach, with the emphasis on integration and participation,” she says. “The new measure should be viewed as one of the options on a continuum. One thing will work for some and not for others.”

VUB and ULB building Learning & Innovation Center The free universities of Brussels – Dutch-speaking VUB and Frenchspeaking ULB – have presented their concept of the Learning & Innovation Center (LIC). The LIC will house the science libraries of both institutions as well as serve as a new innovation centre. Scheduled to open in 2022, LIC will be located at the border of the universities’ separate campuses in Etterbeek – thus also literally linking them. The universities are planning a diverse learning environment, where ICT applications will be available to students and researchers. There will be spaces for study and for experiments,

from quiet rooms to large spaces for projects and hackathons, all equipped with innovative technology. The project is partly in response

to the trend of students to study together in university buildings rather than alone in their rooms. The organisers also want to encourage more collabora-

tinyurl.com/vublic

tion between the universities’ researchers. “We are building bridges, but also developing technology for innovations in the education system,” said VUB rector Caroline Pauwels. “We cannot fall behind.” The building will also be another asset in attracting international students to Brussels, she said. The nearly 10,000 square-metre building will hold up to 1,000 people. Construction is scheduled to start at the end of 2020. Beliris, the renovation and building agency that unites the federal and Brussels region governments, will provide €22.4 million for the project. \ Andy Furniere

Extra funding for climate-related projects Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits has allocated €375,000 in subsidies to 92 school projects focusing on challenges in society related to the climate. Crevits aims to link the government’s efforts concerning the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies with action concerning the climate challenge. “These school projects can help to show youngsters the innovative aspects of a future profession or course of study while making them more aware of the climate problems,” she said. Students at Don Bosco in Helchteren will convert a petrol kart into an electric kart, for example, while Koninklijk Atheneum campus de Reynaert in Tielt will make its own bioplastics.

Universities and media collaborate for online talks Together with public broadcaster VRT and news magazine Knack, Flanders’ five universities are working on an online platform that will offer talks by professors to the public. The Universiteit van Vlaanderen, or University of Flanders, should be ready to launch sometime in the coming academic year. Professors will give accessible lectures, similar to Ted talks, which will last about 15 minutes. The project is a nonprofit and is being funded by the universities and VRT, which will provide technical support and training. “This is a way to get the university out of the walls of the university,” said Paul Lembrechts, CEO of VRT. \ AF

\ LIVING

week in activities Flemish Harbour Day Go behind the scenes at the ports in Ghent, Zeebrugge, Ostend and Antwerp during a day of guided tours and activities. Register in advance for a tour of Antwerp’s new port building or a guided tour of the harbour area. In Ostend, the Belgian offshore wind platform will be open to visitors. 17 September; across Flanders; free \ vlaamsehavendag.be

Opening of Thor Park The former Waterschei coal mine in Genk is the latest industrial site to be redeveloped as a multifunctional office park and cultural centre organised around technology, renewable energy and innovation. During opening weekend, visitors can take guided tours, try out the latest e-bikes, take part in tech workshops or dance the night away. 16-17 September; André Dumontlaan 67, Genk; free \ thorpark.be

Hoeilaart Grape Festival What started out as a festival showcasing the local grape harvest has evolved into a giant community celebration, with music, a cheesecake-baking contest, a flea market and used bike sale, entertainment for the kids and more. 15-18 September; Hoeilaart (Flemish Brabant); free \ druivenfestivalhoeilaart.be

Street Market For two days, the Vlaamsesteenweg in the heart of the Sint-Katelijne district is the site of a flea market and sidewalk sale hosted by the local merchants. Bike shop Cyclo BXL hosts a second-hand bike sale on Saturday, just in time for car-free Sunday the next day. 16-17 September 10.00-18.00; Vlaamsesteenweg, Brussels; free

Apple Picking It’s guaranteed fun for the whole family as you pick your own apples and pears right off the trees. If you plan to pick more than 100 kilos, you can reserve a spot at the Juice Mobile and have them pressed. Try some apple wine, pancakes or pie and take a guided tour of the orchard with the farmer. 17 September, 10.00-16.00; PJ Fruit, Kozenstraat 77, Stevoort (Hasselt); free \ pjfruit.be

\ 10

Stone me!

Digging out the truth of Limburg’s prehistoric rocks Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

ack in 1981, Panorama, a popular, rather sensational news magazine, published an edition with a remarkable cover. On what appears to be an archaeological site, five men stand in a pit, surrounded by a circle of large stones. It looks like a prehistoric monument right there in Limburg. It should have been a major discovery. But it wasn’t. Guido Creemers, conservator at the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren, lives in Diepenbeek, where the photo was taken, and recalls the infamous article well. “I remember that it caused quite a stir,” he says. “The excavations were an initiative of the local heritage organisation Alvermenneke. They were convinced that Diepenbeek hid a megalithic structure. And indeed, they did find large stones. It made national headlines.” In reality, the amateur archaeologists found a large concentration of boulders. Because they were so convinced that Diepenbeek was hiding megalithic structures under its ground, they placed the stones in a circle themselves. Not exactly a sound scientific method, but still interesting, says Creemers. “In a sense, these amateur archaeologists wrote a piece of imaginary history.” While doing research for a recent academic article on the debate surrounding Diepenbeek’s presumed “prehistoric monuments”, Creemers spoke with the members of the local history and heritage group and took a look at the log books of old excavations. “It is clear now that the people involved in the excavation let

