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God Bless Belgium - YouTube
2007-12-10 17:26:00 Half a year has gone by since the 10 June national elections and still Belgium has no national government. The French speakers cannot agree to terms set by the Flemish majority and despite many rounds of talks, we are still at impasse.Many have raised the question of splitting Belgium into two countries: Flanders and Wallonia.This commercial was aired to raise the spirit of the proud Belgians to keep the country whole. More About: Youtube , God Bless
Center Parcs - ?150 Discount
2007-12-06 16:25:00 As today marks the arrival of the holy man from Spain, Saint Nicholas (De Sint), he has brought a fantastic present for everyone: a discount of at least ? 150 on a fun weekend or midweek stay in any Center Parcs! This special Saint Nicholas discount is only valid on bookings made by Saturday 15 December, for arrivals up to 10 March 2008. Only a certain number of cottages are available in the offer, so when they are full - they are full.What about a great stay over the Christmas or New Year period? The two Belgian parks are located in Limburg and have every facility you could need. De Sint and his Zwarte Pieten wish you lots of fun in A State of Happiness! Center Parcs Saint Nicholas discount Use booking code CP2461.My sons had lots of fun at a Center Parcs in Holland in August 2006 and keep asking when can we go back. More About: Discount
Vrouwensportdag Limburg, 13 November 2007
2007-12-01 10:10:00 On 13 November 2007, over 700 Limb urg women of all ages, shapes and sizes joined the 15th annual Vrouwensportdag in De Souverein sports centre, Lommel.For only 4? our gemeente Heusden-Zolder organized a coach, soup and coffee and we could choose from eight different programmes, each consisting of three sports.Sports included: nordic walking, nature walk, laughter walk, yoga, pilates, aerobics, step, African Djembe dance, NIA, percussion, Latin Aerobics, spinning, aquagym, country dancing, folk dancing and bowling,I chose Nordic walking which I always enjoy. Unfortunately, the initiation course was cancelled in my gemeente for the second year running so I am still looking for a beginners course to build on the odd lesson I have had in other places.After nordic walking came spinning. I should have known not to enrol for this. Spinning is fast exercise on a stationary bicycle, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, sometimes leaning on the handlebars and as if it was not difficult e... More About: November 2007
Flanders-Netherlands merger?
2007-11-28 17:48:00 Over five months since the 10 June election and Belgium is still without a government. Recently the Dutch newspaper 'Dag on Monday' announced that nearly half of the Dutch would be happy for Flanders and the Netherlands to unite in one country. (54% Dutch men, 36% Dutch women)Many Dutch supporters of a merger think a new country with a population of 22 million people might enhance their political and economic power in the European Union. 80& of Dutch nationals say they are very fond of the Flemish. The Dutch like the Flemish Burgundian attitude towards life, their accent and their good mood and gentle character. A Burgundian lifestyle generally indicates a more relaxed approach to life; open, frivolous and exuberant with emphasis placed on good food and drink, notably beer. The 'Roman Catholic' Burgundian lifestyle in the historically strongly Catholic provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg can be contrasted to the 'Calvinistic Protestant' more sober lifestyle of the Dutch l... More About: Merger
Chimay Beers and Cheeses
2007-11-28 14:46:00 The BIERES DE CHIMAY is a company is based in Chimay , a small town in the south of Belgium. It employs 75 persons and the turnover for 2002 was 23 millions euros. Bières de Chimay bottles and sells the Trappist beers of Chimay, brewed within the Abbey of Scourmont under the control and responsibility of the Trappist Monks. Since 1862 the monks have brewed their premium beer, known today under the name of " Première " (75 cl (25.4 fl.oz.)). The Chimay beers are authentic Trappist beers, since they meet the necessary three conditions :*They are brewed within the Trappist Abbey.*Under the control and responsibility of the religious Trappist community.*The majority of the revenue generated from its sale is used for charitable purposes.Quality has always had priority over quantity. The success of the beers has led, step by step, to a present production level of 123.000 hectolitres (2.706.000 gallons) per year.The Trappist Beers of Chimay, positioned in a constantly growing speciality ...
