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You can upgrade to a modern browser or use the Google Chrome Frame to optimize your viewing experience EasyPark is a parking company that simplifies parking by allowing users to find reserve and pay for parking spaces using their smartphone reserve them and process payments seamlessly via the EasyPark app EasyPark has been live in Belgium since 2018 and is active in other cities including Antwerp The recent expansion in the Brussels-Capital Region has led to an increase in EasyPark's popularity usage in Belgium has quadrupled since 2022: in the first half of 2024 alone there were more than 100,000 parking sessions The app is now available to residents and visitors of the Brussels-Capital Region the Brussels-Capital Region welcomed 19,650,862 tourists in 2024 Some 8,555,543 of them come from abroad – highlighting the city’s demand for efficient parking solutions.1 “We are delighted that Belgians and tourists share our enthusiasm for the fact that EasyPark is now available in Etterbeek This launch is a crucial step in our mission to improve the accessibility of parking in Belgium We want to implement a system that offers drivers more flexibility and choice than is currently the case This launch in Etterbeek is an important milestone in this,” says Arne Van Helleputte The new system allows the municipality to offer multiple parking apps giving residents and visitors more choice and the freedom to choose the app that best suits their needs 1 Overnight stays and arrivals figures | Statistics Flanders EasyPark is a leading global parking tech company with the vision to make cities more livable.With award-winning technology EasyPark Group has eased parking since 2001 and today the company helps drivers save time and money by finding and managing parking and electric vehicle charging property owners and cities to administrate EasyPark Group owns and develops the apps EasyPark RingGo and Park-line and operates in over 3,200 cities across more than 25 countries We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Roger Lee Mulder created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories © 2025 Langeland-Sterenberg Yntema Funeral Homes Made with love by funeralOne This summer The Sentinel will release its team of the quarter century for multiple sports The teams will be comprised of the top athletes from 2000-2024 Readers are encouraged to vote online for the best player or doubles team The team does not include anyone still in high school 1 singles when ton to become MIAA champion at Hope College Was all-state three times and went on to play at Western Michigan Was part of Maroons' state championship team at No 1 and dominating as all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year The two-time Holland Sentinel Player of the Year and all-state honoree went on to play at West Point then Hope College This power player led the Maroons to a top four finish at the state finals three times reached the state quarterfinals and went on to play at Davenport Karp was one of the top players in area history She was all-state three times and led the Panthers to the state tournament all four years The top player on the Maroons state championship team Spoelhof was all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year before playing at Calvin 2 singles helping the Maroons to the state championship This all-state player and Sentinel Player of the Year went on to play at Spring Arbor 1 singles with the Maroons and earning all-state honors Buursma went on to star at Wheaton College 1 singles competition for multiple years before starring at Hope College Was all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year as a senior after rising to the top spot with the Panthers 1 singles player with the Maroons was all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year as a senior before playing at Calvin led the Hawkeyes to the state tournament from her No 1 singles as a sophomore and starred for three years to earn all-state honors before playing at Hope College This doubles team went nearly undefeated two years in a row falling in the state semifinals to the eventual state champions 1 doubles to win the state championship and lead the Maroons to a state title as a team Reached the Division 1 state quarterfinals at No 4 doubles to complete a masterpiece season 1 doubles to lead the Maroons to a top four finish this duo earned all-state honors and made multiple deep tournament runs A fire has killed one person in the Brussels municipality of Etterbeek The terraced house was completely burnt out and an adjacent house was so badly damaged that it is uninhabitable The Brussels fire brigade was called to the fire in Camille Coquilhatstraat shortly before 9.00 on Thursday the whole house was on fire and the flames were spreading through the roof to the neighbouring houses,” a fire brigade spokesperson said A neighbouring building is uninhabitable and local authorities are seeking temporary accommodation for the residents The cause of the fire is currently unknown The American ambassador to Belgium is set to decamp to set up shop in the Brussels neighbourhood of Etterbeek, according to local media authorities have picked the former offices of ING bank for their new location Currently, the embassy is located in the heart of the city, near the Arts-Loi metro station. But attempts to beef up security have run up against legal problems after complaints from residents The embassy in 2016 mooted the idea of a re-location to the