The totally faked scene from a 1981 newspaper that rocked Limburg’s world

their imaginations run wild,” he says. “They even called on a water diviner to help them locate the stones. But the concentration of large stones are simply a geological phenomenon – albeit a rare one.” It was no coincidence that the people of Diepenbeek went digging for their own Stonehenge. The story started in 1862, when amateur archaeologist H Schuermans described the stones of Diepenbeek as possible prehistoric monuments. Constant Bamps, a collector and amateur archaeologist, went into more detail in essays a few years later, supporting Schuermans’ suspicions. Historians debunked their hypotheses at the time, but a legend was nonetheless born.

Fast forward to 2016, when a local farmer hit a big boulder with his plough. In the end, he turned over about 20 tonnes of boulders, reason enough for Creemers and his colleague Roland Dreesen, a geologist, to write an essay on the finding. “We have made our conclusion,” they wrote. “The stones of Diepenbeek are a natural phenomenon.” The boulders, which can be found not only in Diepenbeek but scattered all across Limburg, are sandstones, shaped over time by erosion. “They are similar to other stones in Limburg, like the Holsteen in Zonhoven and the Duivelssteen in Langerlo,” explains Creemers. The fact that the boulders are naturally occurring geological forma-

tions does not detract from the stories of the people who gave meaning to them, says Creemers. Such stones, which seem to pop up from out of nowhere, have always inspired people. The boulders of Zonhoven and Langerlo are also the subject of legends, leading to a significant number of stories about the devil stemming from Diepenbeek and surroundings. “In the past, it was impossible for people to explain the origins of these boulders,” Creemers explains. “Mysteries like these give rise to tall tales that tend to stick around in the collective memory. Even today, some websites on possible megalithic sites still mention Diepenbeek. It is a very persistent story.”

BITE Hip to be square: Antwerp doughnut shop wows crowds Instagram-happy gourmets have much to shout about in Antwerp. While newbie Texas Coffee serves up its brews in ice cream cones, another trendy arrival, Hoeked, offers square doughnuts in lieu of the traditional ring. Doughnutier Joris Verschelden and his wife, Caroline Boon, opened the retro-chic spot in May, after he fell for doughnuts during a twodecade stint running his own bakery in Dendermonde. “When I decided to specialise, I went to New York for inspiration and to see what was hip,” he says. “I came across a square doughnut in a factory.” Setting his new enterprise in the port city was a no-brainer, he adds: “Everything new in Flanders happens in Antwerp.” Hoeked (hoek means “corner” in Dutch) certainly has a New York cool about it – all black-andwhite tiles, neon sign and, for those eating in, a handful of candy-pink stools. The pastel-toned packaging is as thoughtfully conceived as the doughnuts themselves. Odd as square doughnuts sound, they do have pedigree: New Orleans residents have breakfasted on beignets, a square-shaped deep-fried

choux pastry sans hole, since the 18th century. “What makes a doughnut is actually the dough,” says Verschelden, an adherent of the deep-fried yeast version – an enriched “luxury dough” akin to brioche (cake-based doughnuts are much heavier). “I make it the day before, so it can rest and take on flavour and structure, like a sour-

hoekeddoughnuts.be

dough.” The glossy toppings span chocolate ganaches and exotic fruit glazes. There’s a spelt matcha tea option with pine nuts, a relatively virtuous red beetroot number and a wicked Grand Marnierspiked creme brulee. The Berliner is Hoeked’s take on the famous German pastry, filled with custard. A new flavour is introduced each month, and on Saturdays Verschelden whips up a special. Prices range from €2.80 to €3.50 for a pimped-up doughnut. The shop also sells coffee and Flanders’ Ritchie lemonade. According to Verschelden, 95% of people who come in are “very excited. They take photos for Instagram and Facebook – either of the doughnuts, the shop, or the bicycle out front with its square-shaped wheels.” And while the square shtick might strike cynics as a gimmick, Verschelden is keen to stress that his confections are about more than eye-catching looks. “Taste is the most important thing,” he says. “They can look very cute, but if they don’t taste good, what’s the point of making doughnuts?” \ Clodagh Kinsella

september 13, 2017

Chamber of secrets

With its ceiling of gods and its toilet of books, Antwerp’s Hofkamer reopens Dan Smith More articles by Dan \ flanderstoday.eu

HERITA.BE/HOFKAMER

The grand 18th-century Hofkamer residence is an Antwerp treasure trove of secret spaces, and it’s a spectacular juxtaposition of new and old.