Belgian beer wins prizes
2007-11-22 15:53:00 Belgian beers breweries won prizes in several categories of the 'European Beer Stars Awards in Nuremburg, Germany. The competition took place during the Nuremburg beer fair 'Brau Beviale'. More than 570 beers were judged and awards prizes in 40 different categories. Affligem Brewery got the gold medal for its blond (white-coloured) abbey beer named after the brewery. The Affligem Double and Affligem Triple yeasting brews were awarded silver medals. Affligem Brewery is in Affligem, East Flanders. Het Anker Brewery from Mechelen won a gold medal for its 'Gouden Carolus' classic. The brewery De Landstheer in Antwerp province was awarded a gold medal for 'Malheur 10°' (Malheur is French for bad luck!).The brewery De Halve Maan from Bruges received a silver medal for its 'Brugse Zo't and a bronze medal for its 'Brugse Zot Double' brew. 'Zot' is Dutch for 'crazy'.Silver medals also went to the Brouwerij Roman brewery in the East Flemish town of Oudenaarde for its 'Sloeber... More About: Prizes , Wins , Belgian
Fitness Club Membership in Belgium
2007-11-21 18:59:00 According to an article in "De Morgen" on 21 November 2007, page 12:- Only 5% of Belgians are enrolled members of a fitness club. This is the lowest rate in Europe with an average 7.8% and 16.4% in neighbouring Netherlands.- There are 500,000 members of which 400,000 are in Flanders- 80% (532) of 679 fitness clubs are in Flanders whilst 147 are in Wallonia.This shows enormous growth potential and business opportunity.The research was conducted by Fitness Organisatie. More About: Belgium , Club , Fitness club , Membership
Business Cards in Belgium
2007-11-16 17:23:00 Finding a supplier of affordable but professional business cards in Belgium has been a challenge. The local shop charges a minimum of 125 € and I really only wanted a small quantity at low cost.I was therefore delighted to find Print 24 who offer a choice of designs, colours and font sizes with a great offer of 250 colour business cards for FREE with just 7.95 € postage and packing. They have lots of designs and colourways to choose from.If you want to order some cards, just visit Print 24 More About: Business , Cards , Sine
Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson in Brussels
2007-11-15 17:50:00 This short film is rather chaotic but it is a bit of fun - Rowan Atkinson playing the part of Mr Bean on his visit to the Mannekin Pis in Brussels . More About: Mr Bean
Beautiful Photo of Bruges - Brugge
2007-11-15 15:11:00 Isn't this a beautiful photo of Bruges (English/French) or Brugge (Dutch)? More About: Photo , Beautiful
Week van de Smaak 2007 - Vlaanderen and Brussels
2007-11-14 17:23:00 The 2nd Week van de Smaak (Week of Taste) will run in Flanders and Brussels from 15-24 November 2007. This is a Flemish festival dedicated to gastronomy - well eating and drinking in general with more than 700 organisers of more than 1,200 events.There are tastings of world cuisines such as Italian, African, Turkish food - not forgetting streekproducten from the different areas in Belgium, demonstrations in hotel and catering schools, masterchefs, events in breweries, wine tastings, cookery classes including some for children, talks on typical foods, guided tours and various other events.Here are some unusual items I spotted:* "De Vijf Smaken op Zijn Brussels", a discovery of Brussels cuisine meeting at Sint Katelijneplein at 14.00 on 17 November.* "Niet Elke Pater is een Trappist" discussing the differences between Trappist and Abbey beers, Brussels on 14 November, beers tasting included in the 10 ?. * How about a talk on sprouts (spruitsjes)? * The Dag van de Geuze will be given... More About: Lier
Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition in Brussels
2007-11-12 16:37:00 We visited the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition on view at the Basilica Koekelberg in Brussels . This is one of the most complete exhibitions ever on one of the greatest thinkers of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci .The exhibition, Leonardo - The European Genius, will run until 15 March 2008 at the Koekelberg Basilica, the fifth largest church in the world and the largest Art Deco building ever constructed.It is presented in four separate themes:? Leonardo the man from Tuscany to the Loire Valley- Leonardo the artist with sketches, paintings, sculptures- Leonardo the engineer with reconstructions including machines and bridges - Leonardo the humanist with his mysterious reversed writing and collection of codices by the master.As such, the exhibition presents all the different aspects of his work and the legacy that he left behind to Renaissance art and science, through to the modern day.There are original works including the Codex of the Flight of Birds and Leonardo's only self portr... More About: Exhibition
Day of Remembrance - 11 November 2007
