List of Belgians
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This is a list of notable
Belgian people Belgians ( nl, Belgen; french: Belges; german: Belgier) are people identified with the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe. As Belgium is a multinational state, this connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultu ...
who either: * are or were Belgian citizens at least for sometime in their life, * were born in Belgium or in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but who were not or are not Belgian citizens (either because Belgium did not exist at the time of their life or because they had or have another citizenship). The names of people of this category are ''italicized''. The list also comprises *
fictional characters In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
who are undisputedly Belgians * important ones whose citizenship is unknown, or not Belgian and with Belgian creators. The names of fictional characters of this category are ''italicized''. ''The same person may appear under several headings.''


Artists & Writers

*
Nicolas Ancion Nicolas Ancion is a Belgian writer born in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, in 1971. His parents were professional puppeteers. Writer He writes fiction for adults, young adults and children and is the author of several theater plays and poetry collec ...
(born 1971) * Gentil Theodoor Antheunis (1840–1907) * Pieter Aspe (1953–2021) *
Henry Bauchau Henry Bauchau (22 January 1913 – 21 September 2012) was a Belgian psychoanalyst, lawyer, and author of French prose and poetry. Biography Henry Bauchau was born in Mechelen, Belgium on 22 January 1913. He became a trial lawyer in Brussels i ...
(1913–2012) * Jean-Marie Berckmans (1953–2008) *
Anton Bergmann Anton Bergmann ( Lier, 29 June 1835 – Lier, 21 January 1874) was a Belgian writer and a liberal Flemish activist. Already during his youth he was fond of Dutch literature, and together with Julius Vuylsteke, he was a member of 't zal wel gaa ...
(1835–1874) * Hendrik Beyaert (1823–1894) * Philipp Blommaert (1809–1871) *
Louis Paul Boon Louis Paul Boon (15 March 1912, in Aalst – 10 May 1979, in Erembodegem) was a Belgian writer of novels, poetry, pornography, columns and art criticism. He was also a painter. He is best known for the novels ''My Little War'' (1947), the diptych ...
(1912–1979) * Cris Brodahl (born 1963) * Elisa Brune (born 1966) *
Herman Brusselmans Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans (; born 9 October 1957) is a Belgian novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent. He is one of the best-selling authors in Flanders, but controversial at the same time for his profane language and ...
(born 1957) *
Cyriel Buysse Cyriel may refer to: *Cyriel Barbary (1899–2004), the last known Belgian veteran of the First World War * Cyriel Buysse (1859–1932), Flemish naturalist author and playwright * Cyriel Coupe (1918–1998) (pseudonym Anton van Wilderode), Belgian ...
(1859–1932) *
Emile Cammaerts Emil or Emile may refer to: Literature *''Emile, or On Education'' (1762), a treatise on education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau * ''Émile'' (novel) (1827), an autobiographical novel based on Émile de Girardin's early life *''Emil and the Detective ...
(1878–1953) *
Sophie Cauvin Sophie Cauvin (born 2 April 1968 in Braine-l'Alleud) is a Belgian painter. Personal background Sophie Cauvin was born on 2 April 1968 in Braine-l'Alleud, Walloon Brabant, Belgium. She studied at The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of ...
(born 1968) *
Ernest Claes Andreas Ernestus Josephus Claes (24 October 1885 in Zichem – 2 September 1968 in Elsene) was a Belgian author. He is best known for his regional novels, including ''De Witte'' ("Whitey"), which was the source material for the first Flemish mov ...
(1885–1968) *
Hugo Claus Hugo Maurice Julien Claus (; 5 April 1929 – 19 March 2008) was a leading Belgian literature, Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, the novel, a ...
(1929–2008) * Hendrik Conscience (1812–1883) *
Julio Cortázar Julio Florencio Cortázar (26 August 1914 – 12 February 1984; ) was an Argentine, nationalized French novelist, short story writer, essayist, and translator. Known as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, Cortázar influenced an ...
Argentinian Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or ( feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, ...
writer born in Brussels *
Joanna Courtmans Joanna Courtmans, born Joanna-Desideria Berchmans (6 September 1811 – 22 September 1890), was a Flemish writer. Biography Her father was mayor of Oudegem, and she spent her first years at the local village school, later at the age of 9, she wa ...
(1811–1890) *
Fernand Crommelynck Fernand Crommelynck (19 November 1886 – 17 March 1970) was a Belgian dramatist. His work is known for farces in which commonplace weaknesses are developed into monumental obsessions. Biography He was born into a family of actors, the child ...
*
Albéric d'Auxy Count Albéric François Philippe d'Auxy de Launois (1836—1914) was a Belgian historian, archaeologist, and art collector. Life Auxy was born in Mons on 29 July 1836, the son of Edouard Eugène d'Auxy. He became an expert on the history and anti ...
*
Johan Daisne Johan Daisne was the pseudonym of Flemish author Herman Thiery (2 September 1912 – 9 August 1978). Born in Ghent, Belgium, he attended the Koninklijk Atheneum before studying Economics and Slavic languages at Ghent University, receiving his do ...
*
Jacques Danois Jacques Danois, pseudonym of Jacques Maricq (11 September 1927 – 20 September 2008), was a reporter and writer who was director of information at Unicef. He was born in Brussels. Upon retirement, he became Secretary General, then Vice-Preside ...
(1927–2008) *
Johan Michiel Dautzenberg Johan Michiel Dautzenberg (6 December 1808, in Heerlen – 4 February 1869, in Elsene) was a Belgian writer. Professionally he was successively secretary, clerk, teacher, private tutor, and bookkeeper. He wrote poems on nature, songs, novels, po ...
(1808–1869) * Herman de Coninck (1944–1997) *
Charles De Coster Charles-Theodore-Henri De Coster (20 August 1827 – 7 May 1879) was a Belgian novelist whose efforts laid the basis for a native Belgian literature. Early life and education He was born in Munich; his father, Augustin De Coster, was a nativ ...
(1827–1879) * Julius de Geyter (1830–1905) *
Xaveer De Geyter Xaveer De Geyter (born 1957) is a Belgian architect. De Geyter was born in Doornik, Belgium. He spent ten years at office for metropolitan architecture with Rem Koolhaas, where he worked on projects such as the Villa dall'ava in Paris, " ur ...
(born 1957) *
Michel De Ghelderode Michel de Ghelderode (born Adémar Adolphe Louis Martens, 3 April 1898 – 1 April 1962) was an avant-garde Belgian dramatist, from Flanders, who spoke and wrote in French. His works often deal with the extremes of human experience, from death an ...
(1898–1962) * Lodewijk de Koninck (1838–1924) *
Gilbert Delahaye Gilbert Delahaye (19 March 1923 – 6 December 1997) was a Belgian author. He is best known for the ''Martine'' books, a series of illustrated children's stories he prepared with artist Marcel Marlier. In popular culture His book, ''Marti ...
* Patricia de Martelaere * Pol de Mont (1857–1931) * Filip De Pillecyn (1891–1962) * Paul De Wispelaere * Christine D'Haen * Neel Doff (1858–1942) *
Maria Doolaeghe Maria Doolaeghe (25 October 1803 – 7 April 1884) was a Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Fl ...
(1803–1884) * Gaston Durnez (1928–2019) *
Georges Eekhoud Georges Eekhoud (27 May 1854 – 29 May 1927) was a Belgian novelist of Flemish descent, but writing in French. Eekhoud was a regionalist best known for his ability to represent scenes from rural and urban daily life. He tended to portray the ...
*
Willem Elsschot Alphonsus Josephus de Ridder (7 May 1882 – 31 May 1960), was a Belgian writer and poet who wrote under the pseudonym Willem Elsschot (). One of the most prominent Flemish authors, his most famous work, ''Cheese'' (1933) is the most translated ...
*
Jef Geeraerts Jozef Adriaan Anna Geeraerts (23 February 1930 – 11 May 2015), better known as Jef Geeraerts, was a Belgian writer. Geeraerts was born in Antwerp. After his studies in political and administrative sciences at the Colonial University of Belgiu ...
*
Guido Gezelle Guido Pieter Theodorus Josephus Gezelle (1 May 1830 – 27 November 1899) was an influential writer and poet and a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium. He is famous for the use of the West Flemish dialect. Life Gezelle was born in Bruges in ...
*
Marnix Gijsen Marnix Gijsen (20 October 1899 – 29 September 1984) was a Belgian writer. His real name was Joannes Alphonsius Albertus Goris; his pseudonym relates to Marnix van Sint Aldegonde and the surname of his mother (Gijsen). Early years Gijsen ...
(1899–1984) *
Maurice Gilliams Maurice, Baron Gilliams (Antwerp, 20 July 1900-Antwerp, 18 October 1982) was a Flemish writer and poet. Life and work Gilliams was the son of printer Frans Gilliams, and he learned to be a typographer. On 27 August 1935, he married Gabriëlle Ba ...
* Germain Joseph Hallez *
Paul Hankar Paul Hankar (11 December 1859 – 17 January 1901) was a Belgian architect and furniture designer, and an innovator in the Art Nouveau style. Career Hankar was born at Frameries, in Hainaut, Belgium, the son of a stonemason. He studied at th ...
(1859–1901) * Jacqueline Harpman *
Kristien Hemmerechts Kristien Hemmerechts (born 27 August 1955) is a Belgian writer. Life Kristien Hemmerechts studied Germanic philology at the ''Katholieke Universiteit Brussel'' (KUB) and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL). Afterwards, she studied litera ...
*
Stefan Hertmans Stefan Hertmans (born 1951 in Ghent, Belgium) is a Flemish Belgian writer. He was head of a study centre at University College Ghent and affiliated researcher of the Ghent University. He won the Ferdinand Bordewijk Prijs in 2002 for the novel ...
*
Victor Horta Victor Pierre Horta (; Victor, Baron Horta after 1932; 6 January 1861 – 8 September 1947) was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. His Hôtel Tassel in Brussels, built in 1892–93, is often ...
(1861–1947) – architect and designer * Henry Kistemaeckers – novelist, and playwright (1872–1938) *
Hubert Lampo Hubert Leon Lampo (Antwerp, 1 September 1920 – Essen, 12 July 2006) was a Flemish writer, one of the founders of magic realism in Flanders. His most famous book is '' De komst van Joachim Stiller'' ("The coming of Joachim Stiller", 1960), in w ...
* Tom Lanoye * Victor Leclercq * Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck (1805–1847) *
Camille Lemonnier Antoine Louis Camille Lemonnier (24 March 1844 – 13 June 1913) was a Belgian writer, poet and journalist. He was a member of the Symbolist ''La Jeune Belgique'' group, but his best known works are realist. His first work was ''Salon de Bruxelle ...
* Suzanne Lilar – essayist, novelist, and playwright (1901–1992) *
Rosalie Loveling Rosalie Loveling (20 March 1834 – 4 May 1875) was a Flemish author of poetry, novels, and essays. Biography Rosalie Loveling was born in Nevele, Belgium, and was the older sister of Virginie Loveling, also an author, with whom she co-wrote ...
(1834–1875) * Virginie Loveling (1836–1923) *
Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck (29 August 1862 – 6 May 1949), also known as Count (or Comte) Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who was Flemish but wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in ...
Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...
1911 * Marcel Mariën
surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...
* Bob Mendes *
Pierre Mertens Pierre Mertens (born 9 October 1939) is a Belgian French-speaking writer and lawyer who specializes in international law, director of the Centre de sociologie de la littérature at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and literary critic with the ...
* Henri Michaux – poet and painter *
Ivo Michiels Henri Paul René Ceuppens (8 January 1923 – 7 October 2012), who wrote under the pseudonym Ivo Michiels, was a Belgian writer. Biography Michiels was born in Mortsel. During World War II he was employed as a nurse in a hospital in Lübeck ...
* Léonard Misonne (1870–1943) – photographer, a founder of Pictorialism *
Erwin Mortier Erwin Mortier (born 28 November 1965) is a Dutch-language Belgian author. Spending his youth in Hansbeke, he later moved to nearby Ghent, where he became city poet (2005–2006). He wrote as a columnist for newspapers like '' De Morgen'' and ...
– novelist, essayist, poet *
Alice Nahon Alice Nahon (16 August 1896 – 21 May 1933) was a Belgian poet from Antwerp. Biography Alice Nahon was born in Antwerp on 23 August 1896. She was the third child in a family of eleven children. Her father, Gerard L. Nahon, was born in the Net ...
*
Leonard Nolens Leon Helena Sylvain Nolens (born 11 April 1947 in Bree), pseudonym Leonard Nolens, is a Belgian poet and diary writer. He graduated from the ''Hoger Instituut voor Vertalers en Tolken'' in Antwerp. Nolens lives and works in Antwerp. Themes in hi ...
*
Amélie Nothomb Baroness Fabienne Claire Nothomb (), better known by her pen name Amélie Nothomb (; born 13 August 1967),''État présent de la noblesse belge'', éditions of 1979, 1995 and 2010. Her birth is announced in n° 87, aout 1967, p. 340 of the ''Bull ...
* Pierre Nothomb * Paul Nougé
surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...
* Octave Pirmez *
Charles Plisnier Charles Plisnier (13 December 1896, Ghlin – 17 July 1952, Brussels) was a Belgian writer from Wallonia. Biography He was a Communist in his youth and briefly belonged to the Trotskyist movement in the late 1920s. He disavowed communism, ...
– Prix Goncourt 1937 * Sophie Podolski (1953–1974) * Anne Provoost * Jean Ray (pseudonym for Raymundus Joannes de Kremer) (1887–1964) * Frans Rens (1805–1874) *
Albrecht Rodenbach Albertus "Albrecht" Petrus Josephus Mansuetus Ferdinandus Rodenbach (; 27 October 1856 – 23 June 1880) was a Flemish poet, and a leader in the revival of Flemish literature that occurred in the late 19th century. He is more noteworthy as a sy ...
*
Georges Rodenbach Georges Raymond Constantin Rodenbach (16 July 1855 – 25 December 1898) was a Belgian Symbolist poet and novelist. Biography Georges Rodenbach was born in Tournai to a French mother and a German father from the Rhineland (Andernach). He was ...
– Symbolist poet and novelist * Maria Rosseels (1916–2005) *
Ward Ruyslinck Raymond De Belser (17 June 1929 – 3 October 2014), pseudonym Ward Ruyslinck, was a Belgian writer. He is the son of Leo De Belser and Germaine Nauwelaers. His father was a librarian at an oil company, and Ward Ruyslinck grew up in a Roman Catho ...
*
Paul Saintenoy Paul Saintenoy (19 June 1862 – 18 July 1952) was a Belgian architect, teacher, architectural historian, and writer. Family ] Born in 1862 in Ixelles, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium, Saintenoy was the son of the architect Gustave Sainte ...
(1862–1952) *
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy Gustave Serrurier-Bovy (1858–1910) was a Belgian architect and furniture designer. He is credited (along with Paul Hankar, Victor Horta and Henry van de Velde) with creating the Art Nouveau style, coined as a style in Paris by art dealer S ...
(1858–1910) * Georges Simenon (1903–1989) *
Jan Lambrecht Domien Sleeckx Jan Lambrecht Domien Sleeckx or Dominicus Jan Lambrecht (Antwerp, 2 February 1818 – Liège, 13 October 1901), was a Flemish writer. He started his career as a notary clerk and a journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gather ...
(1818–1901) * Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert (1809–1872) *
August Snieders August Snieders (Bladel, 8 May 1825 – Brussels, 19 November 1904) was a Flemish journalist and writer. He started his career in 's-Hertogenbosch, but later moved to Antwerp. In 1845, he became editor of the newspaper ''Het Handelsblad'', of w ...
(1825–1904) * Jan Renier Snieders (1812–1888) *
Reimond Stijns Reimond Stijns (10 May 1850, in Mullem – 12 December 1905, in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek) was a Belgian writer. He started his professional career as a teacher in 1870, first in Bevere (Oudenaarde), and afterwards back in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. In 1883 ...
(1850–1905) *
Gustave Strauven Gustave Strauven (23 June 1878 – 19 March 1919) was a Belgian architect of the Art Nouveau style. He created more than 30 buildings, using new technologies and incorporating wrought iron floral motifs. Biography Gustave Strauven was born in ...
(1878–1919) *
Stijn Streuvels Stijn Streuvels (3 October 1871, Heule, Kortrijk - 15 August 1969, Ingooigem, Anzegem), born Franciscus (Frank) Petrus Maria Lateur, was a Flemish Belgian writer. Biography He started writing at a very young age. He was inspired by his uncle, ...
*
Christophe Szpajdel Christophe Szpajdel (; born 29 September 1970) is a Belgian-born international calligraphist and illustrator, principally known for designing band logos. Life Szpajdel was born on 29 September 1970 in Gembloux, Namur, Belgium, and grew up in ...
(born 1970) *
Herman Teirlinck Herman Louis Cesar Teirlinck (Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, 24 February 1879 – Beersel-Lot, 4 February 1967) was a Belgian writer. He was the fifth child and only son of Isidoor Teirlinck and Oda van Nieuwenhove, who were both teachers in Brussels. As ...
*
Isidoor Teirlinck Isidoor Teirlinck ( Zegelsem, 2 January 1851 - Forest, Brussels, 27 June 1934) was a Belgian writer. He is best known for his work on folklore. Isidoor Teirlinck went to school in Lier. He married with Oda van Nieuwenhove and he was the father o ...
(1851–1934) * Jotie T'Hooft *
Felix Timmermans Leopold Maximiliaan Felix Timmermans (5 July 1886 – 24 January 1947) is a much translated author from Flanders. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times. Life Timmermans was born in the Belgian city of Lier, as the thi ...
* Jan van Beers (1852–1927) *
Jos Vandeloo Josephus Albertus "Jos" Vandeloo (5 September 1925 – 5 October 2015) was a Belgian writer and poet. Biography He grew up in a mining family from Zonhoven and graduated as a chemist for the mining industry. After the war he started working in ...
*
Walter van den Broeck Walter Stefaan Karel van den Broeck (born 28 March 1941 in Olen) is a Belgian writer and playwright. He graduated as a teacher in Dutch and History ( Lier), and he started his career as a teacher. In 1965, he founded the magazine '' Heibel'' ...
*
Henry Van de Velde Henry Clemens van de Velde (; 3 April 1863 – 15 October 1957) was a Belgian painter, architect, interior designer, and art theorist. Together with Victor Horta and Paul Hankar, he is considered one of the founders of Art Nouveau in Belgium.' ...
(1863–1957) *
Karel van de Woestijne Carolus Petrus Eduardus Maria "Karel" van de Woestijne (; Ghent, 10 March 1878 – Zwijnaarde, 24 August 1929) was a Flemish writer and brother of the painter Gustave van de Woestijne. He went to highschool at the ''Koninklijk Athenaeum'' (E:Roya ...
* Prudens van Duyse (1804–1859) *
Raoul Vaneigem Raoul Vaneigem (; born 21 March 1934) is a Belgian writer known for his 1967 book ''The Revolution of Everyday Life''. He was born in Lessines ( Hainaut, Belgium) and studied romance philology at the Free University of Brussels from 1952 to 1 ...
* Peter Frans Van Kerckhoven (1818–1857) *
Jacob van Maerlant Jacob van Maerlant (c. 1230–40 – c. 1288–1300) was a Flemings, Flemish poet of the 13th century and one of the most important Middle Dutch authors during the Middle Ages. Biography Jacob van Maerlant was born near Bruges ...
*
Jacques van Melkebeke Jacques Van Melkebeke (12 December 1904 – 8 June 1983) was a Belgian painter, journalist, writer, and comic strip writer. He was the first chief editor of Tintin magazine and wrote scripts and articles anonymously for many of their publicatio ...
*
Paul Van Ostaijen Paul van Ostaijen (22 February 1896 – 18 March 1928) was a Belgian Dutch-language poet and writer. Nickname Van Ostaijen was born in Antwerp to Dutch father and Flemish mother. His nickname was ''Mister 1830'', derived from his habit of walk ...
*
Bob Van Reeth Bob Van Reeth (Temse, 26 February 1943), who usually signs as bOb Van Reeth, is a Belgian architect. Biography Bob Van Reeth started working as an architect in 1965 with designing buildings in Mechelen and Kalmthout. In 1972, he became a teacher ...
(born 1943) * Jan Theodoor van Rijswijck (1811–1849) * Anton van Wilderode (1918–1998) *
Emile Verhaeren Emil or Emile may refer to: Literature *'' Emile, or On Education'' (1762), a treatise on education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau * ''Émile'' (novel) (1827), an autobiographical novel based on Émile de Girardin's early life *'' Emil and the Detecti ...
*
Peter Verhelst Peter Verhelst (born 28 January 1962) is a Belgian Flemish people, Flemish novelist, poet and dramatist. He won the Ferdinand Bordewijk Prijs for ''Tongkat''. Life Peter Verhelst was born in Bruges, Belgium. In his youth, he was extremely inte ...
*
Dimitri Verhulst Dimitri Verhulst (born 2 October 1972) is a Belgian writer and poet. He is best known for his novels ''Problemski Hotel'' and ''The Misfortunates''. Biography Verhulst was an unwanted child in a violent home and spent his later childhood in a f ...
*
August Vermeylen August Vermeylen (12 May 1872, in Brussels – 10 January 1945, in Uccle) was a Belgian writer and literature critic. In 1893 he founded the literary journal '' Van Nu en Straks'' (''Of Today and Tomorrow''). He studied history at the Free Univ ...
(1872–1945) *
Henri Vernes Charles-Henri-Jean Dewisme (16 October 1918 – 25 July 2021), better known by his pen name Henri Vernes (), was an author of action and science fiction novels. He published over 200 titles in the action and science-fiction genre. He was most ...
* Jules Wabbes (1919–1974) *
Gerard Walschap Jacob Lodewijk Gerard, Baron Walschap (Londerzeel-St. Jozef, 9 July 1898 – Antwerp, 25 October 1989), was a Belgian writer. Early life He went to ''highschool'' at the ''Klein seminarie'' in Hoogstraten, and later in Asse. His Flemish awarene ...
* François Weyergans * Jan Frans Willems (1793–1846) *
Marguerite Yourcenar Marguerite Yourcenar (, , ; born Marguerite Antoinette Jeanne Marie Ghislaine Cleenewerck de Crayencour; 8 June 1903 – 17 December 1987) was a Belgian-born French novelist and essayist, who became a US citizen in 1947. Winner of the ''Prix Fem ...
– French novelist born in Belgium


