Text description provided by the architects. The new library for the municipality of Sint-Martens-Latem is first of all a central gathering point. In the tradition of the cultural centre, the library is set up as a large living space, shared by the residents of the municipality. A saddle-shaped roof is delimited by a circular perimeter. The perimeter cuts the roof shape into a distinctive figure in the centre of the municipality, as an anchor point, as the first element of a cluster of public buildings – buildings in the village centre, along the road and the new municipal settlement. The rounded plastered perimeter makes the main space of the library building. The cabinet wall defines the separation line between library spaces and the municipality a square figure makes both the reading garden and the polyvalent hall The reading garden is the centre of the library and is the ‘largest room in the largest house’ of the municipality You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Gisela Williams selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter the Belgian artist Arne Quinze bought an old stable house in the affluent village of Sint-Martens-Latem near Ghent one of the first things he did was cut down the hedge that obscured the entrance Most of the other showcase estates in the village were similarly semi-hidden by surrounding greenery everyone mindlessly lives in boxes within boxes,” says Quinze Wearing a T-shirt that reads “Don’t Pet the Bison” he is sitting on the wooden deck behind his house which has been built around several large linden trees known among many other things for building a massive installation at Burning Man has just returned from competing in a five-week-long Peking-to-Paris classic car rally The second thing Quinze did, with the help of an assistant gardener was to transform the property’s manicured lawn into an untamed field of flowers: purple loosestrife and various wild grasses – a landscape in which the colours and blooms evolve over the seasons like slow-motion fireworks “Everything is growing at random,” he explains “I choose the plants – I have planted more than 150,000 of them – and give them space but at a certain moment I let go of controlling them Every day I am surprised by something.” He looks down at a tree trunk that has been repurposed as a table and points to the tiny buds unfurling from its centre that journey of getting lost in the beauty of nature,” he says “You don’t need to go to the Amazon to discover nature Just go to your garden or to a park and open your eyes.” The plant-filled “jungle room” at Arne Quinze’s home in Sint-Martens-Latem near Ghent in Belgium © Tinko CzetwertynskiQuinze’s living and dining room formerly his artist’s atelier © Tinko CzetwertynskiThe old stables that Quinze lives in with his family – he has five children from two former wives – has evolved as colourfully and chaotically as the garden spanning three floors and 17,000sq ft – a house of mirrors every surface covered with pattern and art In possibly the most radical of his attempts to merge his home with nature Quinze has allowed it to be almost completely swallowed by vines He claims it’s an extremely beneficial collaboration “In the summer my windows disappear and keep the heat out In the autumn the windows open up and light enters and warms up the house again.” In late June the head of one of the entrances – there are three – is so heavy with fragrant jasmine that if a visitor is taller than six feet they have to duck to get through Quinze’s former stable house and garden © Tinko CzetwertynskiChroma Lupine in the garden © Tinko CzetwertynskiQuinze’s design goals have always been to “create a home that feels like we’re permanently on holiday” He heads past a pool table to the family lounge and cinema room a large space anchored by massive rectangular poufs in various sizes upholstered with different textiles and layered in multicoloured velvet pillows He points to a side table installed near a window flanked by two wide soft chairs covered in a wild paisley pattern “We play backgammon almost every day.” To his mind the most important spaces are the lounging areas where his kids and their friends can pile together to talk I never know who I will find hanging out here when I come home,” he laughs are both studying design; the first reaction of their friends when they come to visit is often “Wow!” “But no one is jealous,” adds Ragner “because they know they can move in if they want.” Check your internet connection or browser settings connected loft-like space with a central staircase that leads up to two more storeys This section of the ground floor was once his studio; it is still filled with models of his public art sculptures some hanging from the ceiling (his abstract wood-plank installations and aluminium sculptures of wildflowers have