ing practice session in the cathedral’s carillon. The effect takes you back in time immediately. The paintings and decoration on the Hofkamer’s top floor were too badly damaged for restoration. Instead, artist Koen van den Broek was commissioned to decorate the space. Inspired by the work of film director Stanley Kubrick, van den Broek has gone for a startling modern style he describes as “landscapes that portray the gloomy state of the world”. That sense of gloom is emphasised by the two black beams painted up the wall and along part of the ceiling, echoing the images of 9/11. They seem to threaten the viewer as well as the external world beyond the room’s beautiful windows. Adding to the modernity of this room is the large contemporary heating device set into the ornamented fireplace. Like with van den Broek’s art, the juxtaposition between old and new couldn’t be any starker. Although the Hofkamer was officially reopened on 30 August by Flemish ministerpresident Geert Bourgeois, the first chance the public had to see it was during Open Monument Day last weekend. The building is now available for hire for meetings and small events.

ander along the streets of Antwerp’s inner city and you’re struck by how close the buildings are. Built side by side and right to the edge of the pavement, it seems like there was no place for open space in these once-grand residences. But step behind the front doors and there’s a treasure trove of secret spaces where Antwerpenaars of old (and now) entertained and took the air. At Oude Beurs 27 you will find Den Wolsack, a complex of buildings that is home to one of Antwerp’s best-known hidden spaces – the Hofkamer. Den Wolsack was owned by Adrien van den Bogaert, a councillor and merchant, who redeveloped the Hofkamer with the help of architect Engelbert Baets. Although parts of the building date back to the mid15th century, the Hofkamer’s present form was completed in 1772 according to Baets’ design. Following a fire and years of neglect during the 20th century, Den Wolsack came under the control of the Flemish Heritage Foundation (later Erfgoed Vlaanderen, now Herita). In 2012, Herita decided to restore the building to how it would have looked in 1772. Renovation work had already started in 2008 with the removal of the massive “Gods on Mount Olympus” canvas, which covers the entire ceiling of the ground-floor space. At 65 square metres, it’s the largest ceiling painting on canvas in Western Europe. The restoration of this monumental work wasn’t without difficulties. At one point in the process the painting fell over, leaving a large rip in the canvas and delaying the work by several years. The gods are now back in their rightful place. Once the facade and roof were repaired, work began on the interior. Here the restorers faced a major dilemma, as parts of the decoration dated from before 1772. In keeping with modern restoration practice in Flanders, the decision was made to keep the walls as they were found. “A slightly transparent fabric has been secured about 10 centimetres from the surface of the wall to give the room cohesion,” Els Derycke, manager of restoration and conservation for Herita, explains. “From a distance you can still make out parts of the original decoration dating from the 1400s and later behind the fabric. However, this fabric layer protects and preserves the paintwork for future generations of historians and restorers. The result gives the visitor a connection to both the past and the future.” From the ground level, a staircase winds up to the first floor with the two undoubted gems of the Hofkamer. The first is the Book Toilet. Though it’s the “smallest room in the house”, this is a space that you could explore for hours. The Book Toilet is said to have been van den Bogaert’s idea. While hiding a porcelain bowl behind fake book fronts was a relatively common style in French castles, van den Bogaert went even further.

Pilgrims of art © Herita/Lucid

Behind the doors of the Hofkamer are artistic treasures like Europe’s largest ceiling canvas, and a toilet hidden in books

The bowl itself is housed in a stack of books on the floor. Two walls are lined with fake bookshelves made from wood and leather, while a third is a large window with a view of the garden and the cathedral spire.

And that’s the second gem. The view of the cathedral tower is spectacular from the enormous first-floor windows. As we tour the building, we’re serenaded by the bell ringers at their regular Wednesday morn-

TENTO.BE

Public Art of Flanders (OKV) is planning one of the most ambitious events ever to showcase the Flemish Masters. To be run over two years, Flemish Masters in Situ will give the public a chance to see major artworks in the chapels, churches, cathedrals, monasteries and castles they were painted for. Many of these sites are not normally open to the public. From June to September next year, eight venues in Antwerp, including the Hofkamer, will house works that were specifically painted for those locations. The event is part of the wider Antwerp Baroque City promotion planned for 2018. “The locations include a small church in Zaventem which has a painting created by a very young Antoon Van Dyck based on a design by Rubens,” says Mark Vanvaeck of OKV. “When Van Dyck went to the church he realised that the light was coming from the wrong side, so he had to rearrange Rubens’ composition. It’s a great example of how the location influenced the artwork.” In 2019, the Flemish Masters in Situ project will spread to 60 sites across Flanders, including the eight original ones in Antwerp. From 1 June to 31 September, the public will be able to visit all 60. After presenting their “Pilgrims’ Guide” at each site, visitors will get a stamp. Everyone who makes it to all 60 will receive a book celebrating the project. There are plans for a multilingual information panel at each site which will provide more information about the painting, the artist and the artwork’s relationship to the building.

\ 11

Ready for school?