suburb of Watermael-Boitsfort, but the idea was eventually shot down The new site promises to be a huge project with the new seat bringing the embassy together with the U.S LN24 reports that Etterbeek Mayor Vincent De Wolf welcomes the move: “I am delighted that the Americans have chosen our beautiful town to settle in.” The project will see significant redevelopment of the location with the office building currently standing on the land set to be demolished Part of the plot will be set aside for the construction of residential housing De Wolf said that buy-in from local residents is needed for the plan to succeed given the disruption that NATO and international summits will cause to the area but the mayor says he views the arrival of the embassy “with a positive spirit.” Spain was easily the top performing major economy in the eurozone Spain’s core settlement infrastructure continues to operate normally Washington and Beijing are trading tariff blows The EU could come out on top ― if it can rise to the challenge But the Fund gives its implicit backing to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to stabilize U.K After 18 months of work by a commission formed by political representatives and residents to discuss what to do with its colonial vestiges has announced a “work of contextualization” of the names of streets statues and other monuments linked to Belgium’s colonial past The next step will be the formation of a panel of independent experts which will make a list of the symbols to be explained in order of priority These explanations will foreseeably be presented on a plaque or with a QR code next to the original monument or street name a local councilor and rapporteur of the commission that prepared the Etterbeek report is that the surrounding explanation contains “all the elements identified as problematic and raising questions” about the character or element in question but also to avoid “meaningless excesses.” “It’s about citizens taking ownership of the issues and opening a debate,” says Du Bus whose report also proposes holding an annual “cultural social and sociological event to educate about colonial and decolonization challenges.” The information to be proposed which is why it has been entrusted to a panel of experts.” Mayor De Wolf has indicated his intention to move quickly so that everything will be in place before the municipal elections to be held just a year from now Etterbeek is host to the largest concentration of the “fingerprints of Belgium’s colonial past: 26 of the 185 streets refer to military men related to that past,” he notes Some extol participants — from prominent military men to anonymous pioneers — in the brutal management and repression of the Congo during Belgian rule when the now independent Democratic Republic of the Congo was the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium under whose brutal rule an estimated 10 million people died but also during the Congo’s tenure as a Belgian colony but in a manner that many consider anonymous and stereotypical experts of various stripes agree that contextualizing is a welcome step in the framework of a critical reflection on Belgium’s colonial past that the country initiated a few years ago first with the profound change of perspective of the once pro-colonialist Royal Museum for Central Africa and now with initiatives like the one in Etterbeek which are also being progressively worked on throughout the Brussels region “Contextualization is the foundation, the minimum,” says law professor Marie-Sophie de Clippele, who participated in the preparation of a report titled Working on decolonizing public spaces in the Brussels-Capital Region published last year and which forms the basis for analyzing different steps to be taken in a city riddled with colonial monuments and symbols even in its renowned art nouveau buildings The report stresses that the decolonization of public space is “an integral part of the decolonization of society political and cultural process that should not be limited to Belgium’s colonial past but should be inscribed in other fields such as health education or employment” to build a region “in which every Brussels citizen recognizes themselves and feels recognized.” But he agrees that the commitment to contextualization is a step in the right direction because the alternative to remove them is to “end the possibility of talking” about the subject because they are “the ideal decor” to “denounce issues around colonization.” “A statue is often erected in memory of a certain version of history which does not tell the whole story,” De Clippele notes “I believe that statues should not be removed; it is better to contextualize them and to make people understand that these statues but they are the version of the period that they wanted to show.” For his part Du Bus says that he would not be opposed to some street names being removed “if it is shown that they are really problematic characters.” But not as a principle because it doesn’t make sense; it’s part of our history.” Although the initial anger seems to have subsided where a monument “in honor of the Belgian pioneers in the Congo” in the Cinquantenaire park close to the European Commission headquarters still shows traces of red paint that an activist threw against the work in mid-September to denounce “the blood that Belgium has on its hands.” It needs the support of the citizens’ will.” Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition ¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción ¿Por qué estás viendo esto? cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS ¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital. Where can you admire the cherry blossoms in Brussels which generally begins in late March/early April and lasts until May cherry blossoms offer Brussels a delightful rose-tinted spectacle dotting our streets with delicate hints of color and abundant essences Where can you admire cherry blossom in Brussels an age-old Japanese tradition – invites the Japanese to contemplate the fleeting beauty of cherry blossom Hanami embodies a profound reflection on the transitory nature of life symbolized by the brief blossoming of the sakura this custom brings together millions of people who gather under the blossoming trees to share moments of conviviality and wonder Parc Josaphat is one of the best places to admire cherry blossom in Brussels Its long branches give the impression of strolling under a great arch of flowers… Strolling along Avenue Emile Max in Schaerbeek is like strolling through a fairytale The pink of the flowers lends an old-fashioned charm to these brick houses but the side street (Avenue du Diamant) is just as pretty and just as worth a visit in Schaerbeek The central median of Avenue de Mai in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert is strewn with a multitude of cherry blossom trees whose pink petals dress the edges of the roadway 📍 Avenue de Mai in Woluwe-St-Lambert 🚇 Diamant the Place Saint-Antoine and its extension via Avenue Jules Malou offer their fair share of magnificent cherry blossom trees The splendid architecture of the Église Saint-Antoine will enhance the charm of your photos 📍 Place Saint-Antoine in Etterbeek 🚇 Église Saint-Antoine Square François Riga is a delightful place with its many cherry trees in bloom at this time of year Let’s take advantage of the opportunity to stroll along its herbaceous paths and take as many photos as possible 📍 Square François Riga in Schaerbeek 🚇 Helmet Cherry blossom trees are scattered throughout the Parc du Viaduc a short distance from Schuman and Porte de Namur 1 in Ixelles 🚇 Germoir or Bruxelles-Luxembourg located in Schaerbeek and not far from Josaphat Park (which also features in this top) is adorned with magnificent cherry blossom trees that blend skilfully with the facades of the homes 📍 Place des Bienfaiteurs in Schaerbeek 🚇 Bienfaiteurs you’ll find a few cherry blossom trees that sublimate the radiance and beauty of this magnificent pagoda Rue Leekaerts is a tiny street tucked away between Parc Communal and Avenue H Yet it’s home to some lovely cherry blossom trees and plenty of photo opportunities This gracious house is full of original art. Paintings stack up on the walls; accent furniture comes from artists like Wendell Castell woven fiber art is tossed around as scatter rugs But beyond the objets D’art that must leave here with the owners the structure itself is full of original art — unique components built in by Cranbrook artists and faculty sparkling outdoor shade over a spectator area at the tennis court. It’s shaped by 54 wires that drape a canopy frame each wire is strung with metal shapes that flash random Lucite colors You adjust it to changing light conditions by moving the colored shapes with your hands it throws small circles of random colors down on spectator seats The shade was created by FVP Studios founder Fernando Bales At the time both were senior architecture students at Cranbrook This sun shade is part of the lavish grounds you’d enter the intensely curated lower-level walkout redone over the last five years by Leslie and Jeff Etterbeek.  They’re the couple both out of the Cranbrook Educational Community The fireplace in the walkout level is wrapped with two layers of laser-cut steal Lights mounted behind this throw random shapes and shadows blue and black wall design was created by Bales out of stencils The long bar was created by William Massie who’s since retired as the head of Cranbrook’s architecture department Its glittering front is a layered collage of powder-coated metal and Lucite It was Massie who designed the lower level remodeling and supervised his students a jagged design from the commercial lines of the late Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid whose iconic venues have won both the Pritzker and the Stirling prizes in architecture Hadid also designed the uber-energizing wallpaper in the exercise room More: Pavel Datsyuk's $4.5M home in Bloomfield Twp. includes panic room, theater More: $1.1M Shelby Township home is one of the most visually striking in SE Michigan There’s an enclosed ping-pong room in the lower level with shock-absorbing walls a large full kitchen and a nanny’s suite bluestone terraces and stairs descends toward the tennis court and its cool spectator stand Jeff Etterbeek was an All-American tennis player in college The court is oversize so powerful players have room to lunge much of this house is designed for functionality We didn’t want the art to overpower the functionality.” Some details from this easy-living list include the wet closet and dog shower in the laundry room the heated garage with hot water for car washing the sun room where they sit a lot that has direct access to let the dogs out to a pen “We tried to make it as maintenance free as possible Art house in Bloomfield HillsWhere: 125 Hilltop Drive Square feet:  6,992 on the main floors plus 2,936 finished by Cranbrook artisans in the walkout lower level Key features:  Beautiful home is loaded original art components along with high functionality Cranbrook faculty and students remodeled the lower level with their personal installations Professional-size clay tennis court with automatic moisture system Great landscape descends to the clay court.  