Autumn 2016 • n°15 expat time - ing.be · expat time • autumn • 2016 • 3 Make it happen L...

Autumn 2016 • n°15

expat time

Essential lifestyle and business insights for foreign nationals in Belgium

IntervIew

“An image is a universal language that can reach beyond cultures”

In thIs IssueWhat’s new in the world of education

Offbeat sights far from the Belgian tourist trail

The rise and rise of the maker fair

JUSTIN JIN, documentary photographer

Environmental information (RD 19/03/04): www.bmw.be 2.0-8.5 L/100 KM • 45-197 G/KM CO2

BMW DIPLOMATIC SALES.

BMW Brussels - Branch of BMW BeluxChaussée de Louvain 864 - 1140 Brussels - Tel. 02 730 49 11 - www.bmwbrussels.beJean-Michel Martin EastRue François Desmedt 96 - 1150 Brussels - Tel. 02 772 08 20 - www.jmmartin.bmw.beJean-Michel Martin WestBoulevard Industriel 125 - 1070 Brussels - Tel. 02 521 17 17 - www.jmmartin.bmw.beGinion WaterlooChaussée de Bruxelles 54 - 1410 Waterloo - Tel. 02 352 03 30 - www.ginion.bmw.beGinion OverijseBrusselsesteenweg 403 - 3090 Overijse - Tel. 02 687 91 40 - www.ginion.bmw.beDavo Tongeren bvbaMaastrichtersteenweg 529 - Exit 32 - E313 - 3700 Tongeren - Tel. 012 23 71 55 - www.davo.bmw.beBilia-Emond s.a.Route de Bastogne 394 - 6700 Arlon - Tel. 063 23 05 60 - www.bilia-emond.bmw.beLouyet MonsRue des Sandrinettes 48 - 7033 Mons-Cuesmes - Tel. 065 40 02 00 - www.louyet.bmw.be

JOY KNOWS NO BORDERS.

As a member of the Corps Diplomatique, a European institution or an international organization, you know that things can be quite different from one country to another. One thing we want to keep unchanged, is your joy of driving a BMW. Our dedicated team perfectly understands the constraints of your mission and is used to fi nding the best solutions in the shortest lapse of time while providing you with a full service. This includes delivery of your personalized car anywhere in the world with respect to local specifi cations. Furthermore, we offer you particularly attractive sales conditions. Because we just love to push back frontiers.

BMWDiplomatic Sales

www.bmw.beSheer

Driving Pleasure

BMN1600091_Ann Diplo Sales S7_275X198_UK.indd 1 13/09/16 09:34

expat time • autumn • 2016 • 3

Make it happen

Life is busy again after the summer, with people scrambling to realise their resolutions and business objectives before the year is out. Yes, three-quarters of the year have gone and, as the days start to shorten, your thoughts may be

turning to new projects.

In our cover interview, renowned documentary photogra-pher Justin Jin talks us through the journey that led him to swap words for pictures, and why he chose Brussels as a base for himself and his family.

Flexibility in the job market is becoming increasingly im-portant, and students today have to be prepared for jobs that may not yet exist. We speak with local schools about how they cope with that, and hear how they are embrac-ing technology without losing sight of the personal touch. Our featured expat entrepreneur has created a platform for public speakers and events to find each other, and in our business feature we focus on innovation and the growing trend of Maker Faires.

On the lifestyle side, we take a trip to Malta. The old city of Valetta and the island have a lot to offer for a short break. Alongside our regular look at new products, technology and restaurants, there’s our pick of cultural events in Brussels, Belgium and beyond in the coming months.

Enjoy the read: I hope it gives you plenty of inspiration for autumn, the season of plenty.

Dave DeruytterHead of expatriates and non-residents ING [email protected]/expatING Expat is also on Facebook: facebook.com/ingexpats

Environmental information (RD 19/03/04): www.bmw.be 2.0-8.5 L/100 KM • 45-197 G/KM CO2

BMW DIPLOMATIC SALES.

BMW Brussels - Branch of BMW BeluxChaussée de Louvain 864 - 1140 Brussels - Tel. 02 730 49 11 - www.bmwbrussels.beJean-Michel Martin EastRue François Desmedt 96 - 1150 Brussels - Tel. 02 772 08 20 - www.jmmartin.bmw.beJean-Michel Martin WestBoulevard Industriel 125 - 1070 Brussels - Tel. 02 521 17 17 - www.jmmartin.bmw.beGinion WaterlooChaussée de Bruxelles 54 - 1410 Waterloo - Tel. 02 352 03 30 - www.ginion.bmw.beGinion OverijseBrusselsesteenweg 403 - 3090 Overijse - Tel. 02 687 91 40 - www.ginion.bmw.beDavo Tongeren bvbaMaastrichtersteenweg 529 - Exit 32 - E313 - 3700 Tongeren - Tel. 012 23 71 55 - www.davo.bmw.beBilia-Emond s.a.Route de Bastogne 394 - 6700 Arlon - Tel. 063 23 05 60 - www.bilia-emond.bmw.beLouyet MonsRue des Sandrinettes 48 - 7033 Mons-Cuesmes - Tel. 065 40 02 00 - www.louyet.bmw.be

JOY KNOWS NO BORDERS.

As a member of the Corps Diplomatique, a European institution or an international organization, you know that things can be quite different from one country to another. One thing we want to keep unchanged, is your joy of driving a BMW. Our dedicated team perfectly understands the constraints of your mission and is used to fi nding the best solutions in the shortest lapse of time while providing you with a full service. This includes delivery of your personalized car anywhere in the world with respect to local specifi cations. Furthermore, we offer you particularly attractive sales conditions. Because we just love to push back frontiers.

BMWDiplomatic Sales

www.bmw.beSheer

Driving Pleasure

BMN1600091_Ann Diplo Sales S7_275X198_UK.indd 1 13/09/16 09:34

Recharge from your 180° flat-bed seat from Delta One™ when you fly nonstop to New York JFK.

For further information please visit DELTA.COM, call our reservations number 02 620 01 83 or contact your local travel agent.

YOU REFUEL.WE FLY.

© 2016 Delta Air Lines, Inc.