been installed everywhere from Paris to London to Riyadh) There are framed painting studies and a wall covered with dozens of photographs Books in a reading corner in the house © Tinko CzetwertynskiA taxidermy peacock and artworks surround the reading corner © Tinko CzetwertynskiQuinze’s art books flank a staircase © Tinko CzetwertynskiOn the second floor is a formal dining room The floor is covered with splattered paint and abstract florals A massive crystal chandelier hangs from a ceiling clad in distorted mirrored tiles He points to the organised piles of books in the corners “I have so many books in the house that I have started to make tables from them.” Soon he’ll knock down one of the walls to create an extension housing a new wellness room The house is the one artwork the artist has spent the most time and energy tweaking and evolving At the age of 14 he ran away from home and He blamed a fractious household for his runaway phase but it was during that period on the streets spraying graffiti that he became an artist (he is entirely self-trained) “There’s actually an obvious logic to evolve from a street artist to someone making public art,” he says especially when he started to have children a massive all-white warehouse in a semi-residential area about five minutes’ drive from his house he has created a second flower garden surrounding three sides of the building he starts his work day on his hands and knees weeding and observing the forms the flowers are taking from the viewpoint of a bee or butterfly He’ll then position himself in front of one of the several oil paintings he’s hung on the walls put on some atmospheric music – whether the hip-hop group Die Antwoord or Philip Glass – and work The final results are canvases covered in wildly colourful organic shapes An abstract flower sculpture by Quinze (on right) installed in one of the living rooms © Tinko CzetwertynskiQuinze in the garden © Tinko CzetwertynskiSketches and research materials in a study corner upstairs © Tinko CzetwertynskiPaints in Quinze’s studio © Tinko CzetwertynskiQuinze feels an affinity with Monet both the impressionist master’s work and his gardens at Giverny “It’s the same plant that once grew in Monet’s garden,” he says “We share a passion for studying the impermanence in the beauty of nature.” (Quinze’s most recent work currently exhibiting at the San Francesco della Vigna church in Venice is a massive installation of glass objects and AI-generated video titled Six Testimonials It’s one of his most immersive yet; he worked with the musician Swizz Beatz to add the medium of sound “Sound is one of the senses that helps nature evolve.”)  Quinze is seated again on the deck of his garden He’s referring to the French philosopher’s famous advice in Candide: cultivate one’s own garden and exchange the fruits of one’s labours with neighbours and family “When I dive into the microcosmos in my backyard it gives me the ability to see things larger that came from me being on my knees in my garden.”  The next solo exhibition of Arne Quinze’s paintings, Hidden Beauty, opens on 22 September in the Ludwig Museum in Koblenz OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen was founded in 2002 by Kersten Geers and David Van Severen Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen has earned a reputation as one of Belgium’s most successful and renowned practices and one of the world’s truly original voices in present-day architecture OFFICE engages in all architectural and urbanist design creating projects of all scales ranging from furniture to master planning in Belgium as well as internationally This practice is combined with academic research and teaching These two aspects of Office’s work are explicitly each other’s mirror creating unexpected parallels between academic and practical work.Kersten Geers (Ghent graduated in Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Ghent and the Esquela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid He worked with Maxwan Architects and Urbanists and with Neutelings Riedijk Architects in Rotterdam He was a professor at the University of Ghent and visiting professor at Columbia University and the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio (CH) and Harvard Graduate School of Design (US) He is a founding member of the architecture magazine San Rocco.David Van Severen (Ghent Since 1995 he designed and made several objects He was a teacher and guest critic at the Academy of Amsterdam and the Architecture School of Versailles (FR) and he’s currently guest tutor at  Harvard Graduate School of Design (US) Archive Architecture Located in Sint-Martens-Latem near Ghent the house was designed for a single man and sits within a rich and quiet leafy neighbourhood The garden features a small pond that collects rain water The bunker-like structure was designed to favour privacy The house has recently been renovated by local museum Dhondt-Dhaenens the house was in good state of preservation The interior is radically open plan – even the bedroom is simply a 1.5 metre high wooden circle the Van Wassenhove House will welcome architecture enthusiasts who want to experience the home for a weekend For more information visit the museum’s website escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Siska Lyssens has contributed to Wallpaper* since 2014 covering design in all its forms – from interiors to architecture and fashion the Belgian journalist puts her creative branding cap on for various clients when not contributing to Wallpaper* or T Magazine.  