Businesspeople and economists

* Luc Bertrand *
Philippus Jacobus Brepols Philippus Jacobus Brepols (1778 – 1845) was a Belgian publisher and founder of the Brepols printing family-business in Turnhout, Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in ...
(1778–1845) * John Cockerill *
Marc Coucke Marc Coucke (born 27 January 1965) is a Belgian businessman, multimillionaire and media figure. Founder of former BEL20 pharmaceutical company Omega Pharma, he has spread his business interests across several sectors including art, through his ...
*
Étienne Davignon Étienne, Count Davignon (born 4 October 1932 in Budapest, Hungary) is a Belgian politician, businessman, and former vice-president of the European Commission. Career After receiving a Doctorate of Law from the Catholic University of Louvai ...
* Gustave de Molinari – economist *
Édouard-Jean Empain Édouard-Jean, 3rd Baron Empain (7 October 1937 – 21 June 2018) was a French people, French-Belgium, Belgian industrialist, best known by the general public for his kidnapping in 1978. Between 1969 and 1981, Baron Empain was CEO of the Sch ...
* Édouard Louis Joseph Empain *
George Arthur Forrest George Arthur Forrest (born 1940) is a Belgian entrepreneur, owner of the Forrest Group (''Groupe Forrest''), a group of companies founded in the Belgian Congo in 1922 and active in wind power and hydroelectric energy, construction, mines and meta ...
*
Albert Frère Albert, Baron Frère (4 February 1926 – 3 December 2018) was a Belgian billionaire businessman. Early life Frère grew up as a son of a nail merchant and helped in the business since an early age. His father died when Frère was 17; Frère ha ...
– self made businessman *
Alexandre Galopin Alexandre Galopin (26 September 1879 – 28 February 1944) was a Belgian businessman notable for his role in German-occupied Belgium during World War II. Galopin was director of the Société Générale de Belgique, a major Belgian company, and ...
(1879–1944) – director of the
Société Générale de Belgique The ' ( nl, Generale Maatschappij van België; literally "General Company of Belgium") was a large Belgian bank and later holdings company which existed between 1822 and 2003. The ''Société générale'' was originally founded as an investm ...
*
Silvio Gesell Johann Silvio Gesell (; 17 March 1862 – 11 March 1930) was a German-Argentine economist, merchant, and the founder of Freiwirtschaft, an economic model for market socialism. In 1900 he founded the magazine ''Geld-und Bodenreform'' (''Monetary ...
*
Lieven Gevaert Lieven Gevaert (28 May 1868 – 2 February 1935) was a Flemish industrialist. His father died when he was only three years old. He started his career in the company he founded together with his mother in 1889, which produced photographic paper ...
* Eric Ghysels * Jean-Pierre Hansen (born 1948) –
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of
Electrabel Electrabel SA is a Belgian energy corporation. It is a subsidiary of French multinational utility company Engie S.A. (formerly GDF Suez). History Electrabel was established in 1905. Its actual name originates from 1990, after the regrouping of t ...
*
Rob Heyvaert Rob Heyvaert is the managing partner of Motive Partners, an investment firm focused on technology companies in the financial services industry based in New York, US and London, UK and former CEO & founder of the Capital Markets Company (Capco). ...
– founder of Capco *
Georges Jacobs Georges, Count Jacobs de Hagen (born 1940) is a leading Belgian businessman. Jacobs obtained a PhD degree in Law (1962) and a licentiate in economics (1964) from the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Belgium). He also obtained a MA degree in e ...
*
André Leysen André Leysen (11 June 1927 – 11 July 2015) was a Belgian businessman. In 1951, he married Anne Ahlers, daughter of a shipping family from Bremen, Germany. Together they have four children: Bettina, Christian, Thomas, and Sabina. Career Main c ...
and his sons
Christian Leysen Christian Leysen (born 1954) is a Belgian businessman, and Chairman of the International Advisory board of Antwerp Management School, who developed several Belgian ventures to large international companies. Biography Born in Wilrijk as son of ...
and
Thomas Leysen Thomas Leysen (born 1960) is a Belgian entrepreneur who graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with a degree in law. Career Leysen spent a large part of his career at Umicore (formerly Union Minière), which was transformed under hi ...
* Maurice Lippens * Alfred Lowenstein (1877–1928), soldier, aviator, sportsman, entrepreneur * Georges Nagelmackers *
Philippe van Parijs Philippe Van Parijs (; born 1951) is a Belgian political philosopher and political economist, best known as a proponent and main defender of the concept of an unconditional basic income and for the first systematic treatment of linguistic jus ...
* Bruno van Pottelsberghe (born 1968)


Criminals

* Nordine Ben Allal – multiple escapes * Madani Bouhouche – police officer, accused of being a member of the
Brabant killers The Brabant killers, also named the Nivelles Gang in Dutch-speaking media ( nl, De Bende van Nijvel), and the mad killers of Brabant in French-speaking media (french: Les Tueurs fous du Brabant), are responsible for a series of violent attacks tha ...
*
Pierre Carette Pierre Carette (born 21 September 1952 in Charleroi, Belgium) was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks, he was rel ...
terrorist Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
, member of the
Communist Combatant Cells Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC; Communist Combatant Cells, also known as Fighting Communist Cells) was a Communist Belgian urban guerrilla organization. The cells were active for less than two years in the mid-1980s; primarily engaged i ...
* Kim De Gelder – murdered several babies in a babycare center *
Muriel Degauque Muriel Degauque (19 July 1967 – 9 November 2005) was a Belgian woman from Charleroi and a convert to Islam. '' La Derniere Heure'', a Belgian newspaper, claimed on 1 December 2005 that she was a suicide bomber in Iraq. According to Belgian au ...
– Belgian woman who committed a suicide terrorist attack in Bagdad in 2005 * Marc Dutrouxrapist and
serial killer A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A * * * * with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
*
Bert Eriksson Armand Albert (Bert) Eriksson (30 June 1931 – 2 October 2005) was a leading Flemish nationalist. Biography Born in Antwerp. His father was a sailor from Finland his mother was Flemish. Eriksson became a Nazi at an early age and joined the Hi ...
– head of the extreme-right organisation Vlaamse Militanten Orde, convicted for founding a private army * Patrick Haemers – kidnapper of former Prime Minister
Paul Vanden Boeynants Paul Emile François Henri Vanden Boeynants (; 22 May 1919 – 9 January 2001) was a Belgian politician.
Rulers. Retrieved 30 August 2014.< ...
* Murat Kaplan – co-member of Patrick Haemers' gang *
Jean-Baptiste Sipido Jean-Baptiste Victor Sipido (20 December 1884 – 20 August 1959) was a Belgian anarchist who became known when he, then a young tinsmith's apprentice, attempted to assassinate the Prince of Wales at the Brussels-North railway station in Brus ...
– tried to assassinate
Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...
(still then Crown Prince) during a 1900 visit to Brussels *
Jean-Pierre Van Rossem Jean-Pierre Van Rossem (29 May 1945 – 13 December 2018) was a Belgian stock market guru, economist, econometrician, convicted fraudster, author, philosopher, public figure, politician, and member of the Belgian and Flemish Parliament ...
– convicted for Ponzi fraud *
Hans Van Themsche Hans Van Themsche (born 7 February, 1988, in Wilrijk, Antwerp, Flemish Region of Belgium) is a Belgian student who, on 11 March, 2006, shot three people, killing two and severely injuring another, before being shot by police and incapacitated. ...
– teenager with far-right sympathies who went on a killing spree and murdered three people in the street * Robert Jan Verbelen
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
collaborator and murderer of businessman
Alexandre Galopin Alexandre Galopin (26 September 1879 – 28 February 1944) was a Belgian businessman notable for his role in German-occupied Belgium during World War II. Galopin was director of the Société Générale de Belgique, a major Belgian company, and ...
* Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé – nobleman who poisoned his brother-in-law with
nicotine Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and '' Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As a pharmaceutical drug, it is use ...


Fictional characters

*
Achilles de Flandres ''This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by to include characters from the First Formic War trilogy.'' This is a partial list of characters in the ''Ender's Game'' series. Wiggin family *Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is the protago ...
– antagonist in
Orson Scott Card Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is the first and (as of 2022) only person to win both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for both ...
's ''Shadow'' series * Adhemar – comics character by Marc Sleen * Dr. Evil – main
villain A villain (also known as a " black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. '' Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a charact ...
in the ''
Austin Powers ''Austin Powers'' is a series of American spy action comedy films: '' Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery'' (1997), '' Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'' (1999) and '' Austin Powers in Goldmember'' (2002). The films were produced ...
'' films * Gaston Lagaffe – comics character by
André Franquin André Franquin (; 3 January 1924 – 5 January 1997) was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best-known creations are '' Gaston'' and ''Marsupilami''. He also produced the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' comic strip from 1946 to 1968, a period s ...
*
Jo, Zette and Jocko ''The Adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko'' is a Franco-Belgian comics series created by Hergé, the writer-artist best known for ''The Adventures of Tintin''. The heroes of the series are two young children, brother and sister Jo and Zette Legrand ...
– comics characters by
Hergé Georges Prosper Remi (; 22 May 1907 – 3 March 1983), known by the pen name Hergé (; ), from the French pronunciation of his reversed initials ''RG'', was a Belgian cartoonist. He is best known for creating ''The Adventures of Tintin'', ...
*
Jommeke ''Jommeke'' is a Belgian comic strip series in publication since 1955. It was created by Jef Nys and can be defined as a humoristic children's adventure series. Jommeke, an 11-year-old boy, is the series' main protagonist. It was originally publish ...
– comics character by Jef Nys *
De Kiekeboes ''De Kiekeboes'' is a comic strip series created by Belgian artist Merho in 1977. The series appears in Dutch. It is first published in the newspapers ''Gazet van Antwerpen'' and ''Het Belang van Limburg'' and then published as comic books by St ...
– comics characters by Merho * Marc Lebut, who drives a Ford T, and his neighbour – comics characters created by
Francis Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome * Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) Places *Rural ...
with
Maurice Tillieux Maurice Tillieux (7 August 1921 – 2 February 1978) was a Belgian writer and comic artist. He is regarded by many as a major figure of post-war Belgian comics. Early life Maurice Tillieux was born in Huy in 1921. At first he studied for th ...
* Modeste et Pompon – comics characters by André Franquin *
Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 un ...
comics character by Marc Sleen * Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber, comics characters by Pom. *
Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot (, ) is a fictional Belgian detective created by British writer Agatha Christie. Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-running characters, appearing in 33 novels, two plays ('' Black Coffee'' and ''Alibi''), and more ...
– literary detective, created by
Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fiction ...
. *
Quick & Flupke ''The exploits of Quick and Flupke'' (french: link=no, Quick et Flupke, gamins de Bruxelles, ) was a comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Serialised weekly from January 1930 to 1940 in , the children's supplement of conservative Belgian new ...
– comics characters by
Hergé Georges Prosper Remi (; 22 May 1907 – 3 March 1983), known by the pen name Hergé (; ), from the French pronunciation of his reversed initials ''RG'', was a Belgian cartoonist. He is best known for creating ''The Adventures of Tintin'', ...
who live in Brussels. * Samson en Gert – characters from a popular Flemish television series *
Suske en Wiske Suske (English: Willy, Luke, Bob, Spike) is one of the main characters in the popular Belgian comic strip ''Suske en Wiske'' by Willy Vandersteen. He is the boy of the duo. History When Willy Vandersteen created his first adventure story with t ...
– comics characters by Willy Vandersteen. *
Spirou et Fantasio ''Spirou & Fantasio'' (french: Spirou et Fantasio, wa, Spirou eyet Fantasio) is one of the most popular classic Franco-Belgian comics. The series, which has been running since 1938, shares many characteristics with other European comics, European ...
– comics characters by André Franquin *
Tintin Tintin or Tin Tin may refer to: ''The Adventures of Tintin'' * ''The Adventures of Tintin'', a comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé ** Tintin (character), a fictional character in the series ** ''The Adventures of Tintin'' (film), 2011, ...
– as well as the gallery of comics characters created by Hergé.


Historians

* Philippe de Commines * Victor Amédée Jacques Marie Coremans (1802–1872) * François-Louis Ganshof *
Xavier Mabille Xavier Mabille (3 July 1933 – 24 December 2012) was a Belgian historian and political scientist. He served as President of the Belgium-based ''Centre de recherche et d'information socio-politiques'' (CRISP or Centre for Socio-Political Research ...
* Ludo Martens *
Anne Morelli Anne Morelli (born in 1948, also known as Anne Mettewie-Morelli) is a Belgium, Belgian historian of Italy, Italian origins, specialized in the history of religions and minorities. She is currently assistant director of the Interdisciplinary center ...
*
Henri Pirenne Henri Pirenne (; 23 December 1862 – 24 October 1935) was a Belgian historian. A medievalist of Walloon descent, he wrote a multivolume history of Belgium in French and became a prominent public intellectual. Pirenne made a lasting contribut ...
*
Pierre François Xavier de Ram Pierre François Xavier de Ram (September 2, 1804, Leuven – May 14, 1865, Leuven), was a Belgian papal prelate, canon and historian, best known for being the first rector of the new Catholic University of Belgium, founded in Mechelen in 1834, ...
*
Jan Vansina Jan Vansina (14 September 1929 – 8 February 2017) was a Belgian historian and anthropologist regarded as an authority on the history of Central Africa, especially of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. He was ...