DL00981 Belgium Expat Magazine 198x275mm AW V2.indd 1 06/09/2016 11:17


In thIs Issue

6 PrOFILes

Meet four expats living in Belgium

8 IntervIew

Photographer Justin Jin on the power of the image

14 BusIness

The rise of innovation fairs

16 eDuCAtIOn

Digital technology is transforming the classroom

20 entrePreneur

The man behind the SpeakerHub platform

22 trAveL

Explore Malta in the off-season

24 LIFestYLe

Off the tourist trail: 12 unusual places to visit in Belgium

28 teChnOLOgY

New software and gadgets

29 AgenDA

Cultural highlights in Brussels, Belgium and further afield

33 whAt’s new

The latest food and home furnishings

34 LAst wOrD

Derek Blyth muses on life in Belgium

Editor • Sarah Crew

Deputy editor • Sally Tipper

Art director • Patricia Brossel

Project coordinator • Thomas

Buytaert

Contributors • Derek Blyth • Ronald

Meeus • Linda A Thompson • Georgio

Valentino

Cover • Justin Jin, by Bart Dewaele

Sales executive • Helena

Vreedenburgh

Account executive • Evelyne

Fregonese

Expat Time is a publication of

ING BELGIUM SA/NV,

Marnixlaan 24,

1000 Brussel, RPR Brussel

VAT BE 403.200.393 and

Ackroyd Publications SA/NV

Editorial • Content Connections

(department of Ackroyd) and

ING BELGIUM

Publisher • Hans De Loore,

Gossetlaan 30

1702 Groot-Bijgaarden

Photo credits

P5 Top, Bart Dewaele; centre,

Visitmalta.com; bottom, Marie-

Françoise Plissart

P8-11 Bart Dewaele

P15 CSP SergeyNivens/Belga

P16 Javier Larrea/Belga

P22-23 Visitmalta.com

P24 Fondation Custodia, Collection

Frits Lugt

P25 City of Ypres/Tijl Capoen

P26 Dream Hotel, Mons

P27 Marie-Françoise Plissart

P29 Courtesy Karakter © Aldo

Bakker, photo by Erik & Petra

Hesmerg

P30 Bozar, Le chemin de l’exil,

Chéri Chérin, Kinshasa, 2004

© Royal Museum for Central

Africa; Antica Namur, Gueridon

Ursulines; Interieur ©Johnston

Marklee

P31 Plantin Moretus © Noortje

Palmers; Tourisme Musées et

Attractions Mini Europe © Mini

Europe; Ars Musica, Simplexity

© Thierry De Mey

P32 Guggenheim, A Gorky,

Untitled; Odyssey of Animals,

Bruxelles Belfius Banque, Paul

de Vos, Chasse aux renards

22

29

8

22

24

Recharge from your 180° flat-bed seat from Delta One™ when you fly nonstop to New York JFK.

For further information please visit DELTA.COM, call our reservations number 02 620 01 83 or contact your local travel agent.

YOU REFUEL.WE FLY.

© 2016 Delta Air Lines, Inc.

DL00981 Belgium Expat Magazine 198x275mm AW V2.indd 1 06/09/2016 11:17

6 • expat time • autumn • 2016

Gabriel Daia“I’ve been playing piano since I was seven, so I simply can’t live without it”“I’ve been living in Belgium since 2012 and previously lived in the US for four months. I came here to study for a master’s in management science at VUB, and I currently work as a project manager assistant at EU40, the network of young Members of the European Parliament. With colleagues, I am in charge of creating, planning and organising public affairs strategies at the European Parliament, and we organise debates, meetings, campaigns and other events. During my spare time I enjoy playing piano; I’ve been playing since I was seven so I simply can’t live without it. Additionally, I enjoy travelling and finding out about various cultures from all around the world.”

Gabriel is from Romania. He and his Ro-manian girlfriend live in Ixelles

Alice Ramos“I started language courses, where I found many interesting women in a similar situation”“I’ve lived in Brussels for six years. In 2007, I left Brazil and started travelling. There were many trips to many different places, until I met Pierre-Yves, a Belgian, in Panama. I photographed all the places we travelled to, resulting in 2012 in a book of photos of this unpredictable life, love and memories of my new world. I’m a portrait photographer and was quite well-known in Brazil, having won national prizes and represented my country in bien-nales in Europe. But like many expats, I had difficulty finding work in Brussels with only Portuguese and English. So I started language courses, where I found many interesting women in a similar situa-tion. I decided to create the NGO We Do, a space where women from diverse backgrounds can come together. Participants will be motivated to teach something, with lectures and workshops in the language they’re comfortable in. It’s a supportive method that really works and promotes cooperation. Contact us through our Facebook page (We Do for Women) or email [email protected]”

Alice is from Brazil and lives with her Belgian husband. He has two daughters from his first marriage, Alice a daughter from hers. Together, they have a four year-old son

Profiles •

get connectedFour expats tell us about their lives in Belgium


Omri is from Israel and has Polish nationality through his father. He lives in Ixelles

Omri Preiss“we desperately need more civic and political education for people of all ages”

“I lived in Israel until the age of 11, then moved to Switzerland, the Neth-erlands and the UK. The experience of moving around Europe and develop-

ing a perspective of European identity led me to want to work in and around the European Union. I moved to Belgium in 2013 to do a master’s in European politics at the

College of Europe in Bruges, then I moved to Brussels. I work at the European Parliament as a parlia-mentary assistant and policy advisor with a British Labour MEP, Julie Ward. I work on gender equality and human rights, and touch on issues like conflict resolution and sustainable development. I think investment in education is one of the most important steps we need to take in the 21st century, including adapting programmes to emerging technologies and making education accessible to more people for increased social mobility. However, what we desperately need more of is civic and political education for people of all ages. Being an active citizen in a democracy requires a grounding in how the system works, including understanding your local municipality, national government and the EU. A lot of our work is on the subject of enabling women and girls to access education and providing access to vulnerable groups facing exclusion, like refugees and asylum-seekers. Outside work, I love music, and play guitar in a band called the Bowtie Collective. We’ve developed a style that fuses funk, soul, swing and rock. Find us on Facebook and come check out a gig.”

Flores Garcia Carvajal“I help lead a career clinic that supports women of all ages”“I’m a client survey coordinator in the commercial department of a leading financial institution in Brussels. I was attracted to move to Belgium because it’s at the heart of Europe and I feel just a step away from my friends in the UK, Germany and France. I love travelling (I travelled solo around the world for six

months), music, photography, yoga and motorbikes. I enjoy a balance between time with friends and different activities, and time for myself, at home or outside, enjoying nature. Continuous education and self-development is how I understand life. I help lead a career clinic that supports women of all ages in taking control of their careers and managing career transitions (meetup.com/Womens-Cal-ifornia-style-Career-Clinic-Brussels). We use the tech community’s ‘entrepreneur-of-you’ innovation

model. Our focus is on self-study and self-investment as well as human-tooling, actively ‘hacking’ the job market by optimising our transferable

skills and developing new ones. This community effort allows us to reach women of all ages, from interns to retirees, but we seem to

have the greatest impact on mid-career professionals who have seemingly topped-out in their career and are searching for the tools to grow further. I love it.”