the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle (Sint-Martens-Latem) has reopened after a thorough renovation Here you will find works from the Andries-Vanlouwe Collection the collection compiled by a Flemish couple that brought together the crème de la crème of art a collection that ranges from Léon Spilliaert over René Magritte and Mark Rothko to Gerhard Richter In the renovated patio an exhibition of the German cult artist Blinky Palermo is on show for the first time in Belgium The MDD in Deurle (East Flanders) is housed in a white designed by the Bruges architect Erik Van Biervliet but it did not go ahead after all sorts of opposition ‘We have abandoned that ambitious plan,’ says Goedele Bartholomeeusen ‘We opted for a renovation in several phases a former depot has been transformed into a new You get to see a selection of the art collection of the Andries-Vanlouwes An impressive collection of modern and contemporary art displayed in surprising combinations: René Magritte hangs next to a Seventies wall relief by Imi Knoebel a seascape by Léon Spilliaert next to a work by Luc Tuymans Usually you have to travel to Paris or further afield to see works by Mark Rothko but here you can witness a very special monumental red-brown-pink-grey canvas Many pictures in the collection seesaw between the figurative and the abstract Who were these art collectors Jan Andries (1933-2015) and Lieve Vanlouwe (1936-2021) Andries was a textile entrepreneur and founded the Belgian fashion brand Andres ‘They were on the board of the MDD for many years and during their lifetime donated works of art They identified very strongly with the aim of the museum's founders use understandable language in brochures and so on,’ explains director Bartholomeeusen ‘They themselves learned a lot at the museum and wanted to pass that on to others thanks to their collection.’ This is art as an inclusive and open form of communication The ‘Andries-Vanlouwe Pavilion’ in the revamped annex is the result ‘We are very pleased to have received the confidence of the museum foundation to work and use this art Our intention is to encourage loans; the artworks will not always stay here; they will also travel to other exhibitions.’ And director Bartholomeeusen makes us curious: ‘There are more interesting works that are not yet on display today.’ Something to look forward to in Deurle The square patio at the heart of the MDD has also undergone a major overhaul: the exterior Now the museum conditions are optimal to display precious and fragile artworks This is needed to showcase the work of Blinky Palermo (1943-1977) the pseudonym of the German cult artist Peter Heisterkamp who caused a furore at international exhibitions like Documenta Kassel or the Venice Biennale in the 1960s and 1970s but died young he closely resembled an American boxer and mafia boss named Blinky Palermo,’ explains Goedele Bartholomeeusen He was orphaned in World War II and later the famous German artist Joseph Beuys took him under his wing he and other artists like Gerhard Richter or Sigmar Polke really created change it turns out that they are often very much influenced by his work.’ a mural like a Jacob's ladder to heaven witty miniature paintings or colourful block patterns called ‘Flipper’ ‘Blinky Palermo knew how to let the everyday shine,’ says curator Ory Dessau The works mainly come from German (private) collections and it was by no means easy to bring them all together in Deurle It is the first Blinky Palermo exhibition in Belgium MDD adds works by Luc Tuymans and by Brit Robert Grosvenor looks like a nod to second-hand car shops in our area Practical information about the exhibitions ‘Eloquent formalism’ (with works from the Andries-Vanlouwe Collection) and ‘Out of this World’ with Blinky Palermo Luc Tuymans and Robert Grosvenor at the renovated Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle (Sint-Martens-Latem) No timeline was given on his return other than the team saying Backstrom will begin a “lengthy” rehabilitation and recovery process immediately Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom underwent