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

\ LIVING

september 13, 2017

Home is where the art is

week in arts & CULTURE

An open studio in Brussels gives space to newcomers, including refugees Toon Lambrechts More articles by Toon \ flanderstoday.eu

globearoma.be

n their journeys from home, refugees must leave most of their belongings behind, but they carry with them their aspirations, skills and established careers. This includes in the arts. To practise in a completely new environment can be very challenging, which is why Globe Aroma – an open art studio in Brussels – is helping all kinds of newcomers to get in touch both with other artists and their creative selves. A small alley off Dansaertstraat leads to a garden where a handful of people are taking advantage of the elusive summer sun. Behind the garden lies the building on Moutstraat where Globe Aroma found a new home three years ago. Although it has previously been a textile studio and a furniture workshop, it’s only now living up to its full creative potential. All the nooks and crannies are stacked with artworks in various states of completion. In the back, there’s a rehearsal room for musicians. The stairs lead to a spacious exhibition room, where the work of a dozen artists is on display. Most of the pieces are paintings, punctuated with an installation and some calligraphy. Artistic director Els Rochette describes Globe Aroma as an open studio “offering a space where a large variety of art forms find a home”. The people who come there, she continues, “are mainly refugees and newcomers. Our goal is to offer people who were already involved in art in

Participants in Globe Aroma rehearse the play Capsaicin, which was performed last year in Kaaistudio’s

“We do not impose strict demands on the artistic quality of people’s work,” says Rochette. “We just want to give them the chance to create and to grow.” The approach also confronts any western assumptions used to define art. “One of our artists, Maher, used to be a well-known calligrapher in Iraq. He was even a teacher at the University of Mosul. Here in the west, callig-

It is interesting to see how the view of art that newcomers bring with them challenges ours their former countries – whether at a professional or amateur level – an opportunity to continue their artistic development.” Practising art in the west can be quite different from other places in the world. “We hope to give newcomers a stepping stone into artistic circles here in Brussels and across Belgium. They can work here, and we try to find ways to show their work to the public.” Globe Aroma is not the only art project that aims to build bridges with newcomers, but the difference lies in accessibility and an openness towards refugees – no matter what their artistic skills might be.

raphy is not regarded as an art, but more as a handicraft. It is interesting to see how the view of art that newcomers bring with them challenges ours.” Joining the conversation is Omid, who was born in Iran but has Afghan roots and found his way to Globe Aroma in 2013 during his stay at the nearby asylum seekers’ reception centre Klein Kasteeltje. Omid plays the tabla, an Indian percussion instrument. “We founded a reggae group here and performed on many occasions in Brussels,” he says. “At the moment, my work and my studies have pushed my musical aspirations to the

background a bit, but I hope to find time again to play in the future.” Despite his busy schedule Omid is still active in Globe Aroma as a volunteer, which he says is a way for him to do something for the organisation that helped him find his way in a new country. “I know from my own experience how difficult it is to integrate. My first months in Belgium were hard. I stayed in Klein Kasteeltje and felt lost because I didn’t know anyone. At Globe Aroma, I found a new home. Here you are treated based on your value as a human being, not according to your legal status.” Not only does the organisation offer a workspace and exposure to newcomers, it reaches out to art enthusiasts among the refugee community. “Every month we organise 10 cultural activities for people who are currently staying at Klein Kasteeltje,” says Rochette. “We noticed that artists who are active at Globe Aroma seldom visit exhibitions or the theatre, even though Brussels has a lot to offer. So we decided to bridge that gap.” Newcomers are also encouraged to participate in the decision-making process at the organisation, she says, adding that it’s a way for them to help shape what the project does. “In essence, Globe Aroma wants to relate to newcomers as humans, not solely as refugees. People have a lot more to offer, and we want to give them the chance to do so. That way, we hope to help them to feel at home in a strange, new country.”

Flanders’ wild hamster threatened with extinction Flemish nature minister Joke Schauvliege has approved financing of €800,000 to save the region’s wild hamster, which is in danger of becoming extinct. The funding includes the appointment of a co-ordinator. Flanders’ last remaining wild hamsters all live in and around the village of Widooie, part of Tongeren in Limburg. According to estimates, fewer than 50 of the creatures remain, a number too few to guarantee survival. The hamster (pictured) was once common in the southern part of Flanders from © Katanski/Wikimedia

Leuven eastwards to the Dutch border, but numbers have been steadily declining. The rodent’s natural habitat is in the borders of fields, and modern agricultural practices – which make use of every centimetre of arable land – have reduced the margins in which they live. “Hamsters breed between June and September,” said Inge Nevelsteen of the regional land agency governing the Haspengouw and Voeren areas. “If the grain is harvested early, they lost their protective ground cover and become an easy prey.” Nevelsteen has been named the region’s hamster co-ordinator, charged with the task of protecting existing numbers and,

if possible, helping the species recover. One method already being tried is growing alfalfa, which some grain farmers have agreed to plant once their initial crop has been harvested, to provide cover for hamsters during the breeding season. Farmers receive subsidies of up to €1,800 per hectare for taking part. Elsewhere, hamsters have been released into the wild in Leefdaal, part of Bertem in Flemish Brabant, in an attempt to seed the population. So far the effect has been minimal, said Nevelsteen. “Re-populating by itself is not effective. You first have to expand the habitat.” The aim of the current five-year programme is to expand the habitat around Widooie by five hectares, and ultimately to 25 hectares in total.