Flores is from Spain. She lives with her Spanish partner, Pablo, in Brussels


Interview •


Documentary photographer Justin Jin has travelled the world from Mongolia to Russia to Europe to the Arctic and brought back

thought-provoking images that help us recognise the human element in major

world issues. Born in Hong Kong and educated at Cambridge in the UK, Jin began his career as a Reuters reporter, trained in London and was initially sent out to Asia. He would soon trade his pen for a camera and move to Amsterdam on a new path as a freelance photographer. Five years reporting on Russian events from Moscow followed before he moved to Brussels, where he is currently using videography and photography to shoot journalistic and corporate projects. Jin spoke to ING’s head of expatriates, Dave Deruytter, at the Silken Berlaymont hotel in the European Quarter.

Picture this✶ By Georgio Valentino

Photos by Bart Dewaele

Hong Kong-born documentary photographer Justin Jin on the power of images to tell a story and educate

“I have staked my reputation on integrity and not manipulating reportage images or stories”


Interview •

why did you decide to switch from writing to photography?

I always wanted to be a photographer, because image is a universal language that can reach beyond culture and across the social spectrum. But Reuters wanted me to be a writer. They thought my education and skills were better applied to writing about political and social issues. So I did that, and it was during that time, when I teamed up with photographers and videographers, that my conviction became stronger and stronger that it’s the image that speaks the loudest.

When my contract at Reuters ended, I packed my bags and left for Amsterdam with my future wife, a Dutch video journalist, and began an independent path on which I’ve persevered until now.

how does freelance photojournalism compare with a staff position?

When I told my editors I was to become an independent photographer in Europe, he said, “Look, there are 3,000 freelance photographers lining the streets of Paris. A new guy from Hong Kong? It’s just not going to work.” I went ahead anyway and had some early success. My first story was published in a dozen international magazines, including the National Geographic. The great motivation this gave me eventually seemed more like a false sense of security, because it’s really challenging to stay consistently on top of the game. It took being independent for me to realise how powerful the corporate media machines are. However, by staying small, you can apply a bespoke approach to visual projects, explore stories with a unique point of view, and craft them in a powerful way to make them stand out from the crowd.

As a freelance, you are your own boss, marketeer, sales, webmaster and book-keeper. You motivate yourself to go out and shoot stories – one trip freezes your nose off in the Arctic, the next places you at risk in an authoritarian country. You come home exhausted, have a shave and deal with business matters. You stay ahead of technical advances. You constantly generate ideas and meet people. You provide for the family. You fall, and stand up again.

Is a picture really worth a thousand words?

It depends on how far you push it. Often, I put more energy, preparation and resources into getting one crucial image than I would writing a thousand words. There’s not much

“It took being independent for me to realise how powerful the corporate media machines are”


margin for error in capturing the essence of an event. To get it right, the photographer has to be totally present, the light has to be right and the timing has to be perfect. So, in terms of effort, yes, it is often worth a thousand words or more. In terms of result, that’s for the viewer to decide.

Do you prefer the title ‘storyteller’ to describe what you do?

Yes, because it doesn’t matter whether I’m shooting a video or photograph, the essence of my work is storytelling. However, one important qualification: what I do is telling stories of real people, real life and

real places. The context might be an article in Time magazine or BASF’s annual report, but the point is to use stories to help readers understand and feel the impact of a certain event, invention or situation through stories.

Do you put your storytelling skills to work in other spheres?

I’m doing more commercial work using the same techniques to help brands tell their stories. That, of course, supports the personal work. It’s a recent development in the business. Banks, engineering firms and many other companies are looking to reach out to the public in a human way. The more scientifically sophisticated or data-driven the industry, the more storytelling can help bridge the gap between professional expertise and human experience.

has the ease of digital manipulation cast a shadow over the integrity of the image?

Yes, but it’s not a fatal blow. While even iconic photographers have been caught manipulating images they declared were real, ultimately it comes back to trust and reputation. A writer can easily write falsehoods, but still, you would trust the reporting of Der Spiegel or the Financial Times, because these organisations and reporters have a reputation to lose. Likewise, I have staked my reputation on integrity and not manipulating reportage images or stories.

A good story is authentic, well-researched, relevant and emotional. In my mind, there are three layers to getting to the essence of a story: facts, reality and truth. Facts are what


Interview •

“There’s not much margin for error in capturing the essence of an event”

many journalists focus on. You have to report accurately. As you gain more experience, you report reality. You begin to understand bias. Your story must be balanced and fair. Ultimately, when you’re working on something bigger and more thorough, you start to search for truth. The key part is to distil these quite complex issues – geopolitical, financial or scientific – into powerful testimony that can help readers understand not only the facts but their significance and, ultimately, universal relevance. Those are the stories that stand the test of time.

how else is technology changing the industry?

The walls between different media are coming down. Now you can use the same camera to record very high quality video and stills. Photographers are tasked with shooting video, and I’ve embraced this trend with zeal. Then there’s the mushrooming presence of social media, which changes the way we both collect and spread information. I don’t think any of this changes the fundamental nature of the job, which is to capture the human essence, the reality, the meaning of a story. For all their possible drawbacks, having these technical tools is great. Each new advance – whether it’s virtual reality, drones or just better cameras – raises the bar. It’s up to the committed storyteller to rise to the challenge.

You’ve lived in major cities around the world. how does Brussels measure up?

We love the fact that it’s so culturally diverse, allowing us to speak all the languages we’ve learnt without leaving our street. The layers of bureaucracy and cultural split among its people and administrations can be maddening, but we are learning to live with it. Then there’s the contrast between urban living and nature. My wife and I love the outdoors, and from our home we can be in the forest in minutes. There’s even more outdoor possibilities further afield in Belgium, where we regularly take our mountain bikes. We took the children skiing in the Haute-Fagnes. It’s not the Alps, but they loved it. In terms of travel and logistics, even though Brussels is not a hub for intercontinental flights, airlines seem to price travel with a stopover to Brussels more competitively than their direct flights to attract Belgian business.


Fair’s fairThe rise of the innovation fair is a symbol of business’s openness to invention and fresh ideas

✶ By Dave Deruytter

Business •

Common-or-garden trade fairs – where companies show off their latest offerings in the hope of finding new clients

for their products or services – are nothing new. Innovation fairs, on the other hand, are a much more recent phenomenon. There the focus is on promoting projects in the innovation or development phase, with exhibitors typically open to partnerships or funding.

For decades, innovation has been the almost exclusive preserve of universities and the labs of multinational groups. It was a pretty secretive business. Universities kept

the research to themselves until the results were confirmed, to score academically through papers or at conferences. The multinationals’ labs kept their research quiet until a sellable product came out, to secure an advantage over the competition.