invasive surgery on his left hip a move that could sideline him long term but is designed to give him a chance to continue playing hockey The Capitals said Saturday that Backstrom had hip-resurfacing surgery a day earlier at the ANCA Clinic in Sint-Martens-Latem No timeline was given on his return other than the team saying Backstrom will begin a “lengthy” rehabilitation and recovery process immediately Backstrom missed the first two months of this past regular season rehabbing the hip and also needed constant treatment to play. He knew he couldn’t go into next season without doing something to solve the problem “The best thing I want to do is play hockey and that’s my life,” he said after the Capitals lost in the first round of the playoffs to Florida Backstrom originally had surgery on the hip in 2015 Washington will also be without right winger Tom Wilson for at least the first month of the season after he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Washington is counting on 22-year-old Connor McMichael to shift to center in Backstrom's absence and for others to step up The Capitals have signed Nicklas Backstrom for the long term and he never looked back on his way to over 900 NHL games with the Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom surpassed the 20-point mark with a trio of assists in his seventh multi-point game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Washington Capitals pulled off a 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to move within one victory of hoisting hockey’s most coveted prize Dennis Maruk won’t be painting his face to feature the Washington Capitals logo but the franchise’s first 60-goal scorer will be wearing his heart on his sleeve for the Stanley Cup Final Contact Retro to Go How does the idea of some brutalist architecture grab you for a holiday check out this 1970s Julian Lampens-designed property in Sint-Martens-Latem More images and details at the WowHaus website and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Get the Retro To Go Newsletter - the best of the week's post plus some added extras Check out our pick of retro retailers, makers and tradespeople online in our Retro Retailers Directory. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Belgium (Reuters) - The world's oldest male twins raising a glass of wine to more than a century of living side by side.The brothers have lived together for most of their lives sharing a room at their nursing home just outside the Belgian town of Ghent.While they sometimes regret not having had any children or grandchildren they say they are each other's best friends and celebrated their birthday with a glass of French red wine.After their long careers as court magistrates in the middle of the 20th century the elegantly-dressed 103-year-olds prefer speaking French and being addressed as "Pierre and Paul".They have another two years to go to break the record of U.S both of whom reached 105.Reporting by Francois Lenoir Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved A rare 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 one of fewer than 1,500 air-cooled models ever made is set to capture the spotlight at RM Sotheby’s upcoming auction finished in its original Black Pearl paint and sporting a grey leather interior represents a highly coveted piece of automotive history Originally delivered to Belgium through Carrera Motors in Sint-Martens-Latem this Porsche 911 was meticulously maintained until 2005 After a brief stint in Germany and registration in the Netherlands it has received regular servicing at Porsche Centre Rotterdam with an impressive service book that boasts 36 stamps this Porsche underwent Porsche’s renowned 111-point vehicle health check Detailed findings and condition photos from this comprehensive inspection are available for prospective buyers to review The car’s specifications include grey leather sports seats seamlessly blending luxury with high performance With approximately 109,000 miles on its odometer this stunning Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 is poised to go under the hammer on July 27 as part of RM Sotheby’s The Tegernsee Auction This rare gem is expected to fetch up to $405,000 USD by the close of the sale The Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 is renowned for its remarkable performance and enduring appeal this model is a testament to Porsche’s engineering excellence and timeless design Collectors and enthusiasts alike will appreciate the opportunity to own a piece of Porsche history especially one that has been so meticulously cared for and preserved For more information on this rare Porsche and to place your bids, visit the RM Sotheby’s website Don’t miss the chance to own a true classic that embodies the spirit of Porsche’s illustrious legacy Input your search keywords and press Enter. After a long period when house prices were on the increase, prices are now falling in almost half of all Flemish municipalities according to figures from the notary federation Notaris.be. ‘This is a reverse in the trend,’ the notaries say. Last year, in Flanders the average house cost 367,140 euros and a flat went for 277,338 euros.  