Get our award-winning print editions of The Daily Pennsylvanian delivered to your doorstep every week The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site delivered to your inbox every weekday morning The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn. Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERAL, SOCIETYEtterbeek to add context to its colonial-era statues and street names4 October 2023 The Brussels district of Etterbeek is planning to add contextual signs to its statues street names and monuments that refer to Belgium’s colonial history Mayor Vincent De Wolf is following the advice of a commission of citizens and political representatives who have been holding discussions about the issue for the past 18 months Their consensus is that providing historical context to the public is a better solution than removing the items from the streetscape altogether Several streets in the district carry the names of men with links to colonialism Rue Commandant Ponthier and Rue Baron Dhanis An expert group will provide context for the sites by The work should be ready ahead of the local elections in October 2024 The municipality will also organise an event each year to explain decolonisation This contextualisation should be as inclusive as possible said Marie-Sophie de Clippele of the National Fund for Scientific Research the co-author of a 2022 report on decolonialisation of public space in the capital She called for the work to be done in a way that includes local residents and associations “Contextualisation is the minimum requirement a QR code or an app integrating a route,” she said Other options include “a symbolic commemoration ceremony or the placing of another statue bearing new values opposite the old statue” the move to decolonise Belgium’s public space has been gaining momentum Several statues in Brussels have been vandalised and the large statue of King Léopold II on horseback on Place du Trône has been repeatedly graffitied and defaced with red paint red paint symbolising blood was thrown over the Monument to the Belgian Pioneers in Congo in Cinquantenaire park millions of Congolese people died as a result of brutal treatment by colonial forces The Belgian state took over from the king from 1908 until Congo gained independence in 1960 In June 2020, King Philippe expressed his “deepest regrets” for abuses committed against the Congolese people in a letter to president Félix Tshisekedi. The apology – the first issued by Belgium – had been the subject of several debates in parliament in the preceding months Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu Thursday, September 28, 2006 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT Dykstra Funeral Homes Mulder Chapel 188 West 32nd Street Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-2348 Driving Directions Friday, September 29, 2006 1:00 PM EDT Dykstra Funeral Homes Downtown Holland Chapel 29 East Ninth Street Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-2348 Driving Directions vibrant woman who fully devoted herself to her family and gave to her community Dawn Etterbeek was born at a time when families were trying to make life pleasant in the midst of difficult conditions so people made their own entertainment at home and being inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt's Fireside Chats the Paul and Gladys (Marcus) Diepenhorst family of Grand Rapids Michigan eagerly awaited the birth of their second child they welcomed Olive Dawn into their hearts and home After moving to Holland in the mid 1940's Dawn's father took a job with Conrad Refrigeration in Holland to support the his family of five children: Pauline They lived on Lakewood Boulevard near Tunnel Park a recreational area that figured prominently in Dawn's teen years was a Dutch dancer in the Tulip Festival each year serving as a majorette and a flutist in the school band she met a young man who would become her husband the first date Dawn had with Ken Etterbeek was at Holland State Park where they went fishing off the pier traveling by ferry between the south side of town where Ken worked at the Mac Hotel to Tunnel Park on the north side Their relationship grew through those years and when Dawn graduated from Holland High and began attending her one term at Michigan State University they committed their lives in marriage and moved to Plymouth Michigan where Ken worked with Hardware Mutuals Insurance Company Dawn and Ken moved back to Holland where she took a job with Bell Telephone Company They moved into a rental on 17th and Maple before settling into a home on Hiawatha Drive in the Indian Hills area This became the family home where Dawn and Ken would raise four wonderful children: Susan born in 1953 In 1962 the family moved to Central Avenue where Jonathan was born in that year and life of faith during her many years of membership at Christ Memorial Church She made a point of always being home for her children making great meals for them and relaxing with her knitting Her children especially remember those Sunday dinners of pork roast Dawn and Ken rested from the non-stop insurance business he ran out of their home with her helping to answer the phone Sundays in the summer meant Dad made brunch and then the whole family would play tennis after church and go boating Dawn was