Humorists

*
Alex Agnew Alex Agnew (born 22 December 1972) is a Belgian stand-up comedian and hard rock vocalist. According to the Nigel Williams autobiography "Had ik maar een vak geleerd" ("If Only I'd Learned a Proper Trade"), Alex was already an established comedian ...
– also the lead singer of Diablo Blvd *
Gaston Berghmans Gaston Petrus Bernardina Berghmans (11 March 1926 – 21 May 2016) was a Belgian actor and comedian. Between 1972 and 1993 he and Leo Martin (Belgian comedian), Leo Martin formed a comic duo called Gaston and Leo. Youth Gaston Berghmans was the ...
*
Jan Bucquoy Jan Bucquoy (; Harelbeke, 16 November 1945) is a Belgian anarchist who has worked in various media (film, comics writing, painting, sculptures, museums). He gained fame for his controversial anti-establishment works and media stunts, which cause ...
*
Annie Cordy Léonie Juliana, Baroness Cooreman (16 June 1928 – 4 September 2020), also known by her stage name Annie Cordy, was a Belgian actress and singer. She appeared in more than 50 films from 1954 and staged many memorable appearances at Bruno Coq ...
* Wouter Deprez * Raymond Devos * Bert Gabriëls *
Philippe Geluck Philippe Geluck (born 7 May 1954 in Belgium) is a Belgian comedian, humorist, television writer and cartoonist, who sold more than 14 million albums worldwide. He studied at the INSAS (''Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle'', ...
– best known for his comic strip ''Le Chat'' *
Noël Godin Noël Godin (born 13 September 1945) is a Belgian writer, critic, actor and notorious pie thrower or ''entarteur''. Godin gained global attention in 1998 when his group ambushed Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in Brussels, pelting the software magnate ...
– "l'entarteur", aka Monsieur Gloup-Gloup *
Geert Hoste Geert Hoste (born 1 July 1960) is a Flemish cabaret performer. Between 1988 and 2016 he was known for his cabaret shows which poked fun at politics, the Belgian royal family and media stories. Annually these shows were broadcast on Flemish publi ...
* Kamagurka *
Hugo Matthysen Hugo Matthysen (born 30 January 1956, in Ekeren) is a Belgian (Flemish) singer, guitarist, columnist, writer, Master in Philosophy and actor. He lives in the municipality of Hove in Antwerp. Biography In 1978, he played with Bart Peeters and Ja ...
*
Lieven Scheire Lieven Scheire (born 3 May 1981) is a Belgian comedian, mainly known for being a member of Neveneffecten. Career Scheire attended secondary school at the Sint-Lodewijkscollege in Lokeren; he then began a physics degree at Ghent University, but ...
* Les Snuls * Urbain Servranckx (Urbanus) *
Mark Uytterhoeven Mark Uytterhoeven (born 6 March 1957) is a Belgian television presenter, TV scriptwriter, actor, comedian and former sports journalist. Uytterhoeven started his career at the Flemish public TV channel BRT (nowadays VRT), where he was a sports j ...


Journalists

* Paul Beliën *
Jacques Danois Jacques Danois, pseudonym of Jacques Maricq (11 September 1927 – 20 September 2008), was a reporter and writer who was director of information at Unicef. He was born in Brussels. Upon retirement, he became Secretary General, then Vice-Preside ...
*
Koenraad Elst Koenraad Elst (; born 7 August 1959) is a Flemish right wing Hindutva author, known primarily for his support of the Out of India theory and the Hindutva movement. Schola ...
* Cédric Gerbehaye * Eugénie Hamer (1865–after 1926) *
Françoise Van De Moortel Françoise Van De Moortel (1941–2005) was a Belgian journalist. 1941 births 2005 deaths People from Ixelles Belgian women journalists 20th-century Belgian journalists {{Belgium-bio-stub ...
*
Germaine Van Parys Germaine Van Parys, also Van Parijs, (1893–1983) was a Belgian photojournalist. She was the first woman in Belgium to join the profession, which was very unusual to find a woman mentioned in the history of photography before 1920s. She left an ex ...
(1893–1983) – pioneering female photojournalist


Military figures

* ''
Ambiorix Ambiorix (Gaulish "king of the surroundings", or "king-protector") ( 54–53 BC) was, together with Cativolcus, prince of the Eburones, leader of a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul ( Gallia Belgica), where modern Belgium is located. In t ...
'' –
Gaul Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...
ish warlord * ''
Baldwin I of Constantinople Baldwin I ( nl, Boudewijn; french: Baudouin; July 1172 – ) was the first Emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople; Count of Flanders (as Baldwin IX) from 1194 to 1205 and Count of Hainaut (as Baldwin VI) from 1195-1205. Baldwin was ...
'' – Crusader, first
Latin Emperor The Latin Emperor was the ruler of the Latin Empire, the historiographical convention for the Crusader realm, established in Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade (1204) and lasting until the city was recovered by the Byzantine Greeks in 126 ...
* ''
Baldwin I of Jerusalem Baldwin I, also known as Baldwin of Boulogne (1060s – 2April 1118), was the first count of Edessa from 1098 to 1100, and king of Jerusalem from 1100 to his death in 1118. He was the youngest son of Eustace II, Count of Boulogne, and Ida of Lor ...
'' – Crusader,
King of Jerusalem The King of Jerusalem was the supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state founded in Jerusalem by the Latin Catholic leaders of the First Crusade, when the city was conquered in 1099. Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of ...
*
Jean-Pierre de Beaulieu Johann Peter de Beaulieu, also Jean Pierre de Beaulieu (26 October 1725, in Lathuy, Brabant, Belgium – 22 December 1819), was a Walloon military officer. He joined the Habsburg army and fought against the Prussians during the Seven Years' War ...
Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
-born Austrian
general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...
*
Adrian Carton de Wiart Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart, (; 5 May 1880 – 5 June 1963) was a British Army officer born of Belgian and Irish parents. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour "i ...
– Belgian-born British lieutenant general * ''
Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
'' – founder of the
Frankish Empire Francia, also called the Kingdom of the Franks ( la, Regnum Francorum), Frankish Kingdom, Frankland or Frankish Empire ( la, Imperium Francorum), was the largest post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe. It was ruled by the Franks dur ...
* ''
Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infa ...
'' – Holy Roman Emperor * ''
Clovis I Clovis ( la, Chlodovechus; reconstructed Frankish: ; – 27 November 511) was the first king of the Franks to unite all of the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the form of leadership from a group of petty kings to rule by a single ki ...
'',
King of the Franks The Franks, Germanic-speaking peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dukes and reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Merovingians, who c ...
* ''
Godfrey of Bouillon Godfrey of Bouillon (, , , ; 18 September 1060 – 18 July 1100) was a French nobleman and pre-eminent leader of the First Crusade. First ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1099 to 1100, he avoided the title of king, preferring that of princ ...
'' – Crusader and first
King of Jerusalem The King of Jerusalem was the supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state founded in Jerusalem by the Latin Catholic leaders of the First Crusade, when the city was conquered in 1099. Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of ...
* ''
Charles Martel Charles Martel ( – 22 October 741) was a Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death. He was a son of the Frankish statesm ...
'' –
Duke of the Franks The title Duke of the Franks ( la, dux Francorum) has been used for three different offices, always with "duke" implying military command and "prince" implying something approaching sovereign or regalian rights. The term "Franks" may refer to an ...
, stopped the Muslim expansion at
Poitiers Poitiers (, , , ; Poitevin: ''Poetàe'') is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. In 2017 it had a population of 88,291. Its agglome ...
* ''
Pepin of Herstal Pepin II (c. 635 – 16 December 714), commonly known as Pepin of Herstal, was a Frankish statesman and military leader who de facto ruled Francia as the Mayor of the Palace from 680 until his death. He took the title Duke and Prince of the ...
'' –
Duke of the Franks The title Duke of the Franks ( la, dux Francorum) has been used for three different offices, always with "duke" implying military command and "prince" implying something approaching sovereign or regalian rights. The term "Franks" may refer to an ...
* ''
Pepin the Short the Short (french: Pépin le Bref; – 24 September 768), also called the Younger (german: Pippin der Jüngere), was King of the Franks from 751 until his death in 768. He was the first Carolingian to become king. The younger was the son of ...
'' – first Carolingian
King of the Franks The Franks, Germanic-speaking peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dukes and reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Merovingians, who c ...
* '' Edgard Potier'' – pilot during World War II * ''
Jean Schramme Jean "Black Jack" Schramme (25 March 1929, Bruges, Belgium – 14 December 1988, Rondonópolis, Brazil) was a Belgian mercenary and planter. He managed a vast estate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1967. Planter Schramme was bor ...
'' –
mercenary A mercenary, sometimes also known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, that joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any ...
* ''
Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly ( nl, Johan t'Serclaes Graaf van Tilly; german: Johann t'Serclaes Graf von Tilly; french: Jean t'Serclaes de Tilly ; February 1559 – 30 April 1632) was a field marshal who commanded the Catholic League's ...
'' –
field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
* ''
Léon de Witte Leon, Léon (French) or León (Spanish) may refer to: Places Europe * León, Spain, capital city of the Province of León * Province of León, Spain * Kingdom of León, an independent state in the Iberian Peninsula from 910 to 1230 and again fro ...
'' – General during World War I * ''
Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York ...
Henry Robert Visart de Bury et de Bocarmé''
C.B.E. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colon ...
(ret'd)


Models

*
Brigitta Callens Brigitta Callens (born 28 September 1980 in Oudenaarde, East Flanders, Belgium) was Miss Belgium 1999 and her country's representative to Miss World 1999. Brigitta "Gitta" Callens was born in Oudenaarde, a small town in the Flemish Ardennes. ...
*
Elise Crombez Elise or Elyse may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Elise, the unidentified person to whom Beethoven dedicated ''Für Elise'' * ''Elise'', a 1979 speculative fiction novel by Ken Grimwood * ''Élise ou la vraie vie'' (''Elise, or the Real Life' ...
* Sylvie De Caluwé *
Véronique De Kock Véronique De Kock (born 3 April 1977 in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian business owner, television presenter and beauty pageant titleholder. Biography Career At the age of 15, De Kock was already a model in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy. Sh ...
(born in
Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,
) *
Hannelore Knuts Hannelore Knuts (born 4 November 1977) is a Belgian actress and fashion model who began modeling in the late 90s. According to '' Vanity Fair'', " She started modeling for Branquinho and Simons shortly after being spotted at the Antwerp trai ...
* Yumi Lambert * Anouck Lepere
supermodel A supermodel, also spelled super-model or super model, is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in ''haute couture'' and commercial modeling. The term ''supermodel'' became prominent in the po ...
(born in Antwerp) * Stephanie Meire *
Hanne Gaby Odiele Hanne Gaby Odiele (born 8 October 1988) is a Belgian model. Early life Odiele was born on 8 October 1988 in Kortrijk, Belgium. They were born with an intersex condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome. As a child, Odiele underwent ...
*
Angeline Flor Pua Angeline Flor Pua (born 17 April 1995) is a Belgian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Belgium 2018. As Miss Belgium, she represented Belgium at Miss World 2018 and Miss Universe 2019. Life and career Early life Flor Pua wa ...
(born in Antwerp), crowned
Miss Belgium 2018 Miss Belgium 2018 was the 50th edition of the Miss Belgium which was held on January 13, 2018 at the Plopsaland Theater in De Panne De Panne (; french: La Panne ) is a town and a municipality located on the North Sea coast of the Belgian provin ...
* Ellen Petri * Ingrid Seynhaeve *
Jessica Van Der Steen Jessica Van Der Steen (born 9 July 1984 in Westmalle, Antwerp) is a Belgian fashion model. Van Der Steen was first featured on the cover of the April 2000 edition of ''Ché'' magazine at age 16. In September 2003, she was also featured in th ...
(from Antwerp) * Ann Van Elsen


Monarchs

*
Albert I Albert I may refer to: People Born before 1300 *Albert I, Count of Vermandois (917–987) *Albert I, Count of Namur () * Albert I of Moha *Albert I of Brandenburg (), first margrave of Brandenburg *Albert I, Margrave of Meissen (1158–1195) *Alber ...
* Albert II * Baudouin * ''
Charles V of Habsburg Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) fr ...
'' –
Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
* '' Charles VII of Habsburg'' – Holy Roman Emperor * ''
Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
'' – Holy Roman Emperor * ''
Clemens August of Bavaria Clemens August of Bavaria (german: Clemens August von Bayern) (17 August 1700 – 6 February 1761) was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. Biography Clemens August (Clementus Augustus) was born in ...
'',
Archbishop-Elector of Cologne The Archbishop of Cologne is an archbishop governing the Archdiocese of Cologne of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and is also a historical state in the Rhine holding the birthplace of Beethoven and northern Rhineland-Palati ...
* Leopold I * Leopold II * Leopold III *
Carlota of Mexico Charlotte of Belgium (''Marie Charlotte Amélie Augustine Victoire Clémentine Léopoldine''; 7 June 1840 – 19 January 1927), known by the Spanish version of her name, Carlota, was by birth a Princess of Belgium and member of the House of ...
* Philippe


Performing artists


Actors and actresses

*
Natacha Amal Natacha Amal (born 4 September 1968) is a Belgian actress. Personal life Amal was born on 4 September 1968 to a Moroccan father and a Russian mother in Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Ca ...
* Patrick Bauchau *
Veerle Baetens Veerle Baetens (born 24 January 1978) is a Belgian actress and singer probably best known for her role as Elise/Alabama in ''The Broken Circle Breakdown'' and as lead detective Hannah Maes in the crime drama '' Code 37''. She has also starred in ...
*
Céline Buckens Céline Buckens (born 9 August 1996) is a Belgian and British actress. After appearing in the film ''War Horse'' (2011), she went on to play Mia MacDonald in the Netflix series ''Free Rein'' (2017–2019) and Sophie Mercer in the Cinemax series ...
* Jey Crisfar *
François Damiens François Georges Henri Marie Ghislain Joseph Damiens (; born 17 January 1973) is a Belgian actor. Career He has appeared in more than fifty films since 2000. He started out doing hidden camera videos in the 90s and became widely popular in ...
*
Koen De Bouw Koen De Bouw (born 30 September 1964 in Turnhout) is a Belgian actor. He trained to be an actor at Studio Herman Teirlinck in Antwerp and made his breakthrough in Belgium with his role of serial killer ''Stef Tavernier'' in the TV-series Witte ...
*
Jan Decleir Jan Decleir (born as ''Jan Amanda Gustaaf Decleir'' on 14 February 1946) is a prolific Belgian movie and stage actor born in Niel, Antwerp. Career He had his first big role in Fons Rademakers's ''Mira'' (1971). Since then, he has appeared in ...
*
André Delvaux André Albert Auguste Delvaux (; 21 March 1926 – 4 October 2002) was a Belgian film director. He co-founded the film school INSAS in 1962 and is regarded as the founder of the Belgian national cinema. Adapting works by writers such as Johan ...
*
Émilie Dequenne Émilie Dequenne (, born 29 August 1981) is a Belgian actress. She first gained attention for playing the title character in the film ''Rosetta'' (1999), which earned her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She then went on to star ...
* Els Dottermans *
Tim Driesen Tim Driesen is a Belgian actor, notable for roles in both musicals, plays, and television serials. He has composed a full-scale musical as well as a number of pop-songs. In 2007, he created the role of Adrian Banks (a character based on pop-sta ...
*
Cécile de France Cécile de France (; born 17 July 1975) is a Belgian actress. After achieving success in French cinema hits such as '' L'Art (délicat) de la séduction'' (2001) and ''Irène'' (2002), she gained international attention for her lead roles in '' ...
*
Virginie Efira Virginie Efira (born 5 May 1977) is a Belgian actress and television presenter. Efira got her first leading role in the romantic comedy '' It Boy'' (2013). She subsequently received critical praise for her performance in the comedy drama '' In B ...
*
Victor Francen Victor Francen (born Victor Franssens, 5 August 1888 – 18 November 1977) was a Belgian-born actor with a long career in French cinema and in Hollywood. Biography Francen was born in 1888 in Tienen, the son of a chief of police. According ...
*
Johnny Galecki John Mark Galecki (born April 30, 1975) is an American actor. He played Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom '' The Big Bang Theory'' (2007–2019) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and David Healy in the ABC sitcoms ''Ro ...
*
Henri Garcin Henri Garcin (born Anton Albers; 11 April 1928 – 13 June 2022) was a Belgian film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1956 to 2022. Selected filmography * ''Mademoiselle and Her Gang'' (1957) * ''Mata Hari, Agent H21'' (1964) * '' ...
*
Marie Gillain Marie Gillain :fr:Mérite wallon, O.M.W. (born 18 June 1975) is a Belgium, Belgian actress. In 1996 Gillain received the Prix Romy Schneider. She is single and has two daughters, Dune (born in 2004, with musician Martin Gamet) and Vega (born in ...
*
Olivier Gourmet Olivier Gourmet (born 22 July 1963) is a Belgian actor. Gourmet was born in Namur. He won the Best Actor award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for his role in '' Le Fils'' by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. He also appeared in '' La Promess ...
*
Johan Heldenbergh Johan Heldenbergh (born 9 February 1967) is a Belgian actor, playwright, screenwriter, theatre director and film director. He gained international fame by starring in films, including ''A Day in a Life'' (2007), '' Moscow, Belgium'' (2008), ''T ...
*
Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen ...
* Christian Labeau *
Jacky Lafon Jacky Lafon (born 21 November 1946) is a Flemish actress known for playing one of the lead fictional charactersin the television series ''Familie'' that aired its first episode on the Flemish television channel VTM, in the Dutch language, on 3 ...
*
Bouli Lanners Philippe "Bouli" Lanners (born 20 May 1965) is a Belgian actor, author and film director. His film '' The Giants'' was nominated for twelve Magritte Awards, winning five, including Best Film and Best Director. Biography Lanners was born on 2 ...
*
Johan Leysen Johan Leysen (19 February 1950 – 30 March 2023) was a Belgian actor. He appeared in more than 130 films and television shows from 1977. He starred in the film '' De grens'', which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1984 Cann ...
*
Yolande Moreau Yolande Moreau (born 27 February 1953) is a Belgian comedian, actress, film director and screenwriter. She has won three César Awards from four nominations. Career She made her cinematic debut with director Agnès Varda in two movies: Sept pi ...
*
Filip Peeters Filip Peeters or Philip Peeters (born 2 December 1962) is a Flemish actor. He is well known for his work in the television series ''Salamander'' as Paul Gerardi and ''Zone Stad'' as Didier Francks. He is one of a few Flemish actors who have been ...
*
Ann Petersen Ann Petersen (22 June 1927 – 11 December 2003) was a Belgian actress. She was especially noted for her roles in ''Home Sweet Home'', '' Pauline & Paulette'', the children's serial ''Samson & Gert'', '' Captain Zeppos'', ''Wij, Heren van Zich ...
*
Benoît Poelvoorde Benoît Poelvoorde (, ; born 22 September 1964) is a Belgian actor and comedian. Early life His mother was a grocer and his father a driver, who died when Poelvoorde was still a minor. He attended the Jesuit Boarding School of Godinne before ...
*
Eline Powell Eline Powell (born Eline Pauwels, 12 April 1990) is a Belgian actress best known for playing the title role on the American TV series '' Siren''. Early years and education Powell is the daughter of Belgian pharmacologist Rudi Pauwels and cli ...
*
Natacha Régnier Nathalie "Natacha" Régnier (born 11 April 1974) is a Belgian actress. She received a Cannes Film Festival Award, a European Film Award, and a César Award for her role in the 1998 film '' The Dreamlife of Angels''. Régnier is the first Belgi ...
*
Lyne Renée Lyne Renée (born Line Van Wambeke; 17 May 1979) is a Belgian actress. She graduated from the Studio Herman Teirlinck in Antwerp, Belgium. From 2003 to 2005 she appeared as stage actress in Belgian theaters. After she starred in the Belgian TV s ...
*
Jérémie Renier (; born 6 January 1981) is a Belgian actor. His film debut was in the critically praised (1996), directed by the Dardenne brothers. He became better known to worldwide audiences in ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' (2001) and (2005). The latter ...
*
Matthias Schoenaerts Matthias Schoenaerts (; ; born 8 December 1977) is a Belgian actor. He made his film debut at the age of 13 in '' Daens'' (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He is best known for his roles as Filip in ...
*
Jean-Claude Van Damme Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (, ; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (, ), is a Belgian actor, martial artist, filmmaker, and fight choreographer. Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, at the ag ...
*
Peter Van Den Begin Peter Alfons Christiaan Van Den Begin (born 25 October 1964 in Berchem Berchem () is a southern district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Berchem is located along the old ''Grote Steenweg'' (Dutch for ...
*
Dora van der Groen Dora van der Groen (10 March 1927 – 8 November 2015) was a Belgian actress and theatre director. She appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1945 and 2003. She played Vrouw Coene in ''Wij, Heren van Zichem'' and st ...
*
Marie Vinck Marie Vinck is a Belgian actress. Life Vinck started acting in 1993 at the age of 10 in the Flemish TV series ''Mother, Why Do We Live?'', in which Vinck's mother performed a leading role. In 1998, she acted out again with her mother in the D ...
* Philippe Volter *
Titus De Voogdt Titus De Voogdt (born July 4, 1979) is a Belgian actor. Biography De Voogdt earned a master's degree in sculpture at the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture in Ghent. He started his acting career in theater and is mainly known for his performa ...
*
Tom Waes Tom Yvo Adrien Waes (born 7 November 1968) is a Belgian television presenter, television director, actor, model, and occasional singer. Internationally he is most know for his role in the Netflix series Undercover. In addition, Waes is an ambassa ...