But things have changed. With the rise of the internet, the power of the many became clear, as did the possibilities of co-creation using outside specialists based anywhere in the world. It also added the element of speed of change. These disruptive forces allow today’s start-ups to topple established industries in just a few years, or at least change those industries dramatically. The capital


Born in the USAThe Maker Faire concept was created 10 years ago by Make magazine in the US, where things are much more advanced than they are here. Within Europe, the UK has been a frontrunner, with France, Germany and the Netherlands also quick to get on board. Belgium typically follows suit when the advantages become clear and widespread; ‘new’ too often seems synonymous with ‘dangerous’ to investors. But such events are gradually beginning to pop up here too.

is easily found for such inventions: crowdfunding is a popular strategy, and venture capital is readily available for good projects. Speed of implementation is key to the success of an invention, as are originality and safeguards against copying. Intellectual property protection remains as important as ever.

Innovation fairs are a useful extra, bringing together inventors, investors and service providers in pursuit of a proof of concept and eventually a new business. 3D printing technology has added another dimension: any product you can conceive with the mind can now actually be produced, easily and more cheaply than ever before.

In this climate, it’s become almost cool for CEOs of established companies to declare their intention to disrupt the business themselves, rather than leaving it to outsiders. It’s a bold statement, and one that’s not always easy to implement, not least because the companies tend not to have the right type of employees. Firing half the workforce isn’t a feasible option, and so companies may look to retrain their staff in entrepreneurship. As a result, innovation fairs are beginning to pop up inside companies, including competitions to come up with new ventures that will ideally lead to new products, or even entire spin-off businesses.


education •


School of modern lifeCo-creation, smartphones in class and jobs that don’t yet exist – today’s teachers are embracing the future of education

✶ By Linda A Thompson

today’s educators and school administrators face a daunt-ing task. They are expected to offer students a robust education that ticks all the

traditional curriculum boxes, while at the same time instilling in children – more technologically savvy than ever – skills and attitudes that will help them thrive in a world in dizzying flux.

It’s estimated that as adults, 65% of today’s children will find themselves employed in jobs that don’t exist today. Today’s digital generation of students, clearly, cannot be taught in the same way as children 50 years ago and need to be engaged in a different way, with different teaching methods and teaching tools.

Many international schools and higher education institutions in Belgium have tackled these challenges head-on, embracing the opportunities offered by technology to help groom students

for an uncertain future, and welcoming the disruptive forces that force them to rethink traditional approaches.

Educational technology has long been a booming marketplace, and as once-ex-pensive devices have become increasingly affordable, desktop computers, laptops, smartboards and iPads have begun to creep their way into classrooms.

For school administrators, it can some-times be tricky to separate useful new software and online tools from those that, in spite of breezy promotional talk, offer no real added value.

At the British School of Brussels, admin-istrators rely on the school’s 2020 vision statement – “Enhancing learning using leading-edge technology” – to distin-guish between the good, bad and ugly.

“Everything we do links back to this,” explains David Hindley, secondary school

“If the technology doesn’t enhance learning, then our teachers don’t use it”


education •

deputy head. “If the technology doesn’t enhance learning, then our teachers don’t use it. This ensures a good bal-ance between traditional methods and new technology.”

All the classrooms at the Tervuren school are fitted out with interactive white-boards with mirror-casting software, which allows students and teachers to project their work so it can be shared and discussed with the entire class. The school also uses a learning platform called eBSB that allows teachers to communicate with students and share technological resources with them.

Depending on the grade they are in, students are issued their own iPad or Windows laptop, or invited to bring in their own device, as this tends to better meet their needs for the chosen courses in the final years of secondary school. “In preparing students for future working life, it’s essential that their IT skills are the best they can be,” Hindley says.

Educational innovation is of course not limited to the successful integration of technological tools in the classroom. For some schools, keeping pace with global and societal developments inevitably means making curriculum and teaching method adjustments – from the small to the big.

The Brussels School of International Studies (University of Kent), for instance, will introduce a new foreign policy specialisation this year with the aim of keeping abreast of recent geopolitical developments. “This specialisation tries to reflect changing centres of grav-

ity from Western Europe, with more emphasis on Asia and other parts of the world, and global change in general,” says academic director Tom Casier.

Casier himself also introduced a new teaching method when he started teaching the school’s EU politics and governance module. The inspiration, he explains, was the realisation that stu-dents often struggle to understand the complexity of the EU decision-making process from learning about it through a textbook. Casier tried to remedy this through the introduction of a game at the end of the course. This exercise requires students to play a representative of a EU member state, first extensively researching a country’s likely position on,

Pupils working digitally at the British School of

Brussels


tALeS from the CLASSroom

Learning Innovation Centre, Vlerick Business School

Manager Vincent Baguè: “The internet is transforming many industries, including corporate education. That doesn’t mean that everything non-digital will cease to exist. Instead, our personal and professional lives have become a mixture of digital and non-digital experiences. Vlerick Business School has co-created a learning journey with Dutch conglomerate DSM that embraces this new blended approach by offering a combination of online materials, webcasts and face-to-face workshops to different levels of sales and marketing professionals in the company. By combining selected learning material and digital assets specifically created for the customer, Vlerick aims to deliver an innovative experience that gives the necessary flexibility to DSM’s sales and marketing professionals while gen-erating the anticipated impact for the company. The journey is organised in three channels reflecting the different levels of experience in the organisa-tion. Live moments complement the online lessons, allowing the student to apply it to the concrete situation of their own organisation. We call it learning with impact.”

International School of Brussels“The mission to ensure that all learners are included, challenged and suc-cessful has enabled the International School of Brussels (ISB) to graduate active international citizens with the autonomy and confidence to make a real difference in the world. In an increasingly complex global landscape, one in which people are required to navigate a variety of academic disci-plines and career paths, ISB strives to be future-oriented and innovative in its approach to teaching and learning. Educational activities that aim to engage, connect and empower students are the focus of ISB’s programme, ensuring relevance and authenticity in their school lives. Students leverage their ISB education to become creative and collaborative critical thinkers who can communicate with diverse groups of people using a wide range of literacies, digital tools and emerging technologies. Being innovative in today’s schools is no longer a luxury. Learning has to incorporate innova-tive approaches if students are to become engaged, successful and ethical global citizens in the years to come.”

say, climate change and then present-ing and defending this in a three-hour simulation exercise.

“It’s a way of learning by doing,” Casier explains. “It’s really important that they get a sort of real-life experience of how EU decision-making feels, how to do this, how difficult it is, and how it’s a combina-tion of technical and emotional factors, as well as negotiation strategies.”

Other schools have focused on instill-ing in students an attitude that will help them survive and thrive no matter what lies ahead.

One of the key elements of the Bogaerts International School’s focus is to encourage students to think creatively, spokesperson Nicholas Lyddon explains. The Waterloo school emphasises building creative minds that can adapt to future challenges and find innovative solutions to existing and future problems. “We don’t know what’s going to be around fifteen years from now,” he says, “so one thing we try and promote here is to really encourage students to be risk-takers, and have the ability to evaluate what’s happening and not hesitate to choose better alternatives.”