Heidi Klum line in Lidl this month It’s hard to imagine supermodel Heidi Klum shopping for togs at Lidl, but she did design a women’s fashion line for the discount supermarket, which hits the shelves on 18 September. The label was introduced by TV fashion guru Jani Kazaltzis and former Miss Belgium Julie Taton at an event in Brussels last week. The autumn collection includes trench coats, dresses, blouses, trousers, bomber jackets and shoes. There are also Klumdesigned accessories such as clutch bags and shawls. Everything costs between €7 and €35 apart from a biker vest that retails for €50. “It’s fashionable, well made and also wearable for every kind of woman,” Kazaltzis said. “This is fashion that looks good on everyone and offers different kinds of looks for every taste.”

Mondriaan in Bozar was a fake The abstract painting by 20th-century Dutch artist Piet Mondriaan that was included in an exhibition dedicated to artist Theo van Doesburg last year at Bozar was a fake. The news broke last week as Léon Hanssen was preparing to publish his biography of Mondriaan. The painting was loaned to Bozar by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, which had in turned borrowed it from a private collector for an exhibition of its own. Hanssen, a cultural historian and writer, saw the painting at Bozar and knew at once it was a copy. Mondriaan’s original has not been seen since it was put in storage by the Nazis in the early 1940s. Bozar had also assisted the Amsterdam museum with costs involved in a restoration.

Africa museum restoration nearly complete The Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren is scheduled to re-open next June, at which time it will have been closed for more than four years for a comprehensive renovation. The works include a restoration of the museum building and a new visitors’ centre. It is also a scientific institute, and the buildings that house the labs have also been renovated. The vast collection of objects and documentation will now all be stored together in a new collection tower. The permanent exhibition is also being completely reworked, with more attention paid to Belgium’s painful colonial past. \ africamuseum.be

\ Alan Hope

\ 13

\ ARTS

Whatever doesn’t kill you Buurman singer on narrow escapes and new perspectives Christophe Verbiest More articles by Christophe \ flanderstoday.eu

BUURMAN.BE

Geert Verdickt, frontman of Limburg group Buurman, walked away from a serious car crash this year to record an album of prophetically titled songs.

“L

ast January my car was hit by a truck. It was just after rush hour,” says Geert Verdickt, singer and songwriter of the Limburg fivesome Buurman. “The car started spinning. It was thrown into the central reservation and bumped back on to the road. It’s a miracle I didn’t hit another car.” The vehicle was a write-off, but Verdickt survived without too much damage. “In the hospital, they examined me throughout the day, but in the evening I was allowed to go home. Nothing broken, nothing cracked.” But the doctors also told him that there would have been a point where his body “must have thought it was over. They warned me that I’d feel a reaction afterwards. And indeed, I had some difficult times later.” Buurman’s fourth, freshly released album, Dans & dwaal (Dance & Stray), contains songs with titles like “Alles wat je niet kapotmaakt” (“Everything That Doesn’t Destroy You”) and “Het maakt je sterker” (“It Makes You Stronger”). Was the album influenced by that horrible accident?

Dans & dwaal, the new album from Buurman, is an encouragement to look for the beauty in life

years, he has discovered. “I might have written it from the point of view of one character. And it might be that when I sing it years later, I see the story from the other

ways to react to that. You can be scared and draw in your horns, or you can make a fist and find the strength to surpass these strange things. If you want to voice these

Fiction attracts me less, because reality is much more interesting “We hadn’t yet recorded it,” Verdickt says, “but we had already written the songs. Though some of them might have changed slightly. And of course, just to sing a song like ‘Alles wat je niet kapotmaakt’ was a freaky experience. The power of that song is that everyone can see their own struggle in it. By being very personal, you can become universal.” Songs can also change over the

character’s perspective.” “Alles wat je niet kapot maakt” is the opening track of Dans & dwaal and it’s a surprising start to the album, since it’s dripping in soul and funk. “It’s a part of my musical personality. In the past, that groovy feeling just didn’t get on to our records,” says Verdickt. “I’m glad it has now. Strange things are happening in the world, and there are different

feelings, you automatically arrive at more powerful, fiery, brighter music.” And it’s not only the opening track that has a more uplifting side. “There’s a bright thread, a brilliance, running through the whole album, both lyrically and musically,” he says. Take the song “Gold Rush”. Even without hearing it, its title puts you in a particular mood. It’s something he knew he wanted

