Detailed information on 259 Famous Belgians !
Latest additions to the list :
Luc Vandevelde, Chairman of Marks and Spencer The following medal winners from Sydney 2000 have also been added : Etienne De Wilde, Matthew Gilmore, Filip Meirhaege, Els Callens, Dominique Van Roost and Ann Simons.
Bernard Van Hool, founder of international coachbuilder Van Hool NV
Edward de Smedt, chemist and inventor of modern-day road asphalt
Raymond Ceulemans, 17 times world champion in billiards
Adolphe Quetelet, mathematician and inventor of the Body Mass Index
Toots Thielemans, world famous Jazz musician
Helmut Lotti, international pop singer
The Singing Nun, famous for her US No 1 hit "Dominique"
What is behind this world-wide perception that there are no famous Belgians ? In most cases, people have heard of the names but will swear to you that they are either French or Dutch. Other people remain convinced that Belgium has never produced anyone significant. They will tell you that Belgium is famous for its products, rather than its people, and therefore they will tend to be more enthusiastic about Belgian beer and chocolates.
We probably could have survived without TinTin, Hercule Poirot or Manneke Pis but what about the saxophone, the internal combustion engine, the stroboscope, bakelite, the electric railway or the dynamo ? These are all Belgian inventions which have had a very significant impact on civilisation over the years.
Belgians have been shaping the world in many areas. The Nobel Prize for Peace has been won by Belgians three times. Albert Claude was the first scientist to isolate a cancer cell and Georges Lemaitre provided us with the Big Bang theory. Father Damien is well-known in America for his work in a leper colony on the island of Molokai in Hawaii where he eventually died of the disease. The Vatican has confirmed that he will be made a Saint. Since Belgium's independence in 1830 and before, Belgians have been influencing and promoting the arts, science, sport, religion, peace, music, literature and industry.
For a small country which has only been around for 174 years, I think you'll agree, we haven't made a bad start. So next time someone asks you "the question", send them on a Famous Belgian refresher course and refer them to this website. Or print a copy of my list and do what hundreds of other patriotic Belgians and sympathisers have already done - hang the full list up in the toilets or on the notice board at work !
Thank you for visiting,
Marc Tielemans
Let me know what you think ! The last update to these pages was on 2 March 2004.
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