Composers

*
Jean Absil Jean Absil (23 October 1893 – 2 February 1974) was a Belgian composer, organist, and professor at the Brussels Conservatoire. Biography Absil was born in Bonsecours, Hainaut, Belgium. His teacher there was Alphonse Oeyen, organist at the basil ...
* Florent Alpaerts * Peter Benoit * '' Gilles Binchois'' * ''
Ivan Caryll Félix Marie Henri Tilkin (12 May 1861 – 29 November 1921), better known by his pen name Ivan Caryll, was a Belgian-born composer of operettas and Edwardian musical comedies in the English language, who made his career in London and later ...
'' * ''
Jacob Clemens non Papa Jacobus Clemens non Papa (also Jacques Clément or Jacob Clemens non Papa) ( – 1555 or 1556) was a Netherlandish composer of the Renaissance based for most of his life in Flanders. He was a prolific composer in many of the current styles, and ...
'' *
Marie Daulne Marie Daulne (born 20 October 1964) is a Belgian singer. Daulne was born in Isiro, Haut-Uele District, Democratic Republic of the Congo to a Belgian who was killed that same year by Simba rebels, and to a local Congolese woman. Daulne and her ...
*
Frédéric Devreese Frédéric Devreese (2 June 1929 – 28 September 2020) was a Belgian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he was also active as a conductor. Devreese is known for his film scor ...
* ''
Guillaume Dufay Guillaume Du Fay ( , ; also Dufay, Du Fayt; 5 August 1397(?) – 27 November 1474) was a French composer and music theorist of the early Renaissance. Considered the leading European composer of his time, his music was widely performed and repr ...
'' *
François Joseph Fétis François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King ...
* ''
César Franck César-Auguste Jean-Guillaume Hubert Franck (; 10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher born in modern-day Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of his birth was pa ...
'' – Belgian composer who worked in Paris *
Karel Goeyvaerts Karel August Goeyvaerts (8 June 1923 – 3 February 1993) was a Belgian composer. Life Goeyvaerts was born in Antwerp, where he studied at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory; he later studied composition in Paris with Darius Milhaud and analys ...
* ''
Nicolas Gombert Nicolas Gombert (c. 1495 – c. 1560)Atlas, p. 396 was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most famous and influential composers between Josquin des Prez and Palestrina, and best represents the fully developed, complex ...
'' * ''
François Joseph Gossec François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King o ...
'' * ''
André Grétry André Ernest Modeste Grétry (; baptised 11 February 1741; died 24 September 1813) was a composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (present-day Belgium), who worked from 1767 onwards in France and took French nationality. He is most famous ...
'' * '' Henri-Guillaume Hamal'' *
Joseph Jongen Joseph Marie Alphonse Nicolas Jongen (14 December 1873 – 12 July 1953) was a Belgian organist, composer, and music educator. Biography Jongen was born in Liège, where his parents had moved from Flanders. On the strength of an amazing precocity ...
* ''
Orlande de Lassus Orlande de Lassus ( various other names; probably – 14 June 1594) was a composer of the late Renaissance. The chief representative of the mature polyphonic style in the Franco-Flemish school, Lassus stands with Giovanni Pierluigi da Pale ...
(a.k.a. Orlandus Lassus/Orlando di Lasso)'' – born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed *
Guillaume Lekeu Jean Joseph Nicolas Guillaume Lekeu (20 January 1870 – 21 January 1894) was a Belgian composer. Life Lekeu was born in Heusy, a village near Verviers, Belgium. He originally studied piano and music theory under Alphonse Voss, the director of ...
* Jacques Loeillet – baroque composer * Jean-Baptiste Loeillet de Ghent – baroque composer *
Charles Loos Charles Loos (born 29 July 1951 in Brussels) is a Belgian jazz pianist and composer. In 1972 he began studying composition and jazz orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, while he already followed a classical formation in Belgium. ...
*
Wim Mertens Wim Mertens (; born 14 May 1953) is a Flemish Belgian composer, countertenor vocalist, pianist, guitarist, and musicologist. Life and work Mertens was born in Neerpelt, Belgium. He studied social and political science at the University of Le ...
*
Vidna Obmana Vidna Obmana (stylized vidnaObmana on many album covers) is a pseudonym used by Belgian composer and ambient musician Dirk Serries. The name ''Vidna Obmana'', a phrase in Serbian, literally translates to "optical illusion" and was chosen by Serr ...
– pseudonym of Dirk Serries * ''
Johannes Ockeghem Johannes Ockeghem ( – 6 February 1497) was a Franco-Flemish composer and singer of early Renaissance music. Ockeghem was the most influential European composer in the period between Guillaume Du Fay and Josquin des Prez, and he was—with hi ...
'' *
Henri Pousseur Henri Léon Marie-Thérèse Pousseur (23 June 1929 – 6 March 2009) was a Belgian classical composer, teacher, and music theorist. Biography Pousseur was born in Malmedy and studied at the Academies of Music in Liège and in Brussels from 1947 ...
* ''
Josquin des Prez Josquin Lebloitte dit des Prez ( – 27 August 1521) was a composer of High Renaissance music, who is variously described as French or Franco-Flemish. Considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, he was a central figure of the ...
'' * ''
Cypriano de Rore Cipriano de Rore (occasionally Cypriano) (1515 or 1516 – between 11 and 20 September 1565) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active in Italy. Not only was he a central representative of the generation of Franco-Flemish composer ...
'' * Didier van Damme *
Pieter van Maldere Pieter van Maldere, known also as Pierre van Maldere (16 October 1729 – 1 November 1768) was a Flemish violinist and composer. He was a violinist of the Royal Chapel, the court orchestra in Brussels of the governor-general of the Austrian Neth ...
*
Carl Verbraeken Carl Gustav Verbraeken (born 18 September 1950 in Wilrijk, Belgium) is a Belgian composer. Verbraeken studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (french: Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, nl, Koninklijk ...
*
Henri Vieuxtemps Henri François Joseph Vieuxtemps ( 17 February 18206 June 1881) was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th ce ...
* ''
Giaches de Wert Giaches de Wert (also Jacques/Jaches de Wert, Giaches de Vuert; 1535 – 6 May 1596) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance, active in Italy. Intimately connected with the progressive musical center of Ferrara, he was one of the lea ...
'' * ''
Adrian Willaert Adrian Willaert ( – 7 December 1562) was a Flemish composer of High Renaissance music. Mainly active in Italy, he was the founder of the Venetian School. He was one of the most representative members of the generation of northern composers ...
'' *
Eugène Ysaÿe Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe (; 16 July 185812 May 1931) was a Belgian virtuoso violinist, composer, and conductor. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tsar". Legend of the Ysaÿe violin Eugène Ysa ...


Dance and choreography

*
Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker Anne Teresa, Baroness De Keersmaeker (, born 1960 in Mechelen, Belgium, grew up in Wemmel) is a contemporary dance choreographer. The dance company constructed around her, , was in residence at La Monnaie in Brussels from 1992 to 2007. Biograph ...
, choreographer * Adam-Pierre de La Grené, dancer


Filmmakers

*
Chantal Akerman Chantal Anne Akerman (; 6 June 19505 October 2015) was a Belgian film director, screenwriter, artist, and film professor at the City College of New York. She is best known for films such as ''Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles' ...
(''
Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles ''Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles'' (, "Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels") is a 1975 drama film written and directed by Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman. It was filmed over five weeks on location in Brussels, ...
'') * Jean-Jacques Andrien ('' Le Grand Paysage d'Alexis Droeven'') * Nic Balthazar (''
Ben X ''Ben X'' is a 2007 Belgian-Dutch drama film based on the novel '' Nothing Was All He Said (Dutch: Niets Was Alles Wat Hij Zei)'' by Nic Balthazar, who also directed the film. The film is about a boy with Asperger syndrome (played by Greg Timmer ...
'') * Tom Barman ('' Any Way the Wind Blows'') *
Lucas Belvaux Lucas Belvaux (born 14 November 1961) is a Belgian actor and film director. His directing credits include the ''Trilogie'', consisting of three films with interlocking stories and characters, each of which was filmed in a different genre. The t ...
(''
Man Bites Dog The phrase man bites dog is a shortened version of an aphorism in journalism that describes how an unusual, infrequent event (such as a man biting a dog) is more likely to be reported as news than an ordinary, everyday occurrence with similar cons ...
'') *
Rémy Belvaux Rémy Nicolas Lucien Belvaux Caroline Hanotte''Rémy Belvaux'' CinéArtistes.com, Septembre 8, 2006. Retrieved on 11 September 2006. (10 November 1966 – 4 September 2006) was a Belgian actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He was the broth ...
(''
Man Bites Dog The phrase man bites dog is a shortened version of an aphorism in journalism that describes how an unusual, infrequent event (such as a man biting a dog) is more likely to be reported as news than an ordinary, everyday occurrence with similar cons ...
'') *
Nabil Ben Yadir Nabil Ben Yadir is a Belgian actor, film director, and screenwriter. Career Ben Yadir made his feature-length directorial debut in 2009 with ''The Barons'', which he also co-wrote with Laurent Brandenbourger and Sébastien Fernandez. The film wa ...
(''
The Barons ''The Barons'' (french: Les barons) is a 2009 Belgian comedy film directed by Nabil Ben Yadir. It was written by Yadir, Laurent Brandenbourger and Sébastien Fernandez. It premiered on 2 September 2009 at the Festival International du Film Franco ...
'') *
Alain Berliner Alain Berliner (born 21 February 1963) is a Belgian film director best known for the 1997 film '' Ma vie en rose'', which won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards in 1998. Born in Brussels ...
(''
Ma vie en rose ''Ma vie en rose'' (English translation: ''My Life in Pink'') is a 1997 Franco-Belgian drama film directed by Alain Berliner. It tells the story of Ludovic, a transgender girl, and depicts her family and community struggling to accept her gende ...
'', '' Le Mur'') *
Jan Bucquoy Jan Bucquoy (; Harelbeke, 16 November 1945) is a Belgian anarchist who has worked in various media (film, comics writing, painting, sculptures, museums). He gained fame for his controversial anti-establishment works and media stunts, which cause ...
('' La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950–1978'', ''
Camping Cosmos ''Camping Cosmos'' is a 1996 Belgian satirical comedy film and a sequel to '' La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950-1978'', directed by the same director: Jan Bucquoy. It stars Claude Semal, Lolo Ferrari (Miss Vandeputte), Noël Godin ( Pierre Mertens) ...
'') *
Hugo Claus Hugo Maurice Julien Claus (; 5 April 1929 – 19 March 2008) was a leading Belgian literature, Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, the novel, a ...
('' The Sacrament'') *
Stijn Coninx Stijn, Baron Coninx (born 21 February 1957) is a Belgian film director. Career He studied film directing at HRITCS (currently Ritcs, at Erasmus Hogeschool Brussel). Baron Coninx is best known for his film '' Daens'', which was nominated for ...
(''
Daens Daens might refer to: * Adolf Daens, Belgian Flemish priest and politician * Pieter Daens (novel), a novel by Louis Paul Boon *Daens (film) ''Daens'' is a 1992 Belgian period drama film directed by Stijn Coninx, after a novel by Louis Paul Bo ...
'') *
Carl Colpaert Carl-Jan Colpaert is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Early life Carl-Jan Colpaert was born in Kortrijk, West Flanders, Belgium to father Roger Colpaert, who was a member of the executive committee at Bekaert and his moth ...
(American, born in Belgium) * Gérard Corbiau (''
The Music Teacher A music teacher is a type of educator who instructs students in music. Music Teacher may also refer to: * "The Music Teacher" (short story), a 1959 short story by John Cheever * ''The Music Teacher'' (film), 1988 Belgian film * ''Music Teacher'' ( ...
'', ''
Farinelli Farinelli (; 24 January 1705 – 16 September 1782) was the stage name of Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi (), a celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera. Farinell ...
'') *
Jean-Pierre Dardenne Brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne (; born 21 April 1951) and Luc Dardenne (born 10 March 1954), collectively referred to as the Dardenne brothers, are a Belgian filmmaking duo. They write, produce, and direct their films together. The Dardennes ...
and
Luc Dardenne Brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne (; born 21 April 1951) and Luc Dardenne (born 10 March 1954), collectively referred to as the Dardenne brothers, are a Belgian filmmaking duo. They write, produce, and direct their films together. The Dardennes ...
('' The Promise'', '' The Son'', '' L'Enfant'') *
Robbe De Hert Robin François De Hert (20 September 1942 – 24 August 2020) was a Belgian film director. De Hert won the André Cavens Award for Best Film in 2000, with his film '' Lijmen/Het Been''. He died on 24 August 2020 at the age of 77 due to compli ...
('' Whitey'', ''
Blueberry Hill "Blueberry Hill" is a popular American song published in 1940, best remembered for its 1950s rock and roll version by Fats Domino. The music was written by Vincent Rose, the lyrics by Larry Stock and Al Lewis. It was recorded six times in 194 ...
'') *
André Delvaux André Albert Auguste Delvaux (; 21 March 1926 – 4 October 2002) was a Belgian film director. He co-founded the film school INSAS in 1962 and is regarded as the founder of the Belgian national cinema. Adapting works by writers such as Johan ...
(''
The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short ''The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short'' () is a 1947 novel by the Flemish writer Johan Daisne. It tells the story of a teacher at a girls' school who falls in love with one of his students; he moves from the town and changes profession in order to a ...
'', '' One Night... A Train'') *
Armand Denis Armand Georges Denis (2 December 1896 – 15 April 1971) was a Belgian-born documentary filmmaker. After several decades of pioneering work in filming and presenting the ethnology and wildlife of remote parts of Africa and Asia, he became best kn ...
(''
Savage Splendor ''Savage Splendor'' is a 1949 documentary directed by Armand Denis and Lewis Cotlow, and starring Tim Holt. It made a profit of $250,000 and was RKO's most popular film of the year.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, ...
'', ''
Below the Sahara ''Below the Sahara'' is a 1953 American documentary film which follows the filmmaking couple, Armand and Michaela Denis, as they travel throughout Africa. Produced by RKO-Pathé, it was distributed by its sister company, RKO Radio Pictures, wh ...
'') *
Dominique Deruddere Dominique Deruddere (born 15 June 1957) is a Belgium, Belgian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer. Career Dominique Deruddere was an actor before he became a director. Filmography * ''Crazy Love (1987 film), Crazy Love'' (1987) * ...
(''
Everybody's Famous! ''Everybody's Famous!'' ( nl-BE, Iedereen beroemd!) is a 2000 Belgian satirical comedy film directed by Dominique Deruddere about a young teenage girl who is pushed by her poor parents to become a musical star. It was nominated for Academy Award ...
'') *
Marc Didden Marc Didden (born 28 July 1949) is a Belgian film director. He and his family moved to Brussels when he was age 2. He grew up in Brussels and studied Film Direction and Playwriting there. Didden was rock journalist and critic for the Flemish ma ...
('' Brussels by Night'') * Jacques Feyder ('' Carnival in Flanders'') *
Jonas Geirnaert Jonas Geirnaert (born July 28, 1982) studied animation at the KASK in Ghent. In May 2004 he won the Short Film Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival with his animated short ''Flatlife'' (11 min). Of the copy he sent in for selection only the fir ...
('' Flatlife'') * Harry Kümel (''
Daughters of Darkness ''Daughters of Darkness'' is a 1971 erotic horror film directed by Harry Kümel and starring Delphine Seyrig, Danielle Ouimet, John Karlen and Andrea Rau. Plot Stefan Chilton, the son of an aristocratic British family who was raised in the Unit ...
'', ''
Monsieur Hawarden ''Monsieur Hawarden'' is a 1968 Belgian-Dutch drama film directed by Harry Kümel. The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 42nd Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. The film is an adapta ...
'', '' Malpertuis'') *
Bouli Lanners Philippe "Bouli" Lanners (born 20 May 1965) is a Belgian actor, author and film director. His film '' The Giants'' was nominated for twelve Magritte Awards, winning five, including Best Film and Best Director. Biography Lanners was born on 2 ...
*
Roland Lethem Roland Lethem (born 1942) is a Belgian filmmaker and writer. Influenced at his beginnings by Buñuel, Cocteau, the surrealists and by the Japanese cinema (Seijun Suzuki, Ishirō Honda, Kōji Wakamatsu, Yoko Ono), stunned by the Festival of the ...
*
Benoît Mariage Benoît Mariage (born 19 July 1961) is a Belgian film director. Filmography *2014: '' Les Rayures du zèbre'' *2007: ''Cow-boy'' *2003: ''L'autre'' *1999: ''Les convoyeurs attendent'' ;Documentaries *2001: '' Nemadis, the Years Without News'' ...
*
Picha Jean-Paul "Picha" Walravens (Brussels, Belgium, 2 July 1942) is a Belgian cartoonist, comics artist, animator and film director. He is most famous for his adult animated films, such as '' Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle''.
('' Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle'') * Michaël R. Roskam ('' Bullhead'') *
Raoul Servais Raoul Servais (born 1 May 1928) is a Belgian filmmaker, animator, and comics artist. He was born in Ostend, Belgium, and is a fundamental figure of the Belgian animation scene, as well as the founder of the animation faculty of the Royal Academy ...
(''
Harpya ''Harpya'' is a 1979 Belgian short comedy horror film written and directed by Raoul Servais, which tells the story of a man (portrayed by ) who tries to live with a harpy (portrayed by Fran Waller Zeper), a mythical being that is half woman an ...
'') * Henri Storck (''
Misère au Borinage ''Misère au Borinage'' ( French; ), also known as ''Borinage'', is a 1934 Belgian documentary film directed by Henri Storck and Joris Ivens. Produced during the Great Depression, the film's theme is intensely socialist, covering the poor living ...
'') *
Guy Lee Thys Guy Lee Thys (born 20 October 1952) is a Belgian film producer, director, and screenwriter. In 1981 Guy Lee Thys, whose nickname in the Belgian media is "''enfant terrible'' of Flemish Cinema", established ''Skyline Films'', renamed ''Fact & Fic ...
(''
The Pencil Murders ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'', '' Kassablanka'') *
Patrice Toye Patrice Toye (born Ghent, 1967) is a Belgian film director. Her 1998 film '' Rosie'' was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, but was not nominated.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Mo ...
('' Rosie'') *
Jan Vanderheyden Jan Vanderheyden (10 October 1890 – 27 March 1961) was a Belgian film producer and director known for the Flemish comedies he made in the 1930s and 1940s. During the German occupation of Belgium between 1940 and 1944, he produced four of the ...
– (''
De Witte ''De Witte'' or ''Dewitte'' is Dutch and Flemish for "The White" and may refer to: * The noble family "de Witte" (from Antwerpen) Surname * André de Witte (1944–2021), Belgian bishop in Brazil * Bruno de Witte (born 1955), Belgian legal sch ...
'') * Jaco Van Dormael – (''
Toto the Hero ''Toto the Hero'' (french: Toto le héros) is a 1991 Belgian film (co-produced with France and Germany) by Belgian film director and screenwriter Jaco Van Dormael. It won the Caméra d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991, and the César ...
'', '' The Eighth Day'') * Felix Van Groeningen – ('' Steve + Sky'', '' De helaasheid der dingen'', ''
The Broken Circle Breakdown ''The Broken Circle Breakdown'' (also known as ''Alabama Monroe'') is a 2012 Belgian drama film directed by Felix van Groeningen with a screenplay by Carl Joos and van Groeningen. It is based on the stage play of the same name by Johan Heldenber ...
'') *
Erik Van Looy Erik Ludovicus Maria Van Looy () is a Belgian film director known for his thriller movies.Erik Van Looy
IMDb He was bor ...
(''
The Alzheimer Case ''The Alzheimer Case'' (also known as ''The Alzheimer Affair'' or ''The Memory of a Killer''; nl, De zaak Alzheimer) is a 2003 Belgian action thriller film directed by Erik Van Looy, based on the novel ''De zaak Alzheimer'' by Jef Geeraerts. It ...
'', ''
Loft A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...
'') * Frank Van Passel (''
Manneken Pis ''Manneken Pis'' (; ) is a landmark bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as the 15th century, it w ...
'') *
Roland Verhavert Roland Verhavert (1 May 1927 – 26 July 2014) was a Belgian film director. He directed 44 films between 1955 and 1993. He co-directed the 1955 film '' Seagulls Die in the Harbour'', which was entered into the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. His ...
('' Seagulls Die in the Harbour'') * Henry Xhonneux (''
Marquis A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman ...
'') *
Thierry Zéno Thierry Zéno (born Thierry Jonard; 22 April 1950 – 7 June 2017)
, retrieved 10 May 2009.
was a
(''
Vase de Noces ''Vase de Noces'' (also known as ''Wedding Trough'' and ''The Pig Fucking Movie'') is a 1974 Belgian avant-garde art exploitation horror film directed by Thierry Zéno and starring Dominique Garny. The film deals openly, and sometimes graphic ...
'', better known as ''The Pigfucking Movie'')