to have before he started the album, and this was the first time he’d had such a clear vision from the beginning. “I’m not sure why,” he says. “I’d guess because it’s already our fourth album and we’re more skilful.” The title Dans & dwaal is an encouragement, to look for the beauty in life and dare to be amazed. “And take your time to wander, to be inspired, to look around,” he says. “Often when I drive back home from a show at night, I go into Brussels instead of taking the ring road around it. Just to hang around and feast my eyes. I find it so inspiring.” He has discovered that when he’s searching for a solution, he might not always find it. “When I’m looking for that last line in the song lyrics, it often comes to me when I’m not thinking about it. It’s a state of mind I look out for.” That’s

the straying side of the album’s title.” In “Alles wat je niet kapotmaakt” Verdickt sings: “Op de rand van de vulkaan heffen wij het glas naar de maan.” (“On the edge of the volcano, we raise our glass to the moon.”) That sounds ominous. Verdickt: “Living on the edge can be dangerous. You can choose security and fly under the radar. That’s safe, yes. But I love an intense life. I don’t want to be part of the faceless masses.” Looking back to that accident, of course, it’s clear that destiny isn’t always in your own hands. Afterwards Verdickt wondered if he should slow down, or if he in fact wanted to do even more, because life can be over at any moment. “For a while I struggled with this choice,” he says. “In the end I decided to follow my gut feeling. Do what feels good. I’ve declined some offers for films, even the ones with a nice budget, because I didn’t feel the project.” Films, indeed. Because Verdickt has a day job besides the music: he makes documentaries, mainly in the Netherlands and Germany, for television and for companies. And he recently made a music video for Dutch singer Stef Bos, with whom he toured in South Africa. He’s won a few international prizes in Germany and has often been asked to give workshops and to speak at conventions. “But what I do with films boils down to the same point as my music: telling stories.” Could the next step be making a feature film? He hesitates. “Fiction attracts me less, because reality is much more interesting. Don’t get me wrong: I love to watch it. But as a filmmaker I need real life to be fully inspired.” Does this mean his songs are strongly rooted in reality, too? “Yes, they are. Most lyrics contain more non-fiction elements than most listeners would suspect,” he says. “There are a few exceptions, of course, but lyrics almost always start from something I hear, see or feel.”

More new music this week Triggerfinger Colossus • Mascot High-octane: it’s an adjective that could have been invented for the Antwerp threesome Triggerfinger. Their music just begs to be played at top volume. Their fifth studio album is filled with dirty rock songs: defiant guitars, thundering drums and pungent bass-

\ 14

lines. But the quieter moments are, as always, just as impressive; the melodic “Afterglow”, a psychedelic gem, for instance. Colossus was recorded in LA with producer Mitchell Froom and sound wizard Tchad Blake, two of the most respected names in the American music industry. \ triggerfinger.net

Louis Neefs 80 • Universal If he hadn’t died in a car crash on Christmas Day 1980, Louis Neefs would have turned 80 last August. The greatest Flemish voice of his generation (apologies to Will Tura), nicknamed the Flemish Sinatra, was as impressive with a full orchestra behind him (“Anne-

lies uit Sas van Gent”, “Oh oh ik heb zorgen”) as with an uncomplicated arrangement (“Sixteen Toons”). The sequencing of this double CD could have been better, but this is still a collection of great songs. And “Jennifer Jennings” is just the best antidote for the autumn blues.

Ne 302

\ AGENDA

september 13, 2017

Check your auto at the door

VISUAL ARTS

Car-Free Sunday 17 September

Brussels

Across Flanders and Brussels weekvandemobiliteit.be

on-essential traffic is banned from many Flemish towns and cities on 17 September for Car-Free Sunday, with a wide variety of events planned to help people to enjoy the streets. These range from concerts and street parties to initiatives encouraging cycling, walking and other sustainable forms of transport. Bruges has a particularly impressive programme this year, including the opening of a new visitors’ circuit at the Concertgebouw. This offers people a new way to explore the striking architecture of the performance hall and its collection of visual and acoustic art works. The opening day also features musical performances and workshops for the whole family. Other events in Bruges include a 5km run through the historic centre, walking and cycling routes of various lengths and a wheelchair

obstacle course. There are concerts, art events, a festival of mussels and oysters (on Vismarkt, of course) and dancing in the street. Antwerp’s car-free Sunday features a mobility market and car-sharing salon, exploring ways to travel more sustainably. There are also walking routes through the city, food stalls and concerts.