2007-11-11 11:59:00 Today is Remembrance Day - L'Armistice - Wapenstilstand. I heard that the oldest British survivor of WWI is 90 years old.This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele (old Flemish name, Passendale in English), a First-World-War offensive that became a symbol of the violence of war in its most gruesome and senseless form. In remembrance of the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives, the municipalities of Zonnebeke, Heuvelland, Messines and Ypres have marked the anniversary with a series of events coinciding with the phases of the original offensive. The events, have taken place over five weekends between June and November . The last, this weekend, remembers the Canadians.Fought in 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres (Ieper), was one of the major battles of the First World War. British, ANZAC and Canadian soldiers fought against the German Army for control of the Belgian village in a battle that lasted three months and claime... More About: Iron Maiden , November 2007
Magical Christmas Markets in Belgium
2007-11-10 14:31:00 It is cold this weekend so time to think of warm cheer and the enjoyment of a Belgian Christmas market. St Nicholas (Sint Niklaas) arrives on 6 December to visit good children. Shops abound with yummy treats such as marzipan, flat hard cakes known as ?klaasjes? and ?speculoos?, a hard gingerbread molded in the form of St. Nicholas.Christmas market s are an old holiday tradition in Belgium where both locals and visitors can shop for original and traditional decorations along with other Christmas goodies at open-air stalls in the heart of the city. Many towns and villages throughout Belgium hold Christmas markets. Most will be aglow with colorful illuminations around their main streets and shopping centers.In all major cities, shopping will be possible on the four Sundays preceding the holiday. The local Tourist Offices can provide visitors with details on the numerous nativity scenes on display, Christmas markets, concerts and other seasonal events.Brussels will hold its annual Eu... More About: Markets , Magica
A visit to Malmedy
2007-11-10 11:28:00 We visited Malmedy, in the Eastern Cantons of Belgium, between the Ardennes and Germany. This region was part of Germany until 1920 when it was awarded to Belgium as war retributions. Malmedy was annexed again to Germany from 1940 to 1944. The city was severely damaged during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Bombings killed 219 and destroyed most of the historical houses of the downtown. 700,000 German-speaking Belgians live in the Eastern Cantons,nearly 1% of the population but the people of Malmedy speak French. Malmedy won the title of the most beautifully flowered town of Europe in 1996.Malmedy sits on the edge of The ?Hautes Fagnes? (Hoge Venen). "This vast empty territory where Belgium touches the sky has inspired many painters and poets. Merciless with the inattentive wanderer, mysterious in the fog, gorgeous under the sun or the snow, the ?Hautes Fagnes?, land of legends and wild-life reserve should be visited with respect."Nature Centre of Botrange: 080 / 44 ... More About: Visit
Belgium top research country
2007-11-09 20:29:00 Thu 08/11/07 - Readers of US publication The Scientist have chosen Belgium as the best country in the world for scientific research. Research ers in the US, Canada and western Europe were quizzed about their experiences in scientific research centres across the globe. (Belga) Belgium came out on top.It is the first time ever that Belgium has featured in first place in the "Best Countries for Scientific Research" ranking.Last year Belgium came home in fifth position. The United States was ranked second, Canada third.The Internet poll also identified Ghent University as one of the best environments for scientific research for academics in Europe. Source: FlandersNews.be More About: Country
Shoe Size 62
2007-11-09 20:19:00 I saw this shoe in Hasselt , Belgium. It belongs to a Ukranian man who is 2.57m tall, weighs 200kg and has a 62 shoe size! More About: Size , Shoe
Dinosaurs Museum in Brussels
2007-11-08 11:58:00 The Museum of Natural Sciences reopened on 27 October with Europe?s largest dinosaur gallery which will emphasize science and authenticity. With the famous iguanodons of Bernissart and lots of new dinosaur skeletons and casts as well as interactive exhibits and an on-site paleontology and geology laboratory for children.Museum of Natural SciencesRue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels (close to Park Leopold)OpenTuesday to Friday from 9:30 to 16:45; Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; during Belgian school holidays in autumn, at Christmas, carnival and Easter: week-end schedule (closed on Mondays). on 24 and 31 December the Museum is open until 3 p.m. Closed on Mondays; on 25 December, on 1 January, on 1 May; Admission prices: Adult ? 7.00, Student ? 6.00, 6-17 years ? 4.50, 0-5 years FreeLower prices for groups 15+ and guided visits possibleTaking photographs and making video films is allowed in the Museum, provided the pictures are for personal, non professional and non business use. ... More About: Dinosaurs
Kingdom of Belgium Koninkrijk België
2007-11-06 14:48:00 Here is a lovely compilation of photos from Belgium . More About: Kingdom
Everybody Eats Well in Belgium cookbook