That’s a slight increase of 2.5 and 2.2 per cent compared to 2023. But notary and spokesman for the notary federation Bart Van Opstal prefers to speak of ‘a stabilisation of prices’ rather than a drop. ‘We are coming out of a long period of price increases. Every time we published figures, we had to announce they had gone up again. And now you see that over 2024, you can speak of a stabilisation of prices. If you zoom in to the municipal level, you see that there are already quite a few municipalities where prices are falling.’ Van Opstal therefore dares to speak of a ‘trend reversal’. Poor energy performance or EPC certificate scores However, the figures need to be viewed with care: there is often a very local explanation to local price falls. ‘For example, there are municipalities where either supply or demand is somewhat lower and that impacts on prices. In rural municipalities, house quality is also lower and these are the properties whose prices are falling.’ These are houses with a poor EPC energy score, for example. ‘These are much more difficult to sell nowadays, so buyers are in a stronger position in negotiations,’ Van Opstal notes. A price decrease or increase is not necessarily tied to a region. ‘You can have situations where, for example, in one municipality prices are rising and in an adjacent municipality prices are falling. So it is more of a patchwork.’ The figures per municipality reveal that the East Flemish municipality of Sint-Martens-Latem has regained the title of most expensive municipality in Flanders. With an average house price of 908,530 euros in 2024, Sint-Martens-Latem is the first Flemish municipality to pass the 900,000-euro mark. The West Flemish coastal resort of Knokke-Heist, which was still the most expensive municipality in 2023, was in second place last year with an average price of 895,429 euros for a house. The municipality of Kraainem in Flemish-Brabant followed in third place (678,951 euros). For flats, however, Knokke-Heist was the most expensive municipality in Flanders last year, with an average price of 667,939 euros. Far behind that are the Antwerp municipalities of Brecht and Kalmthout (357,099 and 355,805 euros). Of all the municipalities of which average prices are available for 2024, the West Flemish municipality of Menen is the cheapest. This applies to both a house (average 212,971 euros) and a flat (131,406 euros). Which direction will the market take in coming months? ‘That often depends on external factors, for example interest rates,’ says Van Opstal. ‘If these fall, you might get an extra incentive to buy. But if they rise, it becomes more expensive to buy and you get an inhibiting effect.’ ‘I personally don't expect to see big swings this year. But I always remain cautious, because Belgian real estate depends, among other things, on what happens internationally.’ ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishCULTURENew Master’s Tours explore Flemish art heritage2 April 2025 Nine new tours will guide art and heritage lovers through key works of the Flemish Masters Launched on Wednesday at the Message Chapel in Heverlee the routes are part of Flemish Masters in Situ an initiative by Visit Flanders to highlight artworks in their original locations Since summer 2023, the Flemish Masters in Situ project has sought to present these masterpieces as their creators intended allowing visitors to see them in the same lighting and surroundings for which they were designed The network has grown to include 106 locations ranging from churches and castles to chapels The sites showcase the legacy of Jan van Eyck whose works shaped Belgian and European art history The new routes connect these locations more smoothly linking them to existing cycling and walking trails while also leading visitors past restaurants and cafés simply mapping the locations was not enough which led to the development of routes that tie the sites together Visit Flanders is also considering a 10th route in southwest Flanders alongside three additional thematic routes focusing on Anthony van Dyck #FlandersNewsService | Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen houses Antoon van Dyck’s Christ on the Cross and is part of Visit Flanders’ Masters from Mechelen and More tour © BELGA PHOTO CHARLOTTE GEKIERE 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 St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent © Piet de Kersgieter | Art in Flanders Camille Van Puymbroeck is a Belgian freelance