Ghent has similar attractions, plus the novelty of a car-free fly-over. For just one day, the B401 viaduct in the Zuid neighbourhood will be turned over to pedestrians and cyclists. Brussels meanwhile has bike circuses at Muntplein and locations in Laeken and Neder-OverHeembeek; a countryside festival and the BeChill music festival on at Paleizenplein and Warandepark; and street sports on the citycentre pedestrian zone. Among the smaller towns, Dendermonde stands out for the Boulevart festival of circus and street theatre, with around 20 acts appearing at locations around town. As well as acrobatics and clowning, there are more bizarre entries, such as Wasman, who walks the streets washing people’s hands, and the Sonate Jheronimo, whose massive instruments ride the river (pictured). \ Ian Mundell

EVENT

Forum Berlinale@Brussels

De Warande Openingsfeest

If you are the kind of person who looks askance at your friends’ blockbuster movie viewing choices, you will love Forum Berlinale@Brussels, a selection of films from the Berlin International Film Festival’s avant-garde section. These are movies that remind us that cinema is an art form. Among them are the Austrian documen-

Bozar, Brussels Bozar, Brussels

tary From a Year of Non-Events, which lives up to its name as it records the daily life of a longretired farmer over the course of year. El mar la mar, meanwhile, creates sheer poetry out of the excruciating trek across the Mexican desert to reach the promised land on the other side of Trump’s imaginary wall. \ Lisa Bradshaw

VISUAL ARTS

16-17 September

De Warande, Turnhout warande.be

De Warande celebrates the opening of its 13th season with a weekend of music, circus, theatre, dance, literature and more. Turnhout’s sprawling cultural campus takes advantage of all of its varied spaces – both indoors and out – to give visitors a taste of the 2017-18 programme. Among the headliners are French acrobatics troupes Cirque Rouages and Les P’tits Bras as well as Heavy Hoempa, a nine-piece Dutch marching band that performs hard rock standards. There are also markets and DJ parties. The festivities even spill over to the grounds of the neighbouring castle, where food trucks will be parked and ready. \ Georgio

Europe’s first festival devoted entirely to street photography was inaugurated last year in Brussels. Conceived by urban arts association Cakri, the event promotes street photography as a social and academic tool as well as an art form. This edition provides a platform for over 75 young photographers from around the world. The hub is the Ravenstein Gallery, where BSPF kicks off, where the finalists exhibit their work and where the prizes will be awarded. Other events, including a guest exhibition and several artist talks, are hosted by Muntpunt and other venues. Entry to most offerings is free. There’s a preview of all submitted photos on 16 September. \ GV

Across Brussels bspfestival.org

Rita McBride: Explorer: New and existing work by the American artist and sculptor who combines architecture and design with her signature humour and a keen eye for space and context. 15 September to 7 January, Wiels, Van Volxemlaan 354 \ wiels.org

PERFORMANCE get tic

Kathy Griffin: The American comedian famous for her no-holds-barred brand of storytelling, breaking down pop and political culture, especially where it concerns the US president. 16 November 19.00, Arenberg Theatre, Arenbergstraat 28

FAMILY Brussels Medieval Festival: Event for all ages, with stands run by knights in armour, maidens and farmers, acrobats and minstrels, artisans and makers of mead, cider and other products from the middle ages, in addition to weaponry demonstrations, musical performances and more. 16-18 September, Vorst Abbey, Sint-Denijsplein 9 \ vorst.irisnet.be

Valentino

TALK

PERFORMANCE

Ghent

16 September, 20.30 Los Angeles-based performance artist Anna Homler made waves in the 1980s with a series of interventions as the wryly pagan Breadwoman, a costumed character who fused quasi-shamanistic chants with live electro-acoustic treatments. A cassette tape of vintage Breadwoman performing with late composer Steve Moshier was reissued last year to great acclaim.

kets n ow

\ livecomedy.be

Brussels Street Photography Festival Anna Homler 16 Sep, 6-8 Oct

\ bozar.be

Antwerp

FILM 18-19 September

EU Mies Award: Presentation of the best European architecture projects realised in the last two years, selected from the results of the EU Mies Award, a prestigious biennial competition. Until 22 October, Bozar, Ravensteinstraat 23

Ateliers Claus, Brussels lesateliersclaus.com

Homler followed up the act with the international and transdisciplinary collective Pharmacia Poetica. The group has been invited to Brussels to stage its latest work, Weather, in which Homler makes improvised sounds on toys while German sound artist Will Saunders plays glass bottles and video artist Hans Diernberger projects visuals. \ GV

Positief agressief: Authors Marjan Gryson and Veerle De Waele present their book Positief agressief (Positive Aggressive), while 10 speakers discuss the role anger has played in their lives and work. Raymond van het Groenewoud provides the music. (in Dutch) 19 September 19.3023.30, De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1 \ vzwtouche.be

FOOD&DRINK Brussels Brussels Cocktail Week: First edition of the event dedicated to spirits and talented bartenders, with food and cocktail pairings, tastings and guest bartending sessions. Until 17 September, across Brussels \ bit.ly/brusselsCW17

\ 15

\ BACKPAGE

september 13, 2017

Talking Dutch

VoiceS of flanders today

Let them eat cake

In response to: Antwerp doughnut shop wows crowds with one simple trick Krisztina FehĂŠr: We have shops with square doughnuts since years in Hungary! đ&#x;˜‰ So itâ€™s nothing new for me...