Musicians and singers

* Salvatore Adamo (Italian living in Belgium) * Alice on the Roof *
Angèle Angèle is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Angèle (singer) (born Angèle Van Laeken, 1995), Belgian singer * Angèle Dola Akofa Aguigah (born 1955), Togolese archaeologist * Angèle Arsenault (1943–2014), Canadian-Acadi ...
*
Geike Arnaert Geike Arnaert (; born 13 September 1979) is a Belgian singer, best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Hooverphonic from 1997 until 2008 and again since 2020. Geike was born in Poperinge and grew up in Westouter, a town that is close to ...
Hooverphonic Hooverphonic is a Belgian band that formed in October 1995. Though originally categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where they could no longer be described as a singular genre, but rather encompass altern ...
*
Natacha Atlas Natacha Atlas ( ar, نتاشا أطلس}; born 20 March 1964) is an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "'' cha'abi moderne''" (modern popular music). Her mu ...
*
Typh Barrow Typh Barrow is a Belgian singer, songwriter, jurist, composer and pianist who was born in Brussels, Belgium. Her style is a mixture of pop and soul music with jazz and blues accents. She is considered by the press to be the Belgian Adele or Amy W ...
* Blanche * Baloji
Starflam Starflam is a Belgian hip hop group from Liège in the French-speaking southern part of Belgium - Wallonia. The group started out in the early 1990s under the name ''H-Posse'' with members DJ Mig One, Fred'alabas, Seg and Balo (AKA Baloji). A f ...
* Tom Barman
dEUS ''Deus'' (, ) is the Latin word for " god" or " deity". Latin ''deus'' and ''dīvus'' ("divine") are in turn descended from Proto-Indo-European *'' deiwos'', "celestial" or "shining", from the same root as '' *Dyēus'', the reconstructed chief ...
* Claude Barzotti *
Plastic Bertrand Roger François Jouret (born 24 February 1954), better known as Plastic Bertrand, is a Belgian musician, songwriter, producer, editor and television presenter, best known for the 1977 international hit single " Ça plane pour moi". Biography ...
– Roger Jouret *
Sam Bettens Sam Bettens (born in 1972) is a Belgian musician and the lead singer of the Belgian band K's Choice. In May 2019, he came out as a transgender man. Career K's Choice In the mid-1990s, Bettens formed the band K's Choice with his brother Ge ...
K's Choice K's Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp, formed in the mid-1990s. The band's core members are brothers Sam Bettens (lead vocals, guitar) and Gert Bettens (guitar, keyboard, vocals). They are joined by Bart Van Lierde (bass), Tom Lodewyc ...
* Sandy Boets
Xandee Xandee is a stage name of Sandy Boets (born 18 December 1978 in Tienen), Flemish singer who represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. At the age of 16 she founded the pop duo Touch of Joy with Serge (Sergio) Quisquater. Sergi ...
*
Francy Boland François Boland (6 November 1929 – 12 August 2005) was a classically trained Belgian jazz composer and pianist. He first gained notice in 1949 and worked with Belgian jazz greats like Bobby Jaspar, and in 1955 he joined Chet Baker's quintet. ...
– jazz pianist, arranger * Bony King of Nowhere * Brahim (Belgian singer) * André Brasseur *
Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...
*
Tina Bride Tina Bride (birth name Kim Poelmans) is a Flemish dance singer. She was born in Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden (; french: link=no, Saint-Trond ; li, Sintruin ) is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgi ...
*
Alex Callier Alex Callier (born 6 December 1972, in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium) is a member of Belgian rock band Hooverphonic Hooverphonic is a Belgian band that formed in October 1995. Though originally categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded ...
– Hooverphonic *
Stef Kamil Carlens Stef Kamil Carlens (September 27, 1970, Antwerp, Belgium) is a singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and record producer. Carlens is best known for his work as the leader of Belgian indie band Independent music (also commonly known as indie ...
Zita Swoon Zita Swoon is a Belgian indie rock group. They entered the music scene of Antwerp in 1993, still under the name A Beatband with the EP ''Jintro Travels The Word In A Skirt''. The group is typical of the music scene in Antwerp, with members play ...
* Philippe Catherine * Ann Christy *
André Cluytens André Cluytens (, ; born Augustin Zulma Alphonse Cluytens; 26 March 19053 June 1967)Baeck E. ''André Cluytens: Itinéraire d’un chef d’orchestre.'' Editions Mardaga, Wavre, 2009. was a Belgian-born French conductor who was active in the con ...
– Belgian-born conductor *
Annie Cordy Léonie Juliana, Baroness Cooreman (16 June 1928 – 4 September 2020), also known by her stage name Annie Cordy, was a Belgian actress and singer. She appeared in more than 50 films from 1954 and staged many memorable appearances at Bruno Coq ...
* Mathieu Crickboom – violinist *
Suzanne Danco Suzanne Danco (22 January 191110 August 2000), was a Belgian international soprano whose career encompassed the opera stages of Europe from Mozart to 20th century roles, recitals, recordings of opera and songs, and later teaching.Shawe-Taylor, Des ...
– soprano *
Marie Daulne Marie Daulne (born 20 October 1964) is a Belgian singer. Daulne was born in Isiro, Haut-Uele District, Democratic Republic of the Congo to a Belgian who was killed that same year by Simba rebels, and to a local Congolese woman. Daulne and her ...
Zap Mama Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
* Jeanine Deckers
Soeur Sourire Jeanne-Paule Marie "Jeannine" Deckers (17 October 1933 – 29 March 1985), better known as Sœur Sourire () and often called The Singing Nun in English-speaking countries, was a Belgian singer-songwriter and a member of the Dominican Order in ...
a.k.a.
The Singing Nun Jeanne-Paule Marie "Jeannine" Deckers (17 October 1933 – 29 March 1985), better known as Sœur Sourire () and often called The Singing Nun in English-speaking countries, was a Belgian singer-songwriter and a member of the Dominican Order in ...
* Wim De Craene *
Arthur De Greef Arthur De Greef may refer to: * Arthur De Greef (composer) Arthur De Greef (10 October 186229 August 1940) was a Belgian pianist and composer. Life and career Born in Louvain, he won first prize in a local music competition at the age of 11 a ...
– pianist and composer *
Jean-Luc De Meyer Jean-Luc De Meyer (born 1957 in Brussels) is a vocalist and lyricist who is best known as the lead vocalist of the Belgian EBM group Front 242. He started singing in the experimental group "Under Viewer" with Patrick Codenys. Both joined Front ...
Front 242 Front 242 is a Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. Pioneering the style they called electronic body music, they are a profound influence on the electronic and industrial music genres. History Formation ...
*
Luc De Vos Luc De Vos (12 July 1962 – 29 November 2014) was a Belgian musician and writer, best known as the lead singer of the Dutch-language alternative rock formation Gorki and as a guest in multiple television shows. He also voiced VW bus in the Flem ...
Gorki *
Tom Dice Tom Dice (born Tom Eeckhout, 25 November 1989) is a Belgian singer-songwriter. He finished runner-up in the Flemish version of ''X Factor (Belgian TV series), The X Factor'' in 2008 using his birth name Tom Eeckhout, but soon after changed his na ...
*
Mike Dierickx Mike Dierickx (born Dirk Dierickx in 20 February 1973), and most commonly recognized under the aliases M.I.K.E. Push or Push, is a Belgian DJ. Best known for the song " Universal Nation", he has also released other singles including "The Leg ...
Push Push may refer to: Music * Mike Dierickx (born 1973), a Belgian producer also known as Push Albums * ''Push'' (Bros album), 1988 * ''Push'' (Gruntruck album), 1992 * ''Push'' (Jacky Terrasson album), 2010 Songs * "Push" (Enrique Iglesias s ...
, M.I.K.E.;
trance Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
DJ and producer *
Elmore D Elmore D (born Daniel Droixhe, 1946, near Liège, Belgium) is a Belgian blues musician. His is a professor at the University of Liège, where he lectures on the history and culture of Wallonia. The name Elmore is a reference to Elmore ...
*
Tim Driesen Tim Driesen is a Belgian actor, notable for roles in both musicals, plays, and television serials. He has composed a full-scale musical as well as a number of pop-songs. In 2007, he created the role of Adrian Banks (a character based on pop-sta ...
*
Maurice Engelen Maurice Joseph François Engelen (born 7 January 1959), known by his stage name Praga Khan, is a Belgian electronic musician. Khan is considered one of the leading pioneers of the new beat/acid house/techno electronic dance music scene that origi ...
Praga Khan Maurice Joseph François Engelen (born 7 January 1959), known by his stage name Praga Khan, is a Belgian electronic musician. Khan is considered one of the leading pioneers of the new beat/acid house/techno electronic dance music scene that origi ...
,
Lords of Acid Lords of Acid is a Belgian/American electronic dance music (EDM) group led by musician Praga Khan. They are best known for making songs with sexual lyrics and sexually explicit tracks, such as their hit " Pussy". History Lords of Acid deb ...
*
Peter Evrard Peter Evrard (born 19 October 1974) is the winner of the first season of '' Idool 2003'', the Belgian version of ''Pop Idol''. Evrard defied the traditional rules of the Idols series by singing rock music instead of the expected pop. Regardless ...
– winner of '' Idool 2003'', Belgian edition of ''
Pop Idol ''Pop Idol'' is a British music competition television series created by Simon Fuller which ran on ITV from 2001 to 2003. The aim of the show was to decide the best new young pop singer (or "pop idol") in the UK based on viewer voting and par ...
'' * Lara Fabian * Frédéric François *
Stéphane Galland Stéphane Galland (born 27 October 1969) is a Belgian jazz drummer and composer. In 2018, the international jazz project called SHIJIN (with Stéphane Galland, saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart Jacques Schwarz-Bart (born 22 December 1962 in Le ...
* Wouter de Backer – Gotye (born in Belgium, now lives in Australia) *
Ferre Grignard Ferre Grignard (13 March 1939 – 8 August 1982) was a Belgian skiffle-singer from Antwerp, Belgium. He had success with a number of songs, such as "Ring Ring, I've Got To Sing", "Yama, Yama, Hey", and "My Crucified Jesus". Biography Ferre ...
* Piet Goddaer
Ozark Henry Piet Goddaer (born 29 April 1970 in Kortrijk) is a Belgian musician, better known by his stage name Ozark Henry. , he has released nine studio albums under the name Ozark Henry. In 2001, he released the album ''To All Our Escapes'' under the nam ...
*
Rita Gorr Rita Gorr (18 February 1926 – 22 January 2012) was a Belgian operatic mezzo-soprano. She possessed a large, rich-toned voice and was an intense singing-actress, especially in dramatic roles such as Ortrud (''Lohengrin'') and Amneris (''Aida'') ...
– mezzo-soprano *
Arthur Grumiaux Baron Arthur Grumiaux (; 21 March 1921 – 16 October 1986) was a Belgian violinist, considered by some to have been "one of the few truly great violin virtuosi of the twentieth century". He has been noted for having a "consistently beautiful t ...
violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
ist *
David Guetta Pierre David Guetta ( , ; born 7 November 1967) is a French DJ and music producer. He has over 10 million album and 65 million single sales globally, with more than 10 billion streams. In 2011, 2020 and 2021, Guetta was voted the number one D ...
– French
disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobil ...
of Belgian descent on mother's side *
Hadise Hadise Açıkgöz (born 22 October 1985). hadisemusic.com is a Belgian-Turkish singer-songwriter, dancer, and television personality. Born and raised in Belgium, her family is of Lezgin- Kumyk origin who settled in Sivas, Turkey. In 2003, she ...
* Fanny Heldy – opera soprano *
Philippe Herreweghe Philippe Maria François Herreweghe, Knight Herreweghe (born 2 May 1947) is a Belgian conductor and choirmaster. Herreweghe founded La Chapelle Royale and Collegium Vocale Gent and is renowned as a conductor, with a repertoire ranging from Re ...
conductor *
Arno Hintjens Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens (21 May 1949 – 23 April 2022), better known by his stage name Arno, was a Belgian singer. He was the frontman of TC Matic, one of the best-known Belgian bands of the 1980s. After the band split in 1986 he enjoye ...
TC Matic *
Bobby Jaspar Bobby Jaspar (20 February 1926 – 28 February 1963) was a Belgian cool jazz and hard bop saxophonist, flautist and composer. Early life Born in Liège, Belgium, Jaspar learned to play piano and clarinet at a young age. Later, he took up ...
* Ya Kid K
Technotronic Technotronic was a Belgian electronic music project formed in 1987 by Jo Bogaert, who originally gained popularity in Europe as a solo artist with various new beat projects, including Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Together with rapper Manuela ...
*
Sandra Kim Sandra Caldarone (born 15 October 1972), better known as Sandra Kim, is a Belgian singer of Italian descent who won the Eurovision Song Contest 1986. Her father was an Italian immigrant from Torrebruna in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo re ...
*
Dani Klein Danielle Schoovaerts (born 1 January 1953), known professionally as Dani Klein, is a Belgian singer, songwriter, band leader and producer, and consistently the center and driving force of the band Vaya Con Dios (1986-1996, 2004-2014 and 2022-). ...
Vaya Con Dios *
Flip Kowlier Flip Kowlier (pseudonym of Filip Willy Mariette Cauwelier, born 15 March 1976 in Izegem, West Flanders) is a Belgian singer-songwriter. He sings in a distinct West Flemish West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in ...
*
Sigiswald Kuijken Sigiswald Kuijken (; born 16 February 1944) is a Belgian violinist, violist, and conductor known for playing on period and original instruments. Biography Kuijken was born in Dilbeek, near Brussels. He was a member of the Alarius Ensemble ...
violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
ist and conductor * Philippe Lafontaine * Victor Lazlo *
Fud Leclerc Ferdinand Urbain Dominic Leclerc (, 1924 – 20 September 2010) was a Belgian singer, who was also the pianist of Juliette Gréco. Leclerc had a career as a pianist, accordionist, songwriter and singer before retiring to travel the world. On hi ...
* Pierre Leemans – conductor and composer *
Jo Lemaire Jo Lemaire (born 5 January 1956) is a Belgian singer and songwriter born in Gembloux, Namur. Beyond her native country, she is also popular in France, Switzerland, Canada, and the Netherlands. Career Jo Lemaire debuted musically in the late ...
*
Jan Leyers Jan Anna August Leyers (born 16 May 1958 in Wilrijk, Belgium) is a singer, songwriter, and television personality. He was a member of the group Soulsister and later became a solo musician and host of various television series. Music career J ...
Soulsister Soulsister is a Belgian music band consisting of Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels that initially existed from 1986 to 1995 and, after a split, reunited in 2007. Soulsister is often designated as SoulSister, the Soul Sisters or Leyers, Michiels an ...
*
Lio Vanda Maria Ribeiro Furtado Tavares de Vasconcelos (born 17 June 1962), known professionally as Lio, is a Portuguese-Belgian singer and actress who was a pop icon in France and Belgium during the 1980s. Life and career Vanda Maria Ribeiro Furt ...
*
Charles Loos Charles Loos (born 29 July 1951 in Brussels) is a Belgian jazz pianist and composer. In 1972 he began studying composition and jazz orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, while he already followed a classical formation in Belgium. ...
*
Helmut Lotti Helmut Lotti (born Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers; 22 October 1969), is a Belgian tenorGoldsmith B (2009)Belgian tenor Helmut Lotti wants to find his own style ''WDEZ''. Retrieved 23 April 2010. and singer-songwriter. Lotti performs in ...