journalist with a big interest in anything lifestyle and ecology-related. Nothing makes her more happy than visiting a former Soviet building, overgrown by nature, equipped with a camera and a coffee. Not without an Italian meal afterwards, of course. Her work has previously been published in Metro, Sabato Magazine and Culinaire Ambiance. The so-called Master Tours let visitors discover some of the key works of the Flemish Masters in their original locations, as they were intended to be seen when they were created. The tours were inaugurated on Wednesday 2 April 2025 and are part of the Flemish Masters in Situ project. Ver esta publicação no Instagram Uma publicação partilhada por VISITFLANDERS (@visitflanders) Even though most of those individual locations have been open to visitors for a while now, according to Peter De Wilde, CEO of Visit Flanders, mapping the locations wasn’t enough. In order to give visitors the more complete experience they have been looking for, nine Master Tours have now been created. “The places where Flemish Masters can be found are not islands in themselves. On the contrary, a wonderful connecting thread hangs between numerous destinations. The Golden River, for example, the nickname of the River Lys. Or a sea of mother-of-pearl, as James Ensor once described the North Sea,” the Masters in Situ website reads. All of the nine tours connect several of the previously existing locations, more specifically in Bruges, Ghent, Kortrijk, Mechelen, Antwerp, the Diest region, the Leie region around Sint-Martens-Latem, the coastal area, and Leuven. Many of the routes can be done on foot while others are perfect to go through by bike. In order to make the tours as user-friendly as possible, existing walking trails and cycling routes have been integrated into their designs. A selection of restaurants and cafés have also been included in the tours, providing the perfect break in between visits. All tours, including a short explanation per object and a map, can be found online. A 10th route is under consideration at the moment and would be located in southwest Flanders. Three alternative routes were already available before, concentrating on Anthony van Dyck, reliquaries, and artists’ homes. Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website. Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website. Local residents in Sint-Martens-Latem, near Ghent, boast the highest average income of all Belgian municipalities. They can count on an annual income of 27,678 euros. Sint-Joost-ten-Node in Brussels is right at the other end of the table with just 8,813 euros per year. The figures apply to 2014. The general Belgian average is 17,684 euros according to the federal Economy Department, which is 665 euros up on the year. This equals a monthly income of 1,474 euros. The 'FOD Economie' collected data on people's net income, taking into account salaries, (social) benefits of any kind, dividends, pensions etc. Flanders remains the richest region with 18,949 euros on average. Wallonia is somewhat behind with 16,671, but the Brussels average is only 13,839 euros. Brussels includes several of the poorest municipalities like Molenbeek, Schaarbeek and Sint-Joost. The richest provinces are Flemish and Walloon Brabant, followed by East Flanders. Looking at municipalities, Sint-Martens-Latem beats Keerbergen (north of Leuven), Lasne (south of Brussels), Oud-Heverlee (near Leuven) and De Pinte (south of Ghent). At the bottom end, Sint-Joost, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Anderlecht, Schaarbeek and Farciennes (Charleroi) make up the top-5. (mouse-over on map below reveals names of towns and the average income). Pierre and Paul Langerock of Belgium — who currently hold the record for oldest living male twins, according to the Guinness World Records — turned 104 The centenarian brothers have lived together most of their lives and both made a living as court magistrates They currently still share a room at a nursing room just outside of the Belgian city of Ghent The Langerocks have just under two years to go before they can clinch the world record for the oldest male twins who each were alive for at least 105 years before Glen passed away The overall world record for oldest twins ever is held by sisters Kin Narita and Gin Kanie who each lived to be at least 107 before Kin’s death in 2000 Contact us at letters@time.com The two, always elegantly dressed, lived together for all but five years of their long lives, even sharing a room in the Ter Venne retirement home in Sint-Martens-Latem, near Ghent, where their beds were pushed together. The announcement of Pierre’s death was made after a private funeral at the weekend. “We’ve always been there for each other,” Paul said in an interview with the Flemish newspaper De Standaard two years ago. Born on July 8, 