always active in her children's lives Dawn became a tennis mom not only because she watched her kids play tennis but because she also played with them they went on snow skiing trips and as a couple Dawn and Ken liked to play mixed doubles in tennis The two of them even won the Macatawa Tennis Club championship one year Dawn was also an avid golfer and played regularly at the Holland Country Club with her life long friend Dawn enjoyed her life and invested in her community through her membership in the Holland Junior Welfare League and The Margaret Hummer Hospital Ladies' Guild was a recipient of her kindness and attention In the last fifteen years of their married life together Ken and Dawn divided their time between Sea Oaks Florida in Vero Beach and their beloved cottage in Macatawa As Dawn's loving family and cherished friends mourn her death Her family includes: Husband of 55 years Kenneth Etterbeek: children; Susan and Henry DeJong of Holland Sally and William Swets of East Grand Rapids Jeffrey and Leslie Etterbeek of Bloomfield Hills Jonathan and Laurilee Etterbeek of Houston sisters Pauline and Clarence Boss of Grand Haven and Jacklyn Zych of Holland; several nieces Services will be 1 pm Friday at Christ Memorial Church of Holland Burial will be in Graafschap Cemetery Holland Visiting will be from 6-9 pm Thursday at The Mulder Chapel Dykstra Funeral Home 188 West 32nd Street in Holland Memorials may be made to Resthaven Patrons Inc JavaScript is disabled. In order to use all of the features on dykstrafuneralhome.com, enable JavaScript.Close Heading into the first match of the season against Birmingham Groves Brother Rice tennis thought its lineup would look different.  The Warriors expected to head into 2020 with junior JJ Etterbeek at the top 4 seed in last season’s Division 1 tennis final who lost in the state final as a sophomore.  Etterbeek announced his intention to transfer to Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head less than a week before the season started.  More: Softball returns to huge Canton facility with unmatched joy and new appreciation for sport in the Warriors first match of the season.  Brother Rice head coach Casey Cullen said he had high expectations for his group he said all the Warriors can do is move forward.  I think it’s more of he doesn’t know what’s going to happen with COVID,” Cullen said “The state tournament is still up in the air but it was a blow to our team in terms of what we were expecting.”  giving them confidence moving forward.  in straight sets for his first win of the season.  While the loss of Etterbeek brings a different look than Prew expected the senior captain still believes in the talent remaining on the roster.  “We’re definitely at the top,” Prew said so I mean we are still figuring everything out but we’re definitely up there in high seeds.”  Cullen described both Prew and sophomore Dimitri Moriarty as fighters and battlers with the latter also earning a sweep against Groves sophomore Nolen Kovan Thursday afternoon.  Cullen also has high expectations for freshman Devyn Gans in his first taste of high school action.  Warriors senior John Carthew completed the singles sweep with a sweep of Groves junior Gabe Klein.  Cullen said older players on the Brother Rice roster need to lead the way and show younger players what is expected.  “The leaders and the older guys need to be like This is Brother Rice tennis,’ and they’re doing their job,” Cullen said We’ll bring that level.’”  While Brother Rice showed its dominance for the majority of the match Senior Ryan Duffy and junior Dylan Brown fought back after losing their first set and won two straight against Warriors juniors Sam Brockhaus and Nathan Grobbel earning their fourth win as a tandem in 2020.  We’re not losing this season,’” Duffy said “I think we just fought through the whole thing.  The pair is the only one that remains from the 2019 doubles season for Groves catapulting up from the third spot to the top as upperclassmen This will be the third year Duffy and Brown will play together.  “We’ve been together every year and we just kind of came together and learned each others’ weaknesses and strengths and tried to play to them “When everything meshes and everything goes well and everything just starts working out.  Groves senior Liam Keane and junior Alexandras Abarius earned the Falcons’ second win against Brother Rice earning the win after a 7-5 win in the third set.  Groves head coach Dave Farmer did not see much success especially after playing in tournament games prior to this dual-match against Brother Rice.  carrying a lot of players who are learning the game of tennis for the first time.  We’ve got a lot of seasoning to do,” Farmer said by the time we get three-quarters of the way through a team heading and moving more aggressively around the net.” Contact reporter Colin Gay at cgay@hometownlife.com or 248-330-6710. Follow him on Twitter @ColinGay17. Send game results and stats to Liv-Sports@hometownlife.com The disappearance of a statue of the comic book artist in his Belgian birthplace was thought to be an act of decolonisation It would have been a suitable assignment for Tintin the intrepid Belgian boy reporter and his multitalented Across Brussels, where Hergé, the creator of the eponymous comic books, was born, there are constant reminders of one of its most famous exports A giant image of the character clinging to the back of a steam train from the book Tintin in America adorns one of the exits from the city’s Eurostar station his