It’s why most of the classes at Bogaerts start with a concept rather than a set of facts. “Classes at Bogaerts International School are more than simply learning rules and facts,” Lyddon says. “Teachers encourage our students to be active in the search for concepts and relation-ships, rather than giving the impression that all the answers can be found in a book.”

entrepreneur •

i started my first business when I was 12, when I launched a school newspaper. It lasted for five editions, but it was a step in the

right direction. I became a full-time entrepreneur in 2011 when I left my job as a European Commission official and dedicated my time to EU Training, my e-learning venture to help candidates pass the EU concours and become fonctionnaires. It has won various prizes and more than 80,000 people have used our service.

My latest venture, SpeakerHub, came from a different experience. I’ve been or-ganising events and doing lots of public speaking for many years, and I’ve been frustrated that there is no single source where I can find speakers or market my-self as a speaker. SpeakerHub is a global, free platform for anyone who’s available to speak at conferences, or is a trainer or moderator, to create a profile so that event organisers around the world can find and invite them.

Setting up the company in Belgium was more about practical aspects than care-ful planning. I’ve been living here for 10

years, so it was natural to create my company with a Brussels address. As an entrepreneur, I want to focus on growing my business and pleasing my customers, without dedicating any significant portion of my time to tax or accounting issues. Given the complexity of the Belgian tax system, it does require some spending on a good accountant. There are hidden gems: that is, special tax arrangements that companies can benefit from. The fact they exist is positive, but that you need experienced professionals to find them is less so.

I don’t think the act of setting up a busi-ness is the main issue in Belgium. The bigger question is running it, especially when it comes to taxation, social secu-rity, hiring new staff (and the payroll). For clerical or administrative tasks, wages can be quite prohibitive, and the relative rigidity of hiring and firing can be daunting when there is so much uncertainty in my own business planning and cash flow. On the other hand, for “value added” work, such as strategy, marketing or similar tasks, you can tap into an amazing pool of talent – in large part due to the fantastic international community in Belgium.

EU Training grew from a very basic investment and then organically; we never took any loans. This also meant that growth was steady but slow. For SpeakerHub, I launched it less than a year ago from my own savings, but I do see the limits of growth, so I’m looking for investment to scale it up significantly.

speakerhub.com

start me upOn the back of a successful e-training venture, Hungarian Andras Baneth launched SpeakerHub last year and is already looking to expand

I don’t think the act of setting up a business is the main issue. The bigger question is running it



travel •

escape to…

MALtAThere’s more to Malta than sun and sea, especially off-season. The tiny group of Mediterranean islands – total population 420,000 – is a haven for history buffs. Its rich and varied heritage is a result of successive waves of colonisation. British rule for over 150 years means English is one of Malta’s official languages, while Italian is are also widely spoken. Topping a list of 25 travel secrets in the latest Lonely Planet magazine, Valletta is described as one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals, while Gozo is home to some of Europe’s best scuba diving. Valletta is preparing to host the European Capital of Culture in 2018, and Malta will take over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union in January.visitmalta.com

when tO vIsIt

Once the scorching summer months have passed, temperatures are more than comforta-ble for exploring. Outdoor activities such as hiking are an opportunity to visit unspoilt rural areas, which become much greener once the heat subsides, while diving is a year-round sport. Malta enjoys average highs of 23°C in October, falling to 18°C in December. There is a risk of rain in winter – Febru-ary is the worst – but it tends towards flash floods rather than constant drizzle. Need-less to say, flights and hotels also become more afford-able. There are nine flights a week with Air Malta and all-year-round daily flights with Ryanair, both from Brussels National. Car rental is recommended for getting around, as public transport can be slow.

sLeeP, eAt & DrInk

Valletta is transforming its old townhouses into boutique hotels ahead of its year as capital of culture. Bigger hotels and interna-tional chains can be found in the resorts of Sliema, an old fishing village, and St Julians, once home to Maltese aristocracy. Alternatively, rural farmhouses also offer accommodation. Maltese cuisine leans towards the rich and hearty, reflect-ing the country’s heritage, with influences ranging from Mediterranean and North African to British. The national dish is a rabbit stew called fenkata, while a popular savoury snack is the mini cheesecake pastizzi. There are two types of na-tive grapes, a white and a red, and local liqueurs are flavoured with herbs, pome-granate, cactus fruit, carob and various fruits. There is also a good selection of olive oils, as a burgeoning indus-try promotes the nation’s indigenous white olive.

whAt tO see

Among Valletta’s historical gems is Saint John’s Co-Cathedral, built in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta. It’s said to resemble the Maltese people, in that you shouldn’t be deceived by a somewhat ordinary exterior, as many beautiful treasures lie inside. As far as the cathedral is concerned, these include Caravaggio’s large-scale painting of the Beheading of Saint John. Other traces of the knights can be seen in their fortified city perched on a high rock above the harbour. Con-trasting with these ancient stones are a series of new structures by architect Renzo Piano, whose overhaul of the capital includes a new parliament and an outdoor opera house. The old capital is Mdina, a Unesco world heritage city near the centre of the island. Known as the silent city, its fortifica-tions are one of the finest examples of medieval and baroque architecture in Europe. Within walking distance is Rabat, a typical working town. Its chief at-tractions are the Grotto of Saint Paul and its Roman villa and catacombs.


gOzO

Step back in time and enjoy the tranquillity and ancient temples of Malta’s second island, a half-hour ferry trip from the port of Cirkewwa. Its capital, Victoria, is known among locals as Rabat and is home to a 17th-century citadel offering panoramic views. Also near the centre, the Ggantija Temple is a breath-taking Neolithic site. Head west for the most spectacular stretch of coast, where you’ll find the Inland Sea, a cliff-surrounded lagoon linked to the open sea by a tunnel. Another limestone arch, the Azure Window, is at risk of collapsing into the sea. Along with the nearby Blue Hole, it is a diving hotspot, as is the south where one of Gozo’s many shipwrecks, the MV Karwela, was scuttled in 2006 to create a reef. Off the beaten track in the north is Wied Il-Ghasri, a stunning cove. Further along the coast lies Calypso’s Cave, immor-talised in Homer’s Odyssey and located next to the sandy beach of Ramla Bay.