* Machiavel *
Maurane Claudine Luypaerts, better known as Maurane (; 12 November 1960 – 7 May 2018), was a Francophone Belgian singer and actress. Brought to light in the 1980s with her role as Marie-Jeanne in the second version of the rock opera ''Starmania'', ...
*
Paul Michiels Paul Anna Kamiel Michiels (born 15 June 1948) is a Belgian singer and songwriter who became popular for his work with the Belgian music group Soulsister. He has earned the nickname ''Polle Pap'', a name he inherited from a childhood job as a milk ...
– Soulsister * Brian Molko
Placebo A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. In general ...
*
Marc Moulin Marc Moulin (16 August 1942 – 26 September 2008) was a Belgian musician and journalist (print, radio, TV). In the early-mid seventies, he was the leader of the jazz-rock group Placebo (not to be confused with the English rock band with the sa ...
Telex The telex network is a station-to-station switched network of teleprinters similar to a telephone network, using telegraph-grade connecting circuits for two-way text-based messages. Telex was a major method of sending written messages electroni ...
*
Loïc Nottet Loïc Nottet (; born 10 April 1996) is a Belgian singer, songwriter and dancer. He began his career as a singer in the third season of ''The Voice Belgique'' in 2014 and represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, where he placed f ...
*
Mauro Pawlowski Mauro Antonio Pawlowski (born 24 April 1971) is one of the key figures in the Belgium, Belgian contemporary music scene. He was born in Koersel and is of Italians, Italian and Poles, Polish descent. He started his career as frontman of Evil Sup ...
Evil Superstars Evil Superstars was a Belgian indie rock band led by Mauro Pawlowski. Among its members was Millionaire and Eagles of Death Metal guitarist Tim Vanhamel. History Evil Superstars was formed in 1992 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The original memb ...
,
dEUS ''Deus'' (, ) is the Latin word for " god" or " deity". Latin ''deus'' and ''dīvus'' ("divine") are in turn descended from Proto-Indo-European *'' deiwos'', "celestial" or "shining", from the same root as '' *Dyēus'', the reconstructed chief ...
*
Bart Peeters Bart August Maria Peeters (born 30 November 1959) is a Belgian singer, musician, television presenter and actor. Biography Early years Peeters studied Germanic philology and drama in Antwerp. There, he met Jan Leyers and Hugo Matthysen, with ...
*
Belle Perez Maribel Pérez (born 29 January 1976), best known by her stage name Belle Perez, is a Belgian-Spanish musician and songwriter. Born in Neerpelt to Spanish parents as María Isabelle Pérez Cerezo, the Flemish singer was discovered for her musica ...
*
Frédérique Petrides Frédérique Petrides (pronounced peh TREE dis), (September 26, 1903 – January 12, 1983), was a Belgian-American conductor and violinist. In 1933, she founded and conducted the Orchestrette Classique in New York. It consisted of women musici ...
(née Mayer) – conductor *
Pol Plançon Pol Henri Plançon (; 12 June 1851 – 11 August 1914) was a distinguished French operatic bass (''basse chantante''). He was one of the most acclaimed singers active during the 1880s, 1890s and early 20th century—a period often referred to a ...
– basso *
Pierre Rapsat Pierre Rapsat (born Pierre Raepsaet, 28 May 1948 – 20 April 2002) was a Belgian singer-songwriter who had a very successful career in his homeland and also spells of popularity in other Francophone countries. Outside these areas, he is best know ...
*
Hugo Raspoet Hugo Raspoet (2 November 1940 – 3 October 2018) was a Flemish kleinkunst singer and guitarist. He is most famous for his signature song "Helena" (1970) and the controversial song " Evviva Il Papa" (1969), which was banned from the radio for crit ...
*
Axelle Red Fabienne Demal (born 15 February 1968), better known by her stage name Axelle Red, is a Belgian singer-songwriter. She has released 11 albums, including '' Sans plus attendre'', '' À Tâtons'', '' Toujours Moi'' and '' Jardin Secret''; she is b ...
*
Django Reinhardt Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django ( or ), was a Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most ...
*
Roméo Elvis Roméo Johnny Elvis Kiki Van Laeken (; born 13 December 1992), better known by his stage name Roméo Elvis (), is a Belgian rapper and hip hop artist. His career began with the release of two EPs in 2013 and 2014, titled ''Bruxelles c'est deve ...
*
Kate Ryan Kate Ryan (born Katrien Verbeeck, 22 July 1980) is a Belgian singer and songwriter, and the winner of a World Music Award. She began her singing career in 2001 and later found fame with a string of dance hits. These included covers, mostly of ...
*
Liliane Saint-Pierre Liliane Saint-Pierre (born Liliane Louise Keuninckx, 18 December 1948) is a Belgian pop singer. Hailing from Flanders, she sings mostly in Dutch. She competed at Eurovision Song Contest 1987 with the song " Soldiers of Love". Biography Lilian ...
*
Bobbejaan Schoepen Bobbejaan Schoepen (a pseudonym of Modest Schoepen; 16 May 1925 – 17 May 2010) was a Flemish pioneer in Belgian pop music, vaudeville, and European country music. Schoepen was a versatile entertainer, entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, guit ...
* Siouxsie Sioux (Belgian father, English mother) *
Jonas Steur Jonas Steur () is a Belgian trance DJ and producer. He is known under several additional aliases, most notably Estuera, the name under which he released most of his music until 2005 when he began DJing and releasing music under his birth name J ...
– trance DJ and producer *
Stromae Paul van Haver (; born 12 March 1985), better known by his stage name Stromae (), is a Belgian singer, rapper, songwriter and producer. He is mostly known for his music blending hip hop and electronic music. Stromae came to wide public attenti ...
*
Selah Sue Selah Sue (born Sanne Greet A. Putseys,Wensink, Herien (2009)A Flemish singer with a Jamaican soul, NRC, 21 August 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2010 3 May 1989) is a Belgian musician and songwriter. Her debut album, '' Selah Sue'' (2011), was a ma ...
* Woodie Smalls – Rapper and Songwriter * Tamino *
Toots Thielemans Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his chromatic harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistl ...
* René Thomas * Rudy Trouvé * Will Tura * Luc van Acker – of the Revolting Cocks * Urbanus van Anus *
Tim Vanhamel Tim Wessel Vanhamel (born 11 December 1977 in Zonhoven, Belgium) is a Belgian rock musician who has been a member of and performed with a number of bands including Evil Superstars, Deus and Eagles of Death Metal. He is also the frontman of his ...
Evil Superstars Evil Superstars was a Belgian indie rock band led by Mauro Pawlowski. Among its members was Millionaire and Eagles of Death Metal guitarist Tim Vanhamel. History Evil Superstars was formed in 1992 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The original memb ...
,
Eagles of Death Metal Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998. Founded by Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (drums), the band also includes a wide range of other musicians who perform both on the band' ...
,
Millionaire A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. Depending on the currency, a certain level of prestige is associated with being a millionaire. In countries that use the short scal ...
* Paul Van Haver
Stromae Paul van Haver (; born 12 March 1985), better known by his stage name Stromae (), is a Belgian singer, rapper, songwriter and producer. He is mostly known for his music blending hip hop and electronic music. Stromae came to wide public attenti ...
*
Raymond van het Groenewoud Raymond van het Groenewoud (born 14 February 1950) is a Belgian musician. He was born in Schaerbeek, of Dutch descent, and he sings primarily in Dutch. His biggest hits include "Vlaanderen Boven", "Meisjes", "Je Veux de l'Amour", "Zjoske Schone M ...
*
Dirk Verbeuren Dirk Verbeuren (born 8 January 1975) is a Belgian musician and the current drummer of American thrash metal band Megadeth, amongst other projects. He previously was a member of the Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. Verbeuren recorded ...
Soilwork Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name ''Inferior Breed'', the band changed their name in late 1996 to ...
*
Peter Verhoyen Peter Verhoyen is a flautist and piccolo player. Biography Peter Verhoyen is principal piccolo of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, co-founder of the chamber music ensemble ''Arco Baleno'', professor of piccolo at the Royal Conservatoire Ant ...
flutist The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
*
Eddy Wally Eduard Van De Walle (12 July 1932 – 6 February 2016), known by his stage name Eddy Wally, was a Belgian schlager singer from Zelzate, East Flanders, and the once self-proclaimed "Voice of Europe". As a crooner and showman, Eddy Wally toured ...
*
Koen Wauters Koen Maria Gaston Wauters (born 17 September 1967) is a Flemish singer, active with the band Clouseau, television presenter, and occasionally actor and race car driver. Biography Koen Wauters was born in Halle in 1967. Together with his three br ...
Clouseau Inspector Jacques Clouseau (), later granted the rank of Chief Inspector, is a fictional character in Blake Edwards' farcical ''The Pink Panther'' series. He is portrayed by Peter Sellers in the original series, and also by Alan Arkin in the ...
*
Kris Wauters Kris Wauters (born 21 December 1964) is a Flemish artist, active with the band Clouseau combined with his brother Koen Wauters Koen Maria Gaston Wauters (born 17 September 1967) is a Flemish singer, active with the band Clouseau, television p ...
– Clouseau * Anne Wolf – pianist *
Eugène Ysaÿe Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe (; 16 July 185812 May 1931) was a Belgian virtuoso violinist, composer, and conductor. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tsar". Legend of the Ysaÿe violin Eugène Ysa ...
violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
ist and
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Def ...


Theater directors

* Christian Labeau * Stephen Shank


Politicians


A – C

* ''
Frans Ackerman Frans Ackerman (–1387), Latinised Franciscus Agricola, was one of the most famous Flemish statesmen and military leaders of the 14th century. Life Ackerman was born in Ghent. Rallying to Philip van Artevelde in the Ghent Revolt of 1379 again ...
'' *
Magda Aelvoet Magdalena Godelieve Hilda Aelvoet (born 4 April 1944) is a Belgian politician in Flanders. She was a provincial senator for Antwerp between 1985 and 1991 and a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the district of Leuven between 199 ...
*
Meyrem Almaci Meyrem Almaci (Sint-Niklaas, 25 February 1976) is a Belgian politician from Flanders and member of the ecological party Groen. On 10 June 2007, she was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the first time. She was re-elected in 20 ...
*
Bert Anciaux Bert Jozef Herman Vic Anciaux (born 11 September 1959) is a Belgian politician and Vooruit faction leader in the Belgian Senate. He was one of the founders of Spirit (later known as the Flemish Progressives, then the Social Liberal Party, or S ...
*
Jules Joseph d'Anethan Jules Joseph, Baron d'Anethan (23 April 1803 – 8 October 1888) was a Belgian Catholic Party politician. After serving as minister for Justice and Religion, D'Anethan was named the prime minister of Belgium and minister of Foreign Affairs by K ...
*
Gerolf Annemans Gerolf Emma Jozef Annemans (born 8 November 1958) is a Belgian lawyer, journalist and politician of the Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang (VB) and formerly of its predecessor, the Vlaams Blok. He has been a member of the European Parliame ...
*
Bernard Anselme Bernard Anselme (born 3 November 1945) was the 6th Minister-President of Wallonia in Belgium from 11 May 1988 to 7 January 1992. Biography Bernard Anselme was born on 3 November 1945 in Mouscron, Wallonia to a postal worker. After his father w ...
*
Marie Arena Marie Arena (born 17 December 1966) is a Belgian politician who has been serving as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2014. She is a member of the Socialist Party, part of the Party of European Socialists. Career in national politics ...
*
Auguste Beernaert Auguste Marie François Beernaert (26 July 1829 – 6 October 1912) was the prime minister of Belgium from October 1884 to March 1894, and the 1909 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Life Born in Ostend in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands 1829, h ...
Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolo ...
1908 *
Wouter Beke Wouter Beke (born 9 August 1974) is a Belgian politician and a member of the CD&V. He was reelected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 2007. In 2014 he became a member of the Belgian Federal House of Representatives and was reelected in 2019. ...
* Ivo Belet *
Ward Beysen Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
*
Fons Borginon Alfons "Fons" Borginon (born 12 July 1966) is a Belgian politician and lawyer. He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives between 1995 and 2007. Borginon was the last chairman of the Volksunie and Flemish Liberals and Democrats ...
* Geert Bourgeois * Frederika Brepoels *
Charles de Broqueville Charles Marie Pierre Albert, 1st Count de Broqueville (4 December 1860 – 5 September 1940) was the prime minister of Belgium, serving during World War I. Before 1914 Charles de Broqueville was born into an old noble family with its roots in ...
* Henri de Brouckere *
Jules de Burlet Jules Philippe Marie de Burlet (10 April 1844 – 1 March 1897) was a Belgian Catholic Party politician. Born in Ixelles, de Burlet was educated as a lawyer. He practised law in Nivelles, where he made his home, and he served as mayor of the to ...
*
Bernard du Bus de Gisignies Bernard Amé Léonard du Bus de Gisignies (21 June 1808 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode – 6 July 1874 in Bad Ems) was a Dutch nobleman and later on a Belgian politician, ornithologist and paleontologist. He was the second son of Leonard Pierre J ...
*
Philippe Busquin Philippe Busquin (born 6 January 1941) is a Belgian politician. Busquin was born in Feluy. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 for the French Community of Belgium with the Parti Socialiste, part of the Socialist Gro ...
*
Henri Carton de Wiart :''This article uses a Belgian surname: the surname is Carton de Wiart, not Wiart.'' Henry Victor Marie Ghislain, Count Carton de Wiart (31 January 1869 – 6 May 1951) was the prime minister of Belgium from 20 November 1920 to 6 May 1921. He wa ...
* Marcel Cheron * Willy Claes *
Philip Claeys Philip Claeys (; born 24 May 1965) is a Belgian Flanders-based politician for the Vlaams Belang. Claeys was a Member of the European Parliament from 2003 to 2014. He participated in the international counter-jihad conferences in Brussels in 2007 ...
*
Guy Coëme Guy Coëme (born 21 August 1946) is a Francophone Belgian politician for the Socialist Party (PS). He served as 5th Minister-President of Wallonia from February to May 1988. Coëme served as minister of defence in the government Martens VIII an ...
*
Alexandra Colen Alexandra Maria Catherine Colen (born 9 July 1955) is a Belgian politician. She was member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Vlaams Belang party from 21 May 1995 until May 2014. She holds a PhD in linguistics, and is known for h ...
*
André Cools André H.P. Cools (1 August 1927 – 18 July 1991) was a Belgian politician and a senior figure within the Walloon Socialist Party (PS) in the Liège region. He was assassinated in 1991 and the subsequent investigation uncovered widespread graft ...
* Gerhard Cooreman * Hugo Coveliers *
Hilde Crevits Hilde Urbanie Julia Crevits (born 28 June 1967, in Torhout) is a Belgian politician from Flanders and member of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party who is currently the Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social economy and Ag ...