seafaring friend Captain Haddock and Snowy covers the gable end of a house just over a mile away a bust of Hergé that was situated in a quiet residential area away from the tourist trail disappeared leading to speculation it had succumbed to the growing decolonisation movement It later emerged that the mayor of the local municipality of Etterbeek decided to remove the sculpture of the cartoonist after a glass box covering it for safety had been badly damaged Hergé created Tintin as a serialised comic strip in the 1920s in Le Petit Vingtième the youth supplement of the weekly Catholic newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle Hergé stands in front of a Tintin statue in Brussels in 1982 Photograph: Bernard Charlon/Gamma-RaphoAfter the success of the first story Hergé was asked to send the boy reporter to the Belgian Congo the central African colony then controlled by Brussels In the original comic from 1931, Tintin in the Congo, the character was shown teaching a group of children about “their motherland”, Belgium In 2012, a Brussels court rejected a legal attempt by a Congolese political science student at university in Belgium to get the book banned Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo who has been campaigning for years to have the book removed from Belgian shops said its depiction of local people – including a scene where a black woman bows before Tintin White mister is big juju man!” – was ignorant and offensive It is only since the turn of the century, after the publication in 1998 of the US historian Adam Hochschild’s book King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa that Belgium has begun to seriously wrestle with its colonial legacy in Congo Belgium’s Leopold II claimed Congo as his personal colony in 1885 an estimated 10 million Congolese were either murdered or worked to death Leopold’s private army stripped the country of its natural resources making him – and Belgium – rich in the process Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters The bare plinth in Etterbeek’s Place de Theux after the bust of Tintin author Hergé was removed Photograph: Lisa O'Carroll/The GuardianBefore he died Hergé said he regretted the way he had depicted Congo but denied that it was racist merely reflecting the way Africa was portrayed in the 1920s Etterbeek’s mayor believes that controversy about Belgium’s relationship with its former colony had nothing to do with the damage caused in Place de Theux where the waist-high plinth now stands alone “The mayor does not believe it is related to colonialism,” said his spokeswoman “He really does think that it was because of the value of the bust There is a lot of money for things like this on the black market,” she said Etterbeek town hall officials said they were deeply proud of Hergé who was born in the municipality and lived there for 20 years “Hergé is extremely important to Etterbeek and he is a Belgian icon and the author of one of the most famous comic strip books there are many authors of comic strips today and it is important to us to show that this is a good place for culture “We are really invested in culture here and in artists like him,” said the spokeswoman Asked whether the plinth would be changed to put it out of reach of future potential bandits she said the mayor was adamant it should remain visible to everyone “He really wants to put it back on the same spot It is symbolic of the area and it was originally put there in agreement with the family.” This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media a slowdown in apartment construction in recent years might lead property owners to take it easy and rest on their laurels that means residents have fewer options when they want to relocate to an apartment community that offers the latest designs and amenities owner and president of LR Management in Troy doesn’t allow market conditions or other factors to cloud her focus Her goal is simple: Provide concierge-like services to the more than 12,000 people who reside at 19 properties (3,100 apartments) she manages in metro Detroit and Lansing Etterbeek attended medical school and was on track to be a neurologist but she couldn’t shake her love for property management “It’s like therapy mixed with design for me,” she says and staying ahead by adding new elements to the marketplace we’re looking at adding dog spas complete with tiled floors and grooming areas.” Some of the amenities she’s helped bring to the apartment communities she manages include putting greens If her properties resemble a four-star hotel “I’d like to double in size in the next few years and the only way you can set your company apart from the competition is to offer the latest amenities and services,” Etterbeek says “If residents stay at our communities longer there’s less need to move people in and out and your employees tend to stay longer knowing they’re working at a sustainable and forward-thinking company.” and commercial developments in western Wayne County and around the region She says his laser-like focus on property management rubbed off “He always said you should treat everyone the same or a small apartment,” she says of her father who has since retired from the development business “And the apartments have to look great on the inside and the outside even the flowers and what color of flowers.” Etterbeek began managing apartment communities in Southfield and Lansing “I like to be within 90 miles of the properties so I can drive there easily,” she says of her managed portfolio — which generated $33.4 million last year (rental total) “We also began managing packages for our residents,” she adds we accept the packages and then let them know we have their Amazon box or whatever it is The Holland Christian girls tennis team has produced a number of successful teams and players over the years Kristen Etterbeek belongs in an elite class Holland Christian coach John Knoester said a gifted athlete and one of the most talented players to play tennis at Holland Christian,” Knoester said capped her high school career as The Sentinel’s Girls Tennis Player of the Year She headlines a 12-player all-area first team The Sentinel selects its all-area first team by evaluating area players against others who played their flight Etterbeek posted a 20-6 record this spring at No She helped the Maroons tie for fourth place at the Division 3 state championship by reaching the state quarterfinals She finished second in regional play and led Holland Christian to the OK Green Conference title by winning her flight Etterbeek will continue her athletic career at an Ivy League school She will play volleyball at the University of Pennsylvania “I am excited for the new level of competition,” Etterbeek told The Sentinel last month Accomplishments: Advanced to state quarterfinals in Division 3 Finished second in region and first in OK Green Coachspeak: “Julie has a solid baseline game and hits outstanding passing shots when her opponent comes to the net and is always willing to lend a helping hand or give an encouraging word to a teammate.” — John Knoester Accomplishments:  Reached the state quarterfinals in Division 1 Coachspeak: “Kristine has been a great addition to our team this year It is extremely difficult as a freshman to come in at such a high position and have success so soon and I am looking forward to more and more improvement every year from her.” — Peter Schwallier Accomplishments: Advanced to state semifinals in Division 3 Coachspeak: “Bailey has really improved her game from last year She is a consistent shot maker and wears down her opponents with a variety of different shots and strategies She is an outstanding athlete that pushes herself to do her best in every match she plays She is a fierce competitor.” — John Knoester Accomplishments: Named all-state by Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association Coachspeak: “These two players packed a big one-two punch as a doubles team Allison had a big serve and outstanding ground strokes and Sarah was quick and aggressive at the net.” — John Knoester Accomplishments: Advanced to Division 1 state quarterfinals Finished second at regional and OK Red Conference tournaments Coachspeak: “Rachel and Katie make a fantastic team They work so well together and their skills complement each other perfectly Rachel might be the fastest girl I've ever coached and Katie developed great put-away volleys as the year progressed.” — Peter Schwallier Accomplishments: Claimed Division 1 regional and OK Red Conference championships Coachspeak: “Mackenzie and Colleen are the most dominant doubles team that I have ever coached and became more and more aggressive as the year went on Mackenzie is becoming one of the more dominant doubles players that I have ever coached.” — Peter Schwallier Accomplishments: Reached finals of Division 1 regional tournament Coachspeak: “Jessie and Michaela made a very fast transition from junior varsity to varsity this year there just aren't many girls who can handle the pace and consistency that they can bring on returns and volleys.” — Peter Schwallier Kristen Etterbeek has always made her mark no matter what court she is on The Holland Christian senior is looking to continue that court success in the future — both in the short-term in tennis and long-term in volleyball Etterbeek ensured her long-term presence on the court when she committed to play volleyball at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall becoming the fourth NCAA Division I volleyball player from the Holland area in the past eight years She will not be on scholarship since Penn is in the Ivy League and doesn’t give out athletic scholarships “I knew I wanted to play volleyball in college and Penn has a great academic reputation,” Etterbeek said Etterbeek helped the Maroons win the Class B state volleyball championship as a junior after a runner-up finish in 2007 Etterbeek is looking to help the Holland Christian tennis team capture its first state championship since her freshman year The Division 3 state tournament runs Friday and Saturday at Jenison High School The Maroons took second to Allegan in regional competition “We only lost regionals by one point,” Etterbeek said “We have the potential to do well at state.” 