Business • Lifestyle •

Get lost in a town with dozens of border cross-ings, wander through a vast rose garden, or sleep in a railway carriage. Bel-

gium has no end of strange, secret places that not so many people know about. These 12 are worth checking out next time you have a free weekend.

the secret museum

The ruins of four great palaces stand in the grounds of Mariemont. Almost nothing has survived apart from some romantic ruins and a staircase going nowhere. But it’s still worth visiting the almost unknown Marie-mont Museum created by the fabulously rich indus-trialist Raoul Warocqué. Here you find Classical antiques, Tournai tapestries and Chinese vases.musee-marie-mont.be

step by step

It’s a long heave to the top. The 373 steps of the Montagne de Bueren climb from Liège’s picturesque old town to the citadel. On the way up, you might be tempted to explore old lanes that run along the hillside, like the lovely Im-passe des Ursulines. But don’t give up. The view from the top is spectacular.

Face the strangeYou soon learn to expect the unexpected wherever you look in Belgium. Here are some of its more offbeat offerings

✶ By Derek Blyth


Scarabee: one of Mariemont’s secret

treasures


A walk to remember

The ancient walls of Ypres have been rebuilt and fortified over many centuries. They have now been turned into a walking trail that takes in a war cemetery, underground fortifications, the Menin Gate war memorial and a new craft brewery. toerismeieper.be

st Anthony and the fish

A priest in the Ardennes village of Cru-pet created an eccentric folly dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. Built in 1903 from stone and concrete, the towering crag rises above the little village. When you explore further, you find gaudily painted statues of humans and animals recreating scenes from Anthony’s life, including an odd episode when he preached to fish.

knowledge is power

Located in a former department store in Mons, the Mundaneum contains a vast collection of newspapers, index cards, posters, tickets, catalogues and programmes. The collection was begun in the early 20th century by the Belgian lawyer and pacifist Paul Otlet, who aimed to gather all the world’s knowl-edge in a single vast collection. After years of neglect, it was moved to Mons in 1998 and, with funding from Google, rebranded as the paper internet.mundaneum.org

Final frontiers

Two town halls, two post offices, two fire stations. The town of Baarle Hertog/Nassau has two of everything. That’s because it’s part Dutch and part Belgian. It has hundreds of border crossings, because it’s made up of 21 tiny plots of Belgian territory, including a pub with the national border running through the middle and a house with one room in Belgium and the other in the Netherlands. Even the local postmen are confused, which is why each house has a flag attached to show whether it is Dutch or Belgian.

Going underground: walking tour

in Ypres

Lifestyle •


sleep easy

A former chapel in Mons has been turned into one of the country’s strang-est hotels. Each of the rooms at Dream Hotel is a loving homage to Belgian icons, from the blue comic-book Smurfs to bowler-hat-obsessed Magritte. But maybe the strangest room to spend the night is dedicated to Binche Carnival, with bedside tables made from drums and a carpet that resembles a confetti-strewn cobbled street.dream-mons.be

In memoriam

No country on earth has such a concentration of military cemeteries as Belgium. All of them are carefully maintained, no matter who lies buried there. The German military cemetery at Vladslo is one of the most impressive, containing memorial stones with the names of thousands of young Germans who died in World War One. Once they were the enemy, but now they are simply victims of war.

not-so-private passions

Carved by the Brussels sculptor Jef Lam-beaux, the Human Passions frieze features dozens of naked bodies in an orgy of white marble. This proved too much for Belgian sensitivities and the entrance to the temple that houses it in Cinquante-naire Park was boarded up just three days after it opened in 1899. Until recently it was strictly closed to the public, but visitors are now admitted for a few hours on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Otherwise you can peer through the key-hole for a glimpse of the forbidden art.kmkg-mrah.be

how does your garden grow?

One of the largest rose gardens in Eu-rope is in the grounds of Coloma castle, just outside Brussels. More than 66,000 roses have been planted here, includ-ing ancient specimens and rare varieties from all over the world. natuurenbos.be/coloma

Chapel window at Dream Hotel,

Mons


we’ll drink to this

Some say this is the world’s best beer. It’s brewed by Cistercian monks in an abbey close to the little town of Watou. A monk dressed in white robes sells the beer from a small hatch outside the abbey. But the order flatly refuses to turn the brewery into a business, which makes it all the more special. sintsixtus.be

All aboard

This spectacular new museum for train spotters is in Schaerbeek’s handsome old railway station. You can climb on board a steam locomotive, peer inside a luxurious sleeping car and inspect nostalgic uniforms. And if you’re truly besotted with trains, you can sleep in a former railway couchette in the quirky Train Hostel. trainworld.be

WeLCome to BeLGiUm

Belgium has been in the news this year for all the wrong reasons, and the country is trying to put the record straight by putting out some positive messages. They range from the federal government’s upbeat Positive Belgium campaign to the offbeat #diningforbrus-sels, which encourages locals to support struggling Brussels restaurants.

Some countries would organise a single campaign, but that’s not the Belgian way. The capital is planning its own tourist campaign in 2017 under the banner MIXITY. Focusing on the city’s cultural diversity, the programme runs from hip hop to urban art.

Meanwhile, the Flemish government has launched the Share our Smile campaign to promote tourist hotspots in the region, while the Ameri-can business community has developed a private initiative called Yes2Belgium with a focus on getting companies to invest here.

Hotels in the capital also want to persuade more people to stay in the city. They have launched a promotional campaign using the hashtag #seeyouinbrussels. But maybe the quirkiest bid to bring back tourists is called #sprouttobebrussels, which uses the humble Brussels sprout as a way of restoring Brussels’ bat-tered image.

Train World, Schaerbeek

technology •

Digital world


Parallels Desktop 12

For those who own a Mac but still need to run some Windows apps, like their company’s proprietary software, running Windows alongside Mac OS X with Apple’s built-in Boot Camp is one solution. But for a really swift transition from one operating system to the other, without needing to reboot your computer, a software solution like Parallels Desktop might come in handy. You can run any Windows program from the Dock below your screen, with minimal loss of performance. But the integration of the two operating systems into Mac OS X goes a little further than that: you get Mac cursor options when inside Windows 10, which also runs in its entirety inside Mac OS X, and using Outlook as your primary email program gives access to your files on both the Mac and the Windows side to use as an attachment. €80parallels.com

samsung galaxy note 7

Samsung’s one and only flagship smartphone is the Galaxy Note 7. It delivers a crisp 5.7in HD screen, combines great design with water-

and dust-proofing, and offers 64GB of internal memory, extendable through the built-in micro SD slot. And then there’s its stylus. Smartphone and

tablet makers ditched pens altogether when they released the first generation of their products, and have never looked back. But when Samsung helped reintroduce stylus input with its first Note products, they proved that the time is right for a

return. The Galaxy Note 7 reiterates this: it offers accurate penmanship, combined with smart handwriting recognition software. We’re not too fond of

the iris scanner, but that, too, is a typical Samsung trait: trying to be among the first to introduce a new technology before users are entirely comfortable with it. €850.00samsung.com