D

*
Rik Daems Hendrik Jules Joseph "Rik" Daems (born 18 August 1959) is a Belgian painter, wine trader and politician who served as the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 2020 to 2022, a 70-year-old body bringing together par ...
* Michel Daerden *
André Damseaux André Damseaux (5 March 1937 – 29 March 2007) was a Belgian politician, second Minister-President of Wallonia and Member of the European Parliament. Life André Damseaux was born on 5 March 1937 in Verviers, Belgium. In 1961, Damseaux gain ...
*
José Daras José Daras (born 28 May 1948 in Malonne) is a Belgian politician and a member of Ecolo. Early professional career Before dedicating his life to his political career, José Daras taught geography during 10 years. Political career He is ...
*
August De Boodt Augustus Franciscus Joseph De Boodt ( Nieuwmunster, December 30, 1895, Turnhout, March 21, 1986) was from 1936 to 1968, senator District Mechelen – Turnhout. He was a member of the CVP (now CD&V). He was Councilor Turnhout from 1936 to 1946. In ...
* Stefaan De Clerck *
Willy De Clercq Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq (8 July 1927 – 28 October 2011) was a Belgian liberal politician. De Clercq was born in Ghent, son of Frans de Clercq.Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62 After his law and notariat s ...
*
Herman De Croo Herman Francies Joseph De Croo (born 12 August 1937) is a Belgian politician of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats. First elected in March 1968, he is the longest serving Belgian member of parliament, serving uninterrupted until 2014. He is ...
*
Alexander De Croo Alexander De Croo (born 3 November 1975) is a Belgian politician and businessman who has served as the prime minister of Belgium since October 2020. De Croo was born in Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, and studied business engineering at the Vrije ...
*
Armand De Decker Armand De Decker (8 October 1948 – 12 June 2019) was a Belgian politician and member of the French-speaking liberal party Mouvement Réformateur (MR). De Decker studied law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and practised law. He was also ...
*
Jean-Marie Dedecker Jean-Marie Louis Dedecker (born 13 June 1952) is a Belgian politician. In 1999 and 2003, Dedecker was directly elected to the Belgian Senate for the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). In 2004 Dedecker ran for a seat in the Flemish Parlia ...
* Jean Defraigne * Magda De Galan *
Léon Degrelle Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle (; 15 June 1906 – 31 March 1994) was a Belgian Walloon politician and Nazi collaborator. He rose to prominence in Belgium in the 1930s as the leader of the Rexist Party (Rex). During the German occupatio ...
* Karel De Gucht *
Bart De Wever Bart Albert Liliane De Wever ( born 21 December 1970) is a Belgian politician. Since 2004 De Wever has been the leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a political party advocating for the independence of Flanders. He is also a member of the ...
*
Jean Duvieusart Jean Pierre Duvieusart (10 April 1900 – 10 October 1977) was a Belgian Catholic politician of the PSC-CVP who served as prime minister of Belgium from June to August in 1950. Political career Jean Duvieusart became a member of the Chamber ...
*
Jean-Luc Dehaene Jean Luc Joseph Marie "Jean-Luc" Dehaene (; 7 August 1940 – 15 May 2014) was a Belgian politician who served as the prime minister of Belgium from 1992 until 1999. During his political career, he was nicknamed "The Plumber" and "The Mineswee ...
*
Jean-Maurice Dehousse Jean-Maurice Dehousse (born 11 October 1936) is a former Member of the European Parliament who served Belgium between 1999 and 2004 as a member of the Parti Socialiste. He was the first and third Minister-President of Wallonia. Life Jean-Mau ...
* Véronique De Keyser * Leon Delacroix *
Francis Delpérée Francis, Baron Delpérée () is a Belgian politician and a member of the cdH born on 14 January 1942 in Liege. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 2007. During his studies at the Université catholique de Louvain he was a mem ...
* Hendrik de Man *
Rudy Demotte Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to: People Given name or nickname *Rudolf Rudy Andeweg (born 1952), Dutch poli ...
*
Gérard Deprez Gérard M.J. Deprez (born 13 August 1943 in Noville, Bastogne) is a Belgian politician. He was the president of the Walloon Christian Social Party (PSC) from 1981 to 1996. In 1998 he left the PSC and founded the Citizens' Movement for Change (M ...
* Erik Derycke * ''
Paul Deschanel Paul Eugène Louis Deschanel (; 13 February 1855, in Schaerbeek28 April 1922) was a French politician. He served as President of France from 18 February to 21 September 1920. Biography Paul Deschanel, the son of Émile Deschanel (1819–190 ...
'' *
Alain Destexhe Alain Destexhe (born 19 June 1958) is a Belgian politician. He was a senator from 1995 to 2011, and remained a member of the Brussels Regional Parliament until 2019. Destexhe was a member of the liberal Mouvement Réformateur (MR) and repre ...
*
Mia De Vits Marie Louise "Mia" De Vits (born 31 March 1950) is a Belgian politician. De Vits started her career with the socialist trade union ABVV in 1973, rising through the ranks to become Secretary-General (1989–2002) and its chairman (2002–2004). ...
*
Patrick Dewael Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael, (; born 13 October 1955) is a liberal Belgian politician. A member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (''Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten'', VLD), he served as Minister-President of Flanders from 1999 to 2003. He i ...
*
Filip Dewinter Philip Michel Frans "Filip" Dewinter (born 11 September 1962) is a Belgian politician. He is one of the leading members of Vlaams Belang, a right-wing Flemish nationalist and secessionist political party. Together with Hugo Coveliers of the VLO ...
*
Karel Dillen Karel Cornelia Constantijn Dillen (16 October 1925 – 27 April 2007) was a far-right Belgian politician and Flemish nationalist. Life According to Paul Beliën, editor of the Brussels Journal, "Dillen came from a non-political background. ...
*
Koenraad Dillen Koenraad Francine Gaston "Koen" Dillen (born 6 November 1964) is a Belgian politician and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Flanders with the Vlaams Belang, sitting in the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty group in the Europea ...
*
Elio Di Rupo Elio Di Rupo (; born 18 July 1951) is a Belgian politician who has served as the minister-president of Wallonia since 2019. He is affiliated with the Socialist Party. Di Rupo previously served as the prime minister of Belgium from 6 December 201 ...
* François-Xavier de Donnea * Vera Dua * Daniel Ducarme * Antoine Duquesne * Isabelle Durant


E – K

* ''Lamoral, Count of Egmont, Lamoral Egmont'' * Saïd El Khadraoui * Gaston Eyskens * Mark Eyskens * Michel Foret * Richard Fournaux * Walthère Frère-Orban * Jaak Gabriëls * Isabelle Gatti * Gaston Geens * Koen Geens * Caroline Gennez * Jacques Germeaux * Jean Gol * Mathieu Grosch * Michel Hansenne * Pierre Harmel * Hervé Hasquin * Arthur Haulot * Alain Hutchinson * Camille Huysmans * Paul-Émile Janson * Henri Jaspar * Pierre Jonckheer


L

* Henri La Fontaine –
Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolo ...
1913 * Julien Lahaut (1884–1950) – chairman of the Communist Party of Belgium, Communist Party, assassinated * Roger Lallemand * Auguste, Baron Lambermont, Auguste Lambermont * Karl-Heinz Lambertz * Renaat Landuyt * Raymond Langendries * Joseph Lebeau * Edmond Leburton * Théo Lefèvre, Theodore Lefèvre * Yves Leterme * Anne-Marie Lizin


M

* Nelly Maes * Philippe Mahoux * Olivier Maingain * Jules Malou * Jean-Claude Marcourt * Ludo Martens * Wilfried Martens * Philippe Maystadt * Charles Michel (Belgian politician), Charles Michel * Louis Michel * Joëlle Milquet * Philippe Monfils * Philippe Moureaux * Felix de Muelenare


N–R

* Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck * Jean-Baptiste Nothomb * Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb * Laurette Onkelinx * Kris Peeters * Joseph Pholien * Charles Picqué * Hubert Pierlot * Prosper Poullet * Jules Renkin * Jean Rey (politician), Jean Rey * Didier Reynders * Frédérique Ries * Charles Rogier * Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns – founder of Institut de Droit International, adviser to Rama V of Thailand *
Jean-Pierre Van Rossem Jean-Pierre Van Rossem (29 May 1945 – 13 December 2018) was a Belgian stock market guru, economist, econometrician, convicted fraudster, author, philosopher, public figure, politician, and member of the Belgian and Flemish Parliament ...


S–U

* Hugo Schiltz (1927–2006) * Frans Schollaert * Jacques Simonet * Miet Smet * Paul de Smet de Naeyer * Bart Somers * Antoinette Spaak * Paul-Henri Spaak * Guy Spitaels * Bart Staes * Dirk Sterckx * Steve Stevaert * Frank Swaelen * Marc Tarabella * George Theunis * Bartholemy Théodore de Theux * Freddy Thielemans * Marianne Thyssen * Leo Tindemans * Bruno Tobback * Louis Tobback * Jules de Trooz


V

* Achille van Acker * Jacob van Artevelde * Frans Van Cauwelaert * Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe * Johan Vande Lanotte * Hugo Vandenberghe *
Paul Vanden Boeynants Paul Emile François Henri Vanden Boeynants (; 22 May 1919 – 9 January 2001) was a Belgian politician.
Rulers. Retrieved 30 August 2014.< ...
* Freya Van den Bossche * Luc Van den Bossche * Frank Vandenbroucke (politician), Frank Vandenbroucke * Jules Vandenpeereboom * The family Vanderpoorten: Arthur Vanderpoorten, Arthur, Herman Vanderpoorten, Herman and Marleen Vanderpoorten, Marleen * Emile Vandervelde * Frank Vanhecke * Johan Van Hecke * Pierre-Edouard van Humbeeck * Anne Van Lancker * Dirk Van Mechelen * Karel Van Miert * Vincent Van Quickenborne * Eric Van Rompuy * Herman Van Rompuy *
Jean-Pierre Van Rossem Jean-Pierre Van Rossem (29 May 1945 – 13 December 2018) was a Belgian stock market guru, economist, econometrician, convicted fraudster, author, philosopher, public figure, politician, and member of the Belgian and Flemish Parliament ...
* Paul Van Zeeland * Guy Verhofstadt * Inge Vervotte


W – Y

* Melchior Wathelet * Freddy Willockx * Charles Woeste * Yvan Ylieff


Religious figures


Saints

* ''St. Damien of Molokai'' * ''St. Gertrude of Nivelles'' * ''St. Gudula, Gudula from Brussels and Eibingen – National Saint of Belgium and Patroness of Brussels'' * ''St. Hubertus'' * ''St. John Berchmans'' * ''St. Meingold of Huy''


Theologians and clergymen

* Joseph André – priest, Righteous among the Nations * Pieter Jan Beckx – 22nd Superior General of the Jesuits * Bollandist, Jean Bolland – hagiographer * Adolf Daens – priest and politician * Godfried Danneels – cardinal * Victor-Auguste Dechamps – cardinal * Jozef De Kesel – cardinal * Jacques Dupuis (priest), Jacques Dupuis – Jesuit theologian (interreligious dialogue) * Pierre-Lambert Goossens – cardinal * ''Henry of Ghent'' – medieval philosopher * Augustinus Hunnaeus – theologian * Cornelius Jansen – bishop, theologian (Jansenism) * Jean-Baptiste Janssens – 27th Superior General of the Jesuits * Gustaaf Joos – cardinal * Peter Paul Lefevere – bishop * André-Mutien Léonard – archbishop * Leonardus lessius, Leonardus Lessius – Jesuit theologian * Joseph Maréchal – philosopher, psychologist * Désiré-Joseph Mercier – cardinal * Everard Mercurian – 4th Superior General of the Jesuits * Charles de Noyelle – 12th Superior General of the Jesuits * Georges Pire – Dominican priest,
Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolo ...
1958 * Edward Poppe – blessed priest * Jozef-Ernest van Roey – cardinal * Blessed John of Ruysbroeck, John Ruysbroeck – mystic * Jan Pieter Schotte – cardinal * Brother René Stockman – Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity * Leo Jozef Suenens – cardinal * Franciscus van den Enden#A pioneer of the democratic idea, Franciscus van den Enden – philosopher, teacher, pioneer of the idea of democracy * Ferdinand Verbiest – Society of Jesus, Jesuit missionary in China, astronomer


Resistance activists

* Marie Bouffa (1882–1945) * Albert Guérisse (1911–1989) * Arthur Haulot (1913–2005) * Andrée de Jongh, Andrée "Dédée" de Jongh (1916–2007) * Marcel Louette (1907–1978) * Edgard Potier (1903–1944) * Henri Reynders (1903–1981) * Suzanne Spaak (1905–1944) * Gabrielle Weidner (1914–1945) * Johan Hendrik Weidner (1912–1994)


Scientists


Astronauts

* Frank De Winne * Dirk Frimout – first Belgian astronaut


Botanists

* Alfred Cogniaux (1841–1916) * ''Rembert Dodoens'' (1517–1585) * Barthélemy Charles Joseph du Mortier * Annick Wilmotte (graduated 1982) – polar microbiologist


Chemists

* ''Jan Baptist van Helmont'' (1579–1644) – chemist and physician * Jean-Claude Lorquet – theoretical chemistry, theoretical chemist * Ilya Prigogine – theoretical chemistry, theoretical chemist Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1977 (born in Russia) * Ernest Solvay * Jean Stas


Geographers

* Gerardus Mercator * Abraham Ortelius


Geologists

* Gaston Briart * Alphonse François Renard – geologist and Petrography, petrographer


Inventors and engineers

* Leo Hendrik Baekeland – inventor of bakelite * Alfred Belpaire – steam locomotive engineer * Robert Cailliau – information and control engineer * Joan Daemen – cryptographer (Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Rijndael) * Zénobe Gramme – electrical engineer * Étienne Lenoir – engineer * John Joseph Merlin – inventor associated with Cox's timepiece; also invented inline skates in 1759 * Bart Preneel – cryptographer * Vincent Rijmen – cryptographer (Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Rijndael) * Adolphe Sax – inventor of the saxophone * ''Rennequin Sualem'' – created the Machine de Marly * Arthur Vierendeel – engineer and inventor of the Truss#Vierendeel truss, Vierendeel truss * Egide Walschaerts – steam locomotive engineer and inventor of the Walschaerts valve gear * André Waterkeyn – engineer, best known for creating the Atomium


Mathematicians

* François d'Aguilon – mathematician and physicist (optics) * Jean Bourgain * Eugène Charles Catalan * Ingrid Daubechies – mathematician and physicist * Pierre Deligne – Fields Medal 1978 * Jan Denef * Jean-Charles de la Faille * Victor D'Hondt – lawyer and mathematician * Maurice Kraitchik – number theorist and recreational mathematician * Constantin Le Paige * Adolphe Quetelet – mathematician and statistician * Grégoire de Saint-Vincent * Simon Stevin – mathematician and engineer * André Tacquet * Antoine Thomas – mathematician and astronomer (in China) * Joseph Tilly * Jacques Tits * Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin * Adriaan van Roomen


Medical scientists

* Jules Bordet – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1919 * Albert Claude – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974 * Christian De Duve – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974 (born in Britain of Belgian parents) * Corneille Heymans – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1938 * Albert Hustin – medical doctor, the first to practice non-direct blood transfusion * Paul Janssen – scientist and founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica * Marc Lacroix (biochemist), Marc Lacroix – biochemist and cancer researcher * Benoît Lengelé – medical doctor, the first to perform a partial face transplant * Louis-Joseph Seutin – surgeon * Edouard Van Beneden – embryologist, cytologist and marine biologist * Catherine Verfaillie – stem cell researcher * Andreas Vesalius – anatomist * Luc Calliauw – brain surgeon and professor *Rudi Pauwels – pharmacologist and entrepreneur


Philosophers

* Jan Deckers * ''Luce Irigaray'' – French philosopher, born in Belgium * Isabelle Stengers * Etienne Vermeersch


Physicists

* Robert Brout * François Englert – Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 * Jean-Pierre Leburton * Georges Lemaître – deviser of the Big Bang Theory * Joseph Plateau * Daniel Zajfman (born 1959) – Israeli physicist; president of the Weizmann Institute


Political scientists and theorists

* Rik Coolsaet * Vincent de Coorebyter * Abram Leon * Ernest Mandel * Chantal Mouffe


Social scientists

* ''Paul Jorion'' – anthropologist, sociologist, cognitive scientist, and economist * ''Claude Lévi-Strauss'' – French social scientist born in Belgium * Renee Rabinowitz – psychologist and lawyer


Others

* ''Louis De Geer (1587–1652), Louis De Geer'' (1587–1652) – born in Liège; considered the father of Swedish industry * Charles Frédéric Dubois and his son Alphonse Joseph Charles Dubois – naturalists * Adrien de Gerlache – explorer * John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster – born in Ghent * ''Justus Lipsius'' – classical philologian * Michel Louette – ornithologist * Paul Otlet – information architect * Marc Waelkens – archaeologist