1 singles player for three years after starting at No “She is the only girl I can remember playing No 1 for three years,” Holland Christian coach John Knoester said “Very seldom do we have a freshman make the team at all “She has had a phenomenal career,” Knoester said “She is probably one of the top two players to ever play at Holland Christian.” Did it make the decision to choose volleyball in college any tougher Etterbeek thinks getting the chance to play volleyball year-round will help her improve as she makes the jump to the college game “I am excited for the new level of competition.” The Cranbrook-Kingswood girls tennis team earned a perfect 24 points at day one of the D3 state championships on Friday The Cranbrook-Kingswood girls tennis team made the semifinals in all eight flights on Day 1 of the Division 1 state finals giving the team a perfect 24 points heading into Day 2 "It was a great day of tennis," Cranbrook coach Jeff Etterbeek said and I think it was a lot of fun for everybody." We'll just have to see what happens." Grand Rapids Christian is right behind Cranbrook with 23 points "The team is very excited," Grand Rapids Christian coach Tim Morey said Grand Rapids Christian is also no stranger to Cranbrook "We scheduled a match with each other this year because we got a taste of what we could do I know we're going to come to play tomorrow." "I thought overall we did pretty well today," Country Day coach Jessica Young said but our singles only lost three games today and we had some comebacks and pleasant surprises." All the teams square off and one will be crowned state champion on Saturday, May 30 at Holly/Fenton/Grand Blanc Know a high school team, athlete or coach with a story to tell? 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICS, SOCIETYConference of European right-wing conservatives in Brussels cancelled 15 April 2024 A meeting of right-wing conservative leaders from several European countries due to take place in the Brussels municipality of Etterbeek the organisers of the National Conservative Conference (NatCon) had to look for another location after their original venue withdrew ​ its permission because of pressure from anti-fascist organisations The NatCon event was scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday with many high-profile figures from the European conservative right The five keynote speakers were Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and French writer and politician Éric Zemmour MEP Tom Vandendriessche of the Flemish party Vlaams Belang would also have taken the floor NatCon was due to take place at the Concert Noble venue in Brussels After pressure from anti-fascist and other organisations venue owner Edificio decided not to allow the conference there Brussels mayor Philippe Close had previously recommended cancellation or at least the provision of a sufficiently large security force "that can ensure that the event can take place without incidents" an initiative of the Edmund Burke Foundation was subsequently moved to the Hotel Sofitel Brussels Europa in Etterbeek But the event cannot go ahead at that location either has examined the nature of the event and who the invitees are," he said "A gathering of that size is not without consequences in case of disturbances." As a result The organisers had already arrived at the hotel when they learned that the event could not go ahead Those involved refused to leave the Sofitel hotel A spokesperson for the Belgian Antifascist Coordination said it was satisfied with the cancellation but remains on its guard for a possible third venue "Hosting such far-right events exactly helps this ideology move forward," they said Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban gives a press conference ​ © PHOTO BORISLAV ZDRINJA / BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENCY / AFP including great places for breakfast and brunch Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy http://instagram.com/p/9ifITXmDn5/?taken-by=orcoffee This coffee corner‘s motto is ‘Anytime is Olive’s time.’ Open early during the week Olive’s breakfast menu is full of delicious and tasty options but the scrambled eggs with bacon and toast are particularly enticing as well The staff is friendly and always serve with a smile which is definitely a bonus on a rainy Monday morning Olive’s, Rue Froissart 43a, Etterbeek, Belgium http://instagram.com/p/BBhcY0Hv4yr/?taken-by=olivesbrussels Polyglot (with a Master Degree in Translation) professional shower singer and food enthusiast Ethel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family usually with a certain amount of eating and drinking involved uploading photos on her Instagram feed and daydreaming with a good book in her hands Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page For some years now the American Embassy in Brussels has been looking for a new home Currently the embassy is housed in a building next to the Brussels Inner Ring Road not far from the Federal Parliament and the Royal Palace there was talk of a possible move to the former AXA Bank HQ in Watermaal-Bosvoorde the Embassy is reported to be planning to move to the soon to be vacant ING building on the Sint-Michielswarande in the municipality of Etterbeek just a stone’s throw away from the European institutions and with excellent public transport links The Brussels regional news platform Bruzz reports that talks between the Embassy and the Brussels regional authorities about a move to the ING building have resulted in the Brussels-Capital Region granting provisional approval for the move This has been confirmed by the office of the Brussels regional secretary of state with responsibility for planning Pascal Smet (Flemish socialist) Mr Smet’s spokesman Damiaan De Jonge told Bruzz that "A project meeting has been held involving all the stakeholders The regional and muncipal authorities and the embassy were largely in agreement During the next for months it will be up to the US Embassy to work further on its plans for the proposed move A more detailed plan will be discussed at a further meeting For the time being at least the US Embassy is not offering any comment the subject of an eventual move to Etterbeek ING plans to have vacated the building by early next year The US Embassy in Brussels has been at its current location on the Regentlaan since the 1940s