Lenovo IdeaPad Y700

If you need a solid laptop for productivity use, giving PowerPoint presentations and a little video gaming along the way, then don’t overlook Lenovo’s newest range of IdeaPads. The Y700 has all the makings of a great productivity and entertainment computer, with a quad-core Intel i7 processor and a high-def display. It also delivers a solid video gaming experience, with its surround sound and subwoofer, Nvidia GTX 960M 4GB of video memory, and thermal cooling. It’s also a behemoth, weighing in at about 2.5kg. The 17in version is a whopping 3.5kg, which makes it a portable desktop computer rather than a laptop. But both undeniably deliver on hardware. From €800lenovo.com

what’shappening


InterseCtIOns #4Two Belgian design institutions join forces for Intersections #4: CID & Friends. Hosted by the Atomium’s recently inaugurated design museum ADAM, the exhibition presents pieces from Wallonia’s Centre of Innovation and Design CID, which has been collecting cutting-edge furniture, lighting and industrial design since 1984. CID & Friends includes 150 items from CID’s permanent collection. ADAM is one of many venues offering reductions and extended hours throughout the autumn in the context of Nocturnes des Musées bruxellois.Until 5 FebruaryArt & Design Atomium Museum, Brussels adamuseum.be brusselsmuseumsnocturnes.be

Agenda •


BOzAr

Over the decades, Bozar has solidified its reputation as one of the capital’s most prestigious – and progressive – arts centres. This season continues the tradition with major visual arts exhibitions covering the history of the European and Japanese avant-gardes as well as political art in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Power of the Avant-Garde explores the roots of European modernism and its legacy among contemporary artists. A Feverish Era in Japanese Art surveys the thriving underground arts scene in post-war Japan. Congo Art Works presents folk and popular art reflecting decades of everyday life in the DRC.bozar.be

MegAvInO

Brussels wine fair Megavino brings together producers and consumers from around the world. Now in its 18th edition, the event draws tens of thousands of wine-lovers annually for a tasting of epic proportions. There are literally hundreds of exhibitors vying to fill your glass here. Megavino also offers master classes for connoisseurs in training. This year’s guest of honour is Lebanon, whose ancient winemaking regions are experiencing a renaissance.21-24 October Brussels Expo megavino.be

AntICA nAMur

The largest antiques fair in Belgium is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the theme ‘Grand Cru’. Among the 120 exhibitors, expect to find outstanding examples of vintage crystal by Val Saint-Lambert, Art Deco carafes, wine objects, paintings featuring wine and many other sparkling pieces. Antique lovers, amateur and professional, descend on Antica Namur for its eclectic exhibits from prestigious antique houses and passionate collectors. Belgian painter and costume and set designer Thierry Bosquet revamps the entrance of Namur Expo for the anniversary edition and the event includes an exhibition by British photographer and film director David Hamilton.11-20 November Namur Expo antica.be

InterIeur

Born out of the political tumult of the 1960s, Kortrijk’s Biennale Interieur has always been a design event with a difference. Its founders took seriously modern design’s promise to make everyday life more fulfilling. The event has grown in size and scope but remains true to that original vision. Interieur 2014 attracted hundreds of brands and dozens of up-and-coming designers. In all, 20 countries were represented. This year Interieur celebrates its 25th edition and the silver anniversary promises to be bigger, better and more community-oriented than before. 14-23 October Kortrijk Xpointerieur.be

eVentS With inG

•Belgium vs Estonia Football match, 13 October, Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels (win tickets via ing.be/foot), belgianfootball.be

•Guggenheim: Full Abstraction Art exhibition, 19 October-12 February, ING Art Center, Brussels (reduced price entrance with ING bank card; free for under-30s), ing.be/art

•Salon Juliette & Victor Franco-Belgian lifestyle fair, 25-27 November, Tour & Taxis, Brussels (first 500 entries free with ING card), jvmagazine.be

•Expat Estate Planning Seminar 6 December, 18.00, ING Marnix Auditorium, 24 Avenue Marnix, Brussels

MuseuM PLAntIn- MOretus

The offices of pioneering 16th-century publisher Christoffel Plantin and his son-in-law Jan Moretus have long been among Antwerp’s hidden gems. The building stayed in the family for generations until it was sold to the city over 100 years ago. Thereafter it was opened to the public, a humble testament to one of the publishing world’s most seminal figures. Now the Plantin-Moretus House is getting a major makeover. The renovated museum houses the family’s historic printing presses and recreates the world of yesteryear with the latest immersive multimedia technology.museumplantinmoretus.be

Ars MusICA

Inaugurated in 1989, Ars Musica is a city-wide, biennial showcase of contemporary classical music. The 2014 edition unfolded at over a dozen Brussels concert halls of all shapes and sizes. Some 60 concerts by the world’s top composers and performers brought Belgian audiences up to speed on the latest innovations in an ancient art form. This edition promises to be even bigger with its focus on contemporary Japanese composers and their ever-evolving relationship with European and American counterparts.12-27 November Across Brussels arsmusica.be


MInI-eurOPe

Families love Mini-Europe. The theme park sits in the shadow of the Atomium, alongside other Heysel attractions like Océade and the Kinepolis multiplex. Once inside, visitors are invited to take a walking tour of Europe. They’ll pass through pint-sized national pavilions complete with scaled-down models of signature landmarks. The park’s Remember 14-18 trail is at once a memorial and history lesson for the young ones. The themed walk links Mini-Europe’s monuments with the events of World War One and the start of a long process of European integration. The tour features purpose-built miniature versions of several battlefield cemeteries. Mini-Europe, Brussels minieurope.com

hALLOween At the CItADeL

Halloween at the Citadel takes the young ones for a spooky romp through history. Namur’s ancient fortress is the perfect setting for an interactive performance of epic proportions. The premise: mad scientist Henri Parker creates a time machine to meet humankind’s greatest heroes and villains in the flesh. In the process he opens a Pandora’s box of crazy costumed characters. The annual event is one of only a few to use the Théâtre de Verdure, a restored Belle-Epoque amphitheatre normally closed to the public.29 October-1 November Citadel, Namurcitadelle.namur.be

CommUnity eVentS

•Popes & Painters in Provence in the 14th Century 12 October, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert maison communale, bridfas.org

•Experience Vlerick Day 13 October, Brussels campus, Saint-Josse, vlerick.com

•Vesalius College open day 15 October, Boulevard de la Plaine 5, Ixelles, vesalius.edu

•Welcome to WeDo 15 October, Auderghem, [email protected], tinyurl.com/WeDoBrussels

•Full Circle: Peter Vermeersch: Democracy and the Art of Conversation 17 October, venue TBC, fullcircle.eu

•Foraging tour & dinner 23 October, Meise, foresttoplate.com

•Brussels Shakespeare Society: Coriolanus 24-29 October, Petit Théâtre Mercelis, Ixelles, theatreinbrussels.com