Derek Blyth More articles by Derek \ flanderstoday.eu

um yum. Flemish TV channel Vier has just launched its own version of the immensely successful UK baking show The Great British Bake Off. But will it work in Flanders, where cakes are normally bought on a Sunday morning at the local banketbakkerij â€“ patisserie? They tried once before a few years ago, with De Meesterbakker â€“ The Master Baker. But it sank like an unsuccessful first attempt at a soufflĂŠ. This time, genial Flemish actor Wim Opbrouck has been picked to host the show, which airs every Wednesday. Hij is op zoek naar de meest getalenteerde thuisbakker van Vlaanderen â€“ Heâ€™s searching for the most talented amateur baker in Flanders. The programme is filmed in the beautiful grounds of Kasteel van Schoten â€“ Schoten Castle, with the judging done by Brussels pastry chef Herman Van Dender and food writer Regula Ysewijn, author of a bestselling history of English puddings. The TV critics couldnâ€™t wait to get their teeth into the sweet new offering. Would it be as tasty as the original? Or would it turn out to have a soggy bottom? Britten zijn nu eenmaal beter in sommige dingen â€“ The British are simply better than us at certain things, said De Standaard. Humor, televisie maken en taart bakken â€“ Humour, TV programmes and baking cakes. But Bake Off Vlaanderen was a success nonetheless, he concluded. Gelukkig hebben ze bij Vier wĂŠl het verstand gehad om voor een regelrechte kopie te gaan â€“ Happily, the people at Vier have had the good sense to go for a straightforward copy. Die grote witte tent! â€“ That big white tent! Die sprookjesachtige tuin! â€“ The fairytale garden! Die muziekjes! â€“

In response to: Second sinkhole in Brussels sees evacuation and damage to rail line Kevin Patteet: Oh, that will take several years to fix

The music! Tot in de kleinste details herkenden we de stilistische tierlantijntjes van het origineel â€“ We recognise all the fancy little trimmings of the original, right down to the smallest details. And Opbrouck fits the role perfectly. Hij lijkt wel Winnie de Poeh die een programma over honing mag presenteren â€“ Itâ€™s just like Winnie the Pooh presenting a programme about honey. Bake Off Vlaanderen didnâ€™t please everyone, though. The Gazet van Antwerpen was worried about the waste. Met tien kandidaten â€“ With 10 candidates die elk een rolcake, een savarin en een â€œverrassingscakeâ€™â€™ moesten klaarmaken â€“ who were each required to prepare a Swiss roll, a savarin and a â€œsurprise cakeâ€?, leverde de eerste aflevering van heel veel cake op â€“ the first episode produced a lot of cake. Dertig cakes in ĂŠĂŠn aflevering â€“ Thirty cakes in one episode. Wie eet dat allemaal op? â€“ Whoâ€™s going to eat all that? And the final verdict? Het was goed gebaakt, zonder meer â€“ it was well baked, but thatâ€™s all. Maybe it needs just a few more minutes in the oven.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

In response to: Pedestrian zone works start this month Ric Baker: Blue stones? This doesnâ€™t surprise me, theyâ€™re actually grey

Luke Russell @lukeRussell1992 From leuven back to leicester and we are ready for @ChelseaFC good match prep with @s10_ent and @aoakesy #PremierLeague #grounds #grass

TravMonkey @TravMonkey Who knew #Ghent had a Graffiti Street? #visitflanders

Alex Johnson @Ah_johns Empty shelves in @marksandspencer Brussels #Brexit is really happening...

LIKE US

facebook.com/flanderstoday

the last word Devilâ€™s advocate

â€œNormally I donâ€™t react to false reports about me, but this time they crossed a line.â€? Red Devil Marouane Fellaini, who plays for Manchester United, is suing the British tabloid The Sun for reporting that he went on a date with Everton player Wayne Rooneyâ€™s former girlfriend, which apparently never happened

Sweetness and light â€œBe honest, it gets on your nerves if somebody is way too friendly and happy. Thereâ€™s something suspect about it.â€?

ÂŠ Courtesy Herita

LADIES WHO LUNCH Women in period costume at the Winter Gardens in Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Waver, near Mechelen, as part of this yearâ€™s Open Monument Day. The annual celebration of the regionâ€™s heritage involves hundreds of special events at sites across Flanders

Former singer and TV presenter Ingeborg Sergeant is making a musical comeback with a new CD, having devoted most of her time over the last 20 years to her meditation and yoga centre in Bruges

Speech impediment

â€œYou wouldnâ€™t think it was possible. Even the cashiers in the Brussels area have to be bilingual. Employing a CEO who doesnâ€™t speak the language of half of his staff is a clear insult to the Belgian character of Delhaize.â€? Jan De Weghe of retail union BBTK on the new CEO of supermarket chain Delhaize, Xavier Piesvaux, who is French and speaks no Dutch

Road map â€œWe have to show our children the way in the online world. We make them first get a driving licence before letting them out on the motorway, after all.â€? Psychiatrist Lieve Swinnen and social media guru Stefaan Lammertyn have published the book #Help! Mijn kind leeft online (Help! My Child Lives Online)

5ELNGFR*bbgbcg+[D\R \ 16