2007-11-03 15:48:00 I am trying to find this cookbook so would be very grateful if anyone can tell me (info@livinghealthtoday.com) where it is on sale or if they have a copy for sale. I cannot find it on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.comSynopsis:A collection of over 250 recipes from Belgium , where there are more 3-star restaurants per capita than any other nation. Among the recipes included are Flemish carrot soup, waterzooi of chicken, Belgian steamed mussels and little chocolate nut cakes.It's a country that boasts more three-star restaurants per capita than any other nation--including France. It's a country where home cooks--and everyone, it seems, is a great home cook--spend copious amounts of time thinking about, shopping for, preparing, discussing, and celebrating food. With its French foundation, hearty influences from Germany and Holland, herbs straight out of a Medieval garden, and condiments and spices from the height of Flemish culture, Belgian cuisine is elegant comfort food at its best--slow-c... More About: Cookbook , Well , Everybody
Recipe for Carbonades Flamandes or Vlaasme Stoverij
2007-11-03 15:37:00 Flemish Beef Stew Cooked in Beer (Vlaamse Stoverij or Les Carb onades Flamandes)Serves 6 to 8Source: "Everybody Eats Well in Belgium" cookbookBeef stew cooked in beer has long been part of the culinary heritage of Belgium, and it is still one of the most popular stews in Flanders. Through the ages, the recipe has varied, and every mother passes on her "secret" to her children. My mother likes to add some liver or kidneys to the beef, which certainly gives the stew a more distinctive flavor. My grandmother likes it, more "sweet" and adds a slice of pain d'epices, an old-fashioned honey spice, bread, or even a slice of country bread spread with a strong mustard. These spicy and sweet flavorings have been an integral part of the Belgian palate and cuisine since the Middle Ages.The following version is a basic one and my favorite. Like many other stews it is best made a day or two ahead since it improves in flavor. The success of the dish depends greatly on the quality of the beer you u... More About: Recipe , Lama , Nade , Reci
Rude Belgian Chocolates
2007-10-26 20:26:00 Belgian chocolates are famous the world over but forget dainty shaped pralines, have you ever seen chocs like these?I saw them in Hasselt. More About: Chocolates , Rude , Belgian
A Poster for Women
2007-10-14 12:33:00 Ijust saw this cheeky poster aimed at women. The caption means,"Ladies, save for your pension." More About: Women , For Women , Poster
Hasselt Genever Festival
2007-10-11 10:00:00 20 and 21 October 2007 are the dates to be in Hass elt , Limburg for the 18th Genever (Jenever in Dutch) Festival . Hasselt is the Belgian capital for this strong schnapps type drink. The National Genever Museum in Witte Nonnenstraat 19 produces Hasselt genever in the authentic 19th century distillery and after official approval by the Mayor at 3pm on the Saturday, everybody is invited to taste in the museum courtyard.The Borrelmanneke's treatTrue to annual tradition, the "Borrelmanneke" statue, the symbol of genever production in Hasselt, buys a drink on Saturday. At 4:30 p.m. the water of the fountain becomes genever. There is a full weekend programme of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Waiters Race (Kelnerwedloop) will run through the town centre at 3pm on Sunday from the Molenpoort, the winner receiving his weight in genever.Pub "Den Ossekop" (The Ox Head) on the Fruitmarkt welcomes visitors to entertainment in a tent from 1 to 8pm on Saturday and 1 to 7pm on Sun...
Affordable Housework Help with Diensten Cheques - Titres de Service
2007-10-08 16:32:00 Dienstencheques or Titres-service provide a useful system whereby reliable housework help can be found. Agencies hire the staff, train them and check references then accompany them to the employer's house to brief them on what work is to be done. They ensure that the employer and employee are both happy with the service. The employer can allow a stranger into their home to do chores without worrying.Workers can be hired for the following chores:Inside the home: cleaning, window-cleaning, laundry and ironing, preparation of meals, small sewing repairs.Outside the home: shopping errands, ironing and sewing elsewhere, driving elderly or handicapped people in offical transport. (Excluded: delivery of hot meals, furniture, household appliancs, AV equipment, newspapers and magazines.)Not allowed: plumbing, electrical repairs, painting and decorating, gardening, babysitting or childminding.The cheques can only be used in the private domain, not for commercial cleaning or work within co... More About: Service , Ework , Cheque
Studio Job Exhibition in Hasselt
2007-10-06 10:25:00 "Studio Job is a love-'em-or-hate-'em Belgian-Dutch design duo". - Time Magazine, in an article about the 100 top most influential interior designers. The International Herald Tribune wrote, "A Dutch duo that rejects function, with flair". The New York Times has also followed the work of Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel, so called Studio Job. They have designed commissions for Bisazza, Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum and Swarovski. Their work is to be found in the Groningen Museum, Stedelijk Museeum in Antwerpen and the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. Exhibit ion s have also been held in The Museum of Modern Art/MOMA, New York; the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the Dutch Textile Museum, Tilburg; Paris, Milan, Basel and now Hass elt in Z33 until 7 October. Simply stated, their work is design of household objects, mainly in bronze, wood and glass, usually oversized and probably impractical due to their size and weight. The items are one-off or limited edition of a few. The Studio Job co...