•English Comedy Brussels: Daniel Sloss 25 October, The Black Sheep, Ixelles, englishcomedybrussels.com

•English Comedy Club: The Government Inspector 9-19 November, Warehouse Studio Theatre, Schaerbeek, theatreinbrussels.com

•BLOC: A Christmas Carol: The Musical 24-27 November, Auderghem Cultural Centre, bloc-brussel.com

•Strasbourg Christmas trip 26 & 27 November, expatclub.org

Agenda •


AutuMn FALLs

Summer festival season is over but that doesn’t mean the music has to stop. Not only have clubs and concert halls resumed their regularly scheduled programming but venues across the country have joined forces to put on the Autumn Falls festival. The three-month programme includes a whopping 60 concerts at 32 indoor venues, several of them in Brussels. Among the headliners are international acts like American rap-noise outfit Death Grips and local heroes like Mauro Pawlowski (pictured above).Until 23 DecemberAcross Belgiumautumnfalls.be

guggenheIM: FuLL ABstrACtIOn

American art collectors Peggy and Solomon Guggenheim were outspoken champions of modernism long before giving their name to the famed New York museum. Indeed, abstract art might never have succeeded if not for the wealthy socialite couple’s sponsorship. The new exhibition Guggenheim: Full Abstraction presents 60 paintings from their personal collection. Spanning two continents, three decades and loads of styles, these works bear witness to a revolution in European and American art.19 October-12 February ING Art Center, Brussels ing.be/art

the ODYsseY OF AnIMALs

An exceptional collection of animal art by Flemish painters of the 17th century is displayed at this stunning hilltop museum in northern France, close to the Belgian border. The Musée departmental de Flandre occupies a heritage building dating from the 16th century; it re-opened in 2010 after major renovation. Lying in territory that once belonged to Flanders, the former manor house is dedicated to Flemish art. The current exhibition is devoted to a largely overlooked body of work and brings together for the first time works by artists on animals. The variety and symbolism are a fascinating insight into the beliefs of the age, exploring the relationship between man and nature.Until 22 January museedeflandre.lenord.fr

DeCOrLamp

This cute little Z-shaped lamp sits happily on a bedside table or desk, stands at 35cm tall and comes in a variety of metallic finishes. Part of the autumn range at homeware and gift shop Hopono, which has two branches in Brussels.hopono.be

CAFeButchers Coffee

Coffee culture is frothing in Antwerp with the opening of the latest cafe on the block – in a former butcher’s shop. Baristas Dave and Paolo share a passion for the black stuff, from selecting the finest beans to marketing all their products. They also serve homemade lemonade, toasted snacks, pastries and ‘super-food’ balls.facebook.com/butcherscoffee

what’s new


DInIngsimply You Box

Supermarket Carrefour has launched a meal box with a focus on Belgian and seasonal ingredients. The Simply You Box is being tested in nine of its outlets around the country. Each week, there are nine recipes from which clients choose three dishes (for two or four people). The recipes are quick and easy to follow, by recipe card or by video. SimplyYouBox.be

i guess you maybe don’t spend too much time thinking about things the size of Belgium, but if you did, there’s a website just made for you. It’s called The Size of Belgium, and it describes itself as “a website that is truly the size of

Belgium”.

Truly mad, I thought, when I came across the site. I’d been reading an article about an unusually large iceberg that had broken off the Antarctic ice shelf and was described in news reports as being “the size of Belgium”, and I suddenly realised that I’d lived here for 25 years without having a clue about the size of Belgium. I knew it was bigger than Luxembourg and smaller than Canada, but I needed a more precise measure. It turns out that a lot of people talk about things being “the size of Belgium”, which is why someone created sizeofbelgium.com. The site posts stories that all have one thing in common – they describe something as being the size of Belgium.

It turns out that a lot of things fit exactly into that category, including Sandstone Shire in Western Australia, China’s island province of Hainan, Lake Baikal, Maryland, Beijing and Area 51 in the Nevada desert.

Many stories involving the destruction of the Amazon rainforest refer to the devastated area as being as large as Belgium. And there is a vast area of wilderness in Canada where one of the

world’s largest herds of woodland caribou wander wild, which just happens to be the size of… Guess what?

Exactly. Hundreds of places in the world turn out to be precisely the size of Belgium. Even when something is not as big as our homeland, it’s measured on a scale that uses us as the standard unit. An article in Scientific American, for example, noted that all the world’s golf courses would cover an area one third of the size of Belgium.

When it comes to disasters, they all too often happen on a Belgian scale. A recent article considered the possibility of a rogue state getting hold of an apparatus that would permit them to slam an asteroid into the earth, and the author concluded that it would wipe out an area the size of our dear little country.

It seems strange that Belgium has become a scientist’s favourite measuring tool. The hole in the ozone layer used to be much smaller, but I don’t think it was ever described as an area the size of Luxembourg. And if an area of rainforest the size of Belgium is destroyed every year, what does that add up to over 10 years? An area the size of Spain?

I may be wrong, but I don’t for one minute believe that the authors have looked up a list of countries, checked their sizes, and picked on Belgium as the closest match. It seems much more likely that they are using “Belgium” as a way of conveying the notion of “quite big, but not huge”.

It’s quite easy to understand the reason for choosing Belgium. It’s not really tiny, like Monaco, but nor is it exactly big and important, like Germany. It’s middle sized. Average. Medium. A hole in the ozone layer the size of Belgium is not negligible, but it’s not terrifying. If it was the size of America, we’d start to panic.

But how big actually is Belgium? Most people in the world have no idea where Belgium is, never mind the size. In case you were wondering, it’s 30,528 square kilometres. Or the size of a natural disaster.

✶ By Derek BlythAs big as Belgium?


Last word •

A hole in the ozone layer the size of Belgium is not negligible, but it’s not terrifying. If it was the size of America, we’d start to panic

Pick up your copy now at newsstands or at www.thebulletin.be/shop

Your guide to life in Belgium

The latest issue of the Bulletin Newcomer mixes practical

information with features on getting Belgian nationality,

personal safety, learning to drive, kids’

activities and more.

Plus our Health Guide

offers 20 pages of interviews and essential addresses and a detailed

explanation of the country’s healthcare

sector

Offer your customers several handy ways to pay

Banking offer valid subject to acceptance of your file by ING Belgium and mutual agreement. The general terms and conditions (regulations, rates and other supplementary information) are available from any ING branch and on www.ing.be. ING Belgium SA/nv • Bank • Avenue Marnix 24, B-1000 Brussels • Brussels RPM/RPR • VAT BE 0403.200.393 • BIC: BBRUBEBB • IBAN: BE45 3109 1560 2789. An insurance broker registered with the FSMA under the n° 12381A. Publisher: Inge Ampe –Cours Saint-Michel 60, B-1040 Brussels.

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