Sports


Automobile racing

* Philippe Adams – Formula One driver * Éric Bachelart – IndyCar driver * Bertrand Baguette – 2009 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season, 2009 World Series by Renault champion, American Championship Car Racing, IndyCar driver * Georges Berger – Formula One driver * Lucien Bianchi – Formula One driver * Thierry Boutsen – automobile racing, racing driver * Johnny Claes – Formula One driver * Jérôme d'Ambrosio – Formula One and Formula E driver * Grégoire De Mévius – rally driver * Didier de Radiguès – MotoGP rider and sports car racer * Charles de Tornaco – Formula One driver * Marc Duez – automobile racing, racing driver * François Duval – rallying, rally driver * Paul Frère – Formula One driver * Bertrand Gachot – automobile racing, racing driver * Olivier Gendebien – race car driver * Christian Goethals – Formula One driver * Jan Heylen – Champ Car veteran * Jacky Ickx – automobile racing, racing driver * Vanina Ickx – daughter of Jacky, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans regular * Camille Jenatzy – race car driver * Arthur Legat – Formula One driver * Bas Leinders – automobile racing, racing driver * Freddy Loix – rally driver * Willy Mairesse – Formula One driver * André Milhoux – Formula One driver * Thierry Neuville – rally driver * Patrick Nève – Formula One driver * André Pilette – Formula One driver * Teddy Pilette (born 1942) – Formula One driver * Théodore Pilette – racing driver * Lance Stroll (born 1998) – Belgian-Canadian racing driver * Jacques Swaters – Formula One driver * Didier Theys – Sportscar and IndyCar driver * Bruno Thiry – rally driver * Eric van de Poele – Formula One driver * Stoffel Vandoorne – Formula One and Formula E driver *
Jean-Pierre Van Rossem Jean-Pierre Van Rossem (29 May 1945 – 13 December 2018) was a Belgian stock market guru, economist, econometrician, convicted fraudster, author, philosopher, public figure, politician, and member of the Belgian and Flemish Parliament ...
– Owner of Onyx Grand Prix, Onyx Moneytron Grand Prix (Formula One Team) * Max Verstappen – Belgian-Dutch Formula One driver


Basketball

* Julie Allemand * Marjorie Carpréaux * Antonia Delaere * Manu Lecomte (born 1995) * Emma Meesseman * Hanne Mestdagh * Kim Mestdagh * Retin Obasohan * Tomas Van Den Spiegel * Willy Steveniers *Andy Van Vliet * Ann Wauters *Maxime De Zeeuw


Cycling

''Including mountain biking and cyclo-cross'' * Mario Aerts * Benoni Beheyt * Kenny Belaey * Tom Boonen * Johan Bruyneel * Alex Close * Fred de Bruyne * Nicky Degrendele – world champion keirin * Erik De Vlaeminck – cyclo-cross * Roger De Vlaeminck * Etienne De Wilde * Stijn Devolder * Jolien D'Hoore * Hélène Dutrieu * Remco Evenepoel * Philippe Gilbert * Matthew Gilmore – Australian-turned-Belgian * Willy Lauwers * Roland Liboton – cyclo-cross * Freddy Maertens * Romain Maes * Filip Meirhaeghe – mountain biking, mountain biker * Axel Merckx – son of Eddy Merckx * Eddy Merckx – considered by many as the greatest cyclist ever * Jean-Pierre Monseré * Johan Museeuw * Sven Nys – cyclo-cross * Stan Ockers * Alberic Schotte * Patrick Sercu * Andrei Tchmil – Soviet-turned-Ukrainian-turned-Belgian * Philippe Thys * Wout Van Aert * Greg Van Avermaet – Olympic champion * Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist), Frank Vandenbroucke * Lucien Van Impe * Rik Van Looy * Rik Van Steenbergen


Fencing

* Henri Anspach – épée and foil (fencing), foil fencer, Olympic champion * Paul Anspach – épée and foil fencer, two-time Olympic champion * Jacques Ochs (1883–1971) – épée, saber, and foil fencer, Olympic champion *Gaston Salmon (1878–1917) – épée fencer, Olympic champion


Football (soccer)

'': Belgian footballers'' * Philippe Albert – player * Toby Alderweireld – player * Aimé Anthuenis – coach (sport), coach * Christian Benteke – player * Jean-Marc Bosman – player * Jan Ceulemans – player, coach * Lei Clijsters – player, coach * Rik Coppens – player * Thibaut Courtois – goalkeeper * Frank De Bleeckere – referee * Kevin De Bruyne – player * Steven Defour – player * Marc Degryse – player * Mousa Dembélé (footballer, born 1987), Mousa Dembélé – player * Marouane Fellaini – player * Eric Gerets – player, coach * Raymond Goethals – coach (sport), coach * Georges Grün – player * Eden Hazard – player * Thorgan Hazard – player * Stein Huysegems – player * Karel Kesselaers – player * Vincent Kompany – player * Romelu Lukaku – player * Joseph Mermans – player * Vic Mees – player * Roy Meeus – player * Thomas Meunier – player * Simon Mignolet – goalkeeper * Kevin Mirallas – player * Emile Mpenza – player * Jean-Marie Pfaff – goalkeeper * Michel Preud'homme – goalkeeper, coach * Enzo Scifo – player, coach * Timmy Simons – player * Wesley Sonck – player * Lorenzo Staelens – player * Guy Thys – coach (sport), coach * Youri Tielemans – player * Gilbert Van Binst – player * Daniel Van Buyten – player * Erwin Vandenbergh – player * Constant Vanden Stock – honorary president and former president and player of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht * Roger Vanden Stock – president of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht * Franky Van der Elst – player * Wim Van Diest – player * Paul Van Himst – player, coach * Wilfried Van Moer – player * Franky Vercauteren – player, coach * Gert Verheyen – player * Thomas Vermaelen – player * Jan Vertonghen – player * Bernard Voorhoof – player * Marc Wilmots – association football, football player and elected Belgian Senate, senator * Axel Witsel – player


Golf

* Laetitia Beck (born 1992) – Belgian-born Israeli golfer * Nicolas Colsaerts – Ryder Cup winner * Thomas Pieters – European Tour winner


Judo

* Ingrid Berghmans – judoka, Olympic champion * Matthias Casse – judoka *
Jean-Marie Dedecker Jean-Marie Louis Dedecker (born 13 June 1952) is a Belgian politician. In 1999 and 2003, Dedecker was directly elected to the Belgian Senate for the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). In 2004 Dedecker ran for a seat in the Flemish Parlia ...
– coach * Ilse Heylen – judoka * Marisabel Lomba – judoka * Heidi Rakels – judoka * Harry Van Barneveld – judoka * Gella Vandecaveye – judoka * Robert Van De Walle – judoka, Olympic champion * Charline Van Snick – judoka * Dirk Van Tichelt – judoka * Ulla Werbrouck – judoka, Olympic champion


Motocross

* René Baeten – 1958 500cc motocross World Champion * Marnicq Bervoets – top motocross competitor from the 1990s * Sven Breugelmans – 2005 MX3-GP World Champion * Roger De Coster – five-time 500cc Motocross World Champion * Harry Everts – three-time Motocross World Champion, father of Stefan Everts * Stefan Everts – ten-time Motocross World Champion * Eric Geboers – five-time Motocross World Champion * Sylvain Geboers – motocross des Nations winner * Georges Jobé – five-time Motocross World Champion * André Malherbe – three-time Motocross World Champion * Jacky Martens – 1991 500cc World Champion * Gaston Rahier – three-time 125cc Motocross World Champion * Steve Ramon – two-time Motocross World Champion * Joël Robert – six-time 250cc Motocross World Champion * Joël Smets – three time 500cc Motocross World Champion


Swimming

* Brigitte Becue – swimmer * Gérard Blitz (swimmer), Gérard Blitz – Olympic bronze (100-m backstroke), International Swimming Hall of Fame * Fred Deburghgraeve – swimmer, Olympic champion (100-m breaststroke) * Ingrid Lempereur – swimmer * Pieter Timmers – Olympic silver (100-m front crawl)


Table tennis

* Jean-Michel Saive – player


Tennis

* Sabine Appelmans – player * Els Callens – player * Kim Clijsters – player, former World #1, Masters 2002–2003–2010 winner and four-time Grand Slam singles champion * Steve Darcis – player * Kirsten Flipkens – player * David Goffin – player * Arthur De Greef (tennis), Arthur De Greef –player * Justine Henin – player, Olympic champion, former World #1, Masters 2006–2007 winner and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion * Xavier Malisse – player * Elise Mertens – player * Dominique Monami – player * Christophe Rochus – player * Olivier Rochus – player * Kristof Vliegen – player * Yanina Wickmayer – player


Track and field

* Bashir Abdi – athlete * Eline Berings – athlete * Dylan Borlée – athlete * Jonathan Borlée – athlete * Kevin Borlée – athlete * Olivia Borlée – athlete * Fons Brijdenbach – athlete * Veerle Dejaeghere – track and field athlete * Peter Genyn – athlete * Kim Gevaert – athlete, European champion 100 and 200 metres * Tia Hellebaut – athlete, European champion high jump, Olympic champion high jump * Karel Lismont – athlete * Philip Milanov – athlete * Roger Moens – athlete * Mohammed Mourhit – athlete * Koen Naert – athlete, European champion marathon * Emiel Puttemans – athlete * Gaston Reiff – athlete, Olympic champion * Gaston Roelants – athlete, Olympic champion * Vincent Rousseau – athlete * Patrick Stevens – athlete * Nafissatou Thiam – athlete, Olympic, world and European champion heptathlon * Cédric Van Branteghem – athlete * Ivo Van Damme – athlete * William Van Dijck – athlete * Marieke Vervoort – athlete


Triathlon

* Marc Herremans – wheelchair champion * Claire Michel * Kathleen Smet – 2005 world champion * Marino Vanhoenacker * Frederik Van Lierde – world champion Iron Man 2013 * Luc Van Lierde – two-time world champion and winner Iron Man * Benny Vansteelant – four-time world champion duathlon standard and long distance


Water polo

* Gérard Blitz (sportsman), Gérard Blitz (1901–1979) – swimming and water polo, two-time Olympic silver, two-time bronze (one in swimming – 100-m backstroke), International Swimming Hall of Fame, son of Maurice Blitz * Gérard Blitz (entrepreneur), Gérard Blitz (1912–1990) – water polo player and founder of Club Med * Maurice Blitz – water poloist, two-time Olympic silver, father of Gérard Blitz * Henri Cohen (water polo), Henri Cohen – Olympic silver


Other

* Luca Brecel – snooker player * Annelies Bredael – Sport rowing, rower * Raymond Ceulemans – billiards player * Frédéric Collignon – table soccer; ITSF multi-time and currently acting world champion * Nina Derwael – artistic gymnast, world champion uneven bars, two-time European champion * Nathalie Descamps – badminton player * Wendy Jans – snooker player, 2006 IBSF Women's World Champion *Frank Ntilikina – National Basketball Association, NBA basketball player – French Nationality, born in Belgium * Tony Parker – National Basketball Association, NBA basketball player – French nationality, born in Belgium * John Raphael (sportsman), John Raphael, rugby union player * Jacques Rogge – International Olympic Committee, IOC president * Tarec Saffiedine – Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist * Seppe Smits – snowboarder * Bart Swings – inline and speed skater * Paul Van Asbroeck – marksman * Kevin van der Perren – figure skating * Hubert Van Innis – archery, archer *Virgile Vandeput (born 1994) – Belgian-born alpine skier who competes for Israel * Bart Veldkamp – speed skating, speed skater * Ann Wauters – Women's National Basketball Association, WNBA basketball player


Visual artists


Comics

* Jo-El Azara * Arthur Berckmans (Berck) * Jan Bosschaert * Raoul Cauvin * Jean-Michel Charlier * Didier Comès * François Craenhals * Luc Cromheecke * Paul Cuvelier * Dany (comics), Dany * Paul Deliège (Deliège) * Renaat Demoen * Bob de Moor * Christian Denayer * André-Paul Duchâteau * Dupa (Luc Dupanloup) * René Follet * Philippe Francq *
André Franquin André Franquin (; 3 January 1924 – 5 January 1997) was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best-known creations are '' Gaston'' and ''Marsupilami''. He also produced the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' comic strip from 1946 to 1968, a period s ...
* Patryck de Froidmont * Fred Funcken & Liliane Funcken * François Gilson * Michel Greg * René Hausman *
Hergé Georges Prosper Remi (; 22 May 1907 – 3 March 1983), known by the pen name Hergé (; ), from the French pronunciation of his reversed initials ''RG'', was a Belgian cartoonist. He is best known for creating ''The Adventures of Tintin'', ...
(Georges Remi) * Victor Hubinon * Hermann Huppen (Hermann) * Edgar Pierre Jacobs, Edgar P. Jacobs * Jean-Richard Geurts, Janry (Jean-Richard Geurts) * Jidéhem (Jean De Mesmaeker) * Jijé (Joseph Gillain) * Kamagurka * Lambil (Willy Lambillote) * Roger Leloup * Raymond Macherot * Marcel Marlier * Merho * Midam * Morris (comics), Morris (Maurice de Bevere) * Jef Nys * Eddy Paape * Frank Pé * Peyo (Pierre Culliford) * Arthur Piroton * Marcel Remacle * Jean Roba * Eddy Ryssack * François Schuiten * Yves Sente * Marc Sleen (Marc Neels) *
Maurice Tillieux Maurice Tillieux (7 August 1921 – 2 February 1978) was a Belgian writer and comic artist. He is regarded by many as a major figure of post-war Belgian comics. Early life Maurice Tillieux was born in Huy in 1921. At first he studied for th ...
* Philippe Vandevelde, Philippe Tome (Philippe Vandevelde) * William Vance * Willy Vandersteen * Jean Van Hamme * François Walthéry * Will (comics), Will (Willy Maltaite)


Fashion

* Antwerp Six * Dirk Bikkembergs * Veronique Branquino * Liz Claiborne (fashion designer), Liz Claiborne – American designer born in Belgium *
Elise Crombez Elise or Elyse may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Elise, the unidentified person to whom Beethoven dedicated ''Für Elise'' * ''Elise'', a 1979 speculative fiction novel by Ken Grimwood * ''Élise ou la vraie vie'' (''Elise, or the Real Life' ...
* Ann Demeulemeester * Martin Margiela *
Hanne Gaby Odiele Hanne Gaby Odiele (born 8 October 1988) is a Belgian model. Early life Odiele was born on 8 October 1988 in Kortrijk, Belgium. They were born with an intersex condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome. As a child, Odiele underwent ...
* Elvis Pompilio * Raf Simons * Olivier Strelli * Walter Van Beirendonck * Dries van Noten * Édouard Vermeulen


Painters

* Pierre Alechinsky – Cobra (avant-garde movement), Cobra member * Joachim Beuckelaer * Adriaen Brouwer * Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and his family, including Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Jan Brueghel the Elder, and Jan Brueghel the Younger * Robert Campin * Petrus Christus * Emile Claus – impressionism * Gerard David * Philippe de Champaigne * Jos De Cock * Gaspar de Crayer * Raoul De Keyser – Abstract art, abstract painter * Paul Delvaux –
surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...
* Jean Delville – Symbolism (arts), symbolist painter * Albert Demuyser * Gustave De Smet – expressionism * Sam Dillemans * James Ensor * Frans Floris * Adriaen Isenbrandt * Jacob Jordaens * Justus of Ghent * Claire Kerwin * Fernand Khnopff – symbolist * Luc Lafnet * Georges Emile Lebacq – Impressionist, Post-Impressionist painter * Limbourg brothers – manuscript illuminators * Lambert Lombard * Jan Mabuse * René Magritte –
surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...
* Xavier Mellery – Symbolism (arts), symbolist * Hans Memling * Kwinten Metsys (a.k.a. Quentin Matsys/Quentin Massys) * Joseph Noiret – painter and poet * Constant Permeke – expressionism, expressionist * Pieter Pourbus * Roger Raveel * Félicien Rops * Peter Paul Rubens – Baroque painter * Victor Servranckx – cubism, cubist * Frans Snyders * Leon Spilliaert * David Teniers the Younger * Luc Tuymans * Pieter van Aelst (Antwerp), Pieter van Aelst * Joos van Cleve * Frits Van den Berghe – expressionism, expressionist * Hugo van der Goes * ''Rogier van der Weyden (a.k.a. Rog(i)er de la Pasture)''original name : Rogier de LE Pasture in his city of Tournai * Gustave Van de Woestijne * Sir Anthony van Dyck (Antoon van Dyck) * Jan van Eyck and his brother Hubert van Eyck * Peter Van Gheluwe * Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven * Eugeen Van Mieghem * Bernard van Orley * Théo van Rysselberghe – neo-impressionism, neo-impressionist * Fernand Verhaegen – painter of Walloons, Walloon folklore * Antoine Joseph Wiertz


Photographers

* Dirk Braeckman * Carl De Keyzer * Bieke Depoorter * Martine Franck * Harry Gruyaert * Filip Naudts * Leon Van Loo * Stephan Vanfleteren


Sculptors

* Delphine Boël * René Carcan * May Claerhout *Patrick Damiaens * ''Jean Del Cour'' * François Duquesnoy * Jan Fabre * Lucas Faydherbe * Jean-Michel Folon * George Grard * Constantin Meunier * Léon Mignon * George Minne * Olivier Strebelle *Peter Van Dievoet, Peter van Dievoet * Rik Wouters


Others

* Guillaume Bijl * Ade Bethune * Guy Bleus * Marcel Broodthaers * Jean De Bast * Victor Delhez * Wim Delvoye * Danny Devos * Hugo Heyrman, Dr. Hugo Heyrman * Solange Knopf * Panamarenko * Eefje Depoortere


Others

* Arturo Alfandari – diplomat, creator of the language Neo (Constructed language), Neo * Christophe De Kepper – lawyer * Menachem Banitt – expert in medieval French language and culture * Edgard Colle – chess player * Sabine Dardenne – victim of child molester Marc Dutroux * Jeanne de Bellem – political activist during the Brabant revolution * Thierry de Duve – art critic and theorist * Henri Kichka (1926–2020) – writer and Holocaust survivor * Paul de Man – deconstructionist literary critic and theorist * Joanna DeRoover – oldest documented living person in Belgium at the time of her death * Piet Huysentruyt – chef and bestselling author * Jean-Denis Lejeune – founder of Child Focus * Claude Lelièvre – commissioner for children rights, French-speaking community * Jean-Baptiste Moëns – "father of philately" * Peter Piot – Director of UNAIDS * Zara Rutherford – Belgian-British aviator * Sybille de Selys Longchamps * Vanden Geyhn et Van Aerschodt – bell and carillon founders * Pierre Wynants – chef


See also

* Belgian Americans * List of Belgian Americans * List of Belgian women writers * List of Belgium-related topics * List of fictional Belgians * Belgian Brazilians * Flemish people * List of people by nationality * List of people from Brussels * De Grootste Belg


Notes

{{Reflist Lists of Belgian people,