Scouting in Belgium
2007-10-05 19:04:00 Scouting in Belgium is 100 years young in 2007. My sons have joined the local Scouts in Bolderberg, where there are 180 members. They meet every Saturday from 08.30 to 12.00 and my 6 year old cub cannot wait for the next Saturday. They came home muddy from an obstacle course in the woods, swinging on a rope over a stream, building a logs bridge and walking over a beaver's dam. In Summer 2007 they took 75 kids on camp.For those who understand Dutch, here is what they say on the local Bolderberg website:Scouts Bolderberg is opgericht circa 1979. Het scoutslokaal is gelegen in de kluisstraat, achter de basisschool en is te bereiken via de parking links van de school. Momenteel hebben we onze intrek genomen in de nieuwe materiaalloods langs het Nieuwe kerkhof en in de toekomst zou daar ook een nieuw lokaal moeten komen want ons huidig lokaal is te klein geworden. Meer hierover bij 'vzw' op scoutswebsite. De Scouts is de enige jeugdvereniging van Bolderberg en heeft elk jaar weer ee...
There are Nine Million Bicycles in Belgium
2007-09-27 12:40:00 One of the reasons I love living in Belgium is the cycling. Apparently there are just over 10 million people and, as the song goes "There are 9 million bicycles in Beijing?", last Sunday it seemed like Brussels had at least that number. Sunday was 'Car Free Sunday', part of European Mobility Week."All 19 Brussels municipalities took part, with cars, lorries and motorbikes - except those required for professional reasons - banned from the roads. This was a Europe-wide initiative and the EU estimates that around 1,000 cities and municipalities answered the call. The event was a massive success, a day with very few cars on the roads, instead they were chock-full of cycling, rollers-skating hordes. People were travelling basically on anything on wheels that did not require to be petrol-driven. Entire families cycled past, the very little ones following their parents like obedient ducklings in their yellow safety jackets.Many districts organised side-events to keep the populace amused... More About: Bicycles , Million , Bicycle
Gueuze - Belgian "Champagne"
2007-09-27 11:44:00 Actually, Gueuze is a Belgian beer but with a slight fizz and a popping cork, it is often called Belgian Cham pagne . I enjoy it so much (and so often) that I have dedicated a website to Gueuze: Click here to visit GueuzeWhilst looking for more links on Gueuze, I found a website on "Beer and Health" which included an article on Alcohol and cancer,"For a number of cancers, the risks possibly does increase with moderate drinking. More research is needed to clarify matters here. Up until now most information has been collected on breast cancer, where there is a slightly increased risk for moderate to heavy drinkers.The influence of alcohol, and beer in particular, on the occurrence of cancer has not been widely researched up until now. Certain trends can indeed be noted. Some studies point to a high alcohol consumption mainly increasing the risk of gastrointestinal tract cancers.More recent research into other components (ie. not alcohol), including the phyto-oestrogens in beer, point ... More About: Champ
Indoor Ski-ing in Belgium
More articles from this author:2007-09-27 11:42:00 Last weekend, Snow Valley in Peer, Limburg, Belgium held an open-door weekend when children and adults could enjoy one hour FREE ski-ing including hire of equipment. This was an offer too good to resist.Apparently the indoor skipiste in Snow Valley, Peer has a piste of 235 m long by 30m wide served by 3 poma style lifts and a kids' piste of 100m with a conveyor belt. For snowboarders, there are kicks with rails, big air, fun box and quarterpipes.Visit the site of SnowValley, BelgiumMy photos of Snow Valley on Flickr 1, 2, 3 |
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