1913, both followed in their father’s footsteps by becoming lawyers and court judges. They did not hide the secret to their happiness or longevity. “Don’t waste your time fooling Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by our Privacy Policy. you agree to receive texts or calls regarding your subscription or other WATT products and services Please call +1 (847) 400-5960 for custom support ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishJUSTICE, SOCIETYPolice search for body in case of woman missing since 201028 February 2025 Three people were questioned by police on Thursday following an appeal for information last month. They include the former partner of the woman, who went missing in 2010 aged 26. The man, now 55, did not report her disappearance, which only came to light by chance last year via the school of one of her children. The two other men are said to be friends of the partner. One of them, identified as 33-year-old Nick G, has a conviction for the murder of a friend in 2011, unrelated to the De Schepper case. He was released in 2021. He has been placed under arrest by the investigating judge on suspicion of murder. The other men were questioned on Thursday and Friday and were due to appear before a judge on Friday. De Schepper was from Merksem and had been living in Balen with her partner and their three young children since 2008 She reportedly led an isolated existence and had been out of contact with her family since she was 18 When her disappearance was established last year her partner told police she had left overnight with all her belongings #FlandersNewsService | Police carry out a search in Balen 28 February 2025 © BELGA PHOTO JILL DELSAUX / Heidi De Schepper who disappeared in 2010 aged 26 © BELGA HANDOUT Spread from the original feature in Wallpaper* 133, April 2010, featuring the Chapel of Our Blessed Lady of Kerselare, in the village of Edelare The Van Wassenhove house in Sint-Martens-Latem. Spread from the original feature in Wallpaper* 133, April 2010 Kitchen and dining at the Van Wassenhove House Sleeping area at the Van Wassenhove House Drainage detail outside the Van Wassenhove House The pilgrimage chapel of Our Blessed Lady of Kerselare in Edelare Skylight above the altar at the pilgrimage chapel of Our Blessed Lady of Kerselare in Edelare Once the lonely passion of a few devotees, the concrete architecture of Belgian architect Juliaan Lampens is a revelation; just don't call him a brutalist A version of this article was first published in the April 2010 Issue of Wallpaper* (W* 133) Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox. Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper* She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006 visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas Ellie has also taken part in judging panels such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022) A 112-year-old Mototri Contal three-wheeler is set to take on the 2019 Peking to Paris aiming to finish a 13,840 km journey it started in 1907 The first Peking to Paris (P2P) ran in 1907 five competitors accepting a seemingly impossible challenge Amongst them was a French three-wheeled Mototri Contal piloted by an ambitious duo A story of struggles and triumphs eventually saw them The story ended with the crew attempting to walk back to Peking But now Anton Gonnissen (58) a successful architect from Sint-Martens-Latem near Ghent in Belgium will attempt to rewrite history by starting the 2019 Peking Paris Rally in a rebuilt second Mototri Contal and bring her back to Paris a feat the brave Pons failed to do in 1907 Inspired by the story that almost cost Pons and his co-driver Foucauld their lives Anton Gonnissen set about acquiring an original Mototri Contal He reached out to many for support and all including the Rally Director of the Endurance Rally Association who asked: “Are you mad Anton?” Anton Gonnissen is an accomplished modern day adventurer who has finished three Dakars He is taking this bold venture very seriously and intends to make the impossible journey possible using all his experience from his previous adventures Gonnissen eventually found one of the very few Mototri Contal’s left in the world together with its original manual and went about making the necessary study of the antique machine following a structural test by Ghent University Some improvements have been made to the chassis there is no rear suspension together with the 1906 crude springing still on the front The navigator will sit over the front axle perched out front in what has long been christened the ‘suicide seat’ or as the French said: ‘le tue belle-mère’ will be in that seat perched out front as Foucauld was all those years ago Herman is an accomplished triathlon and marathon runner he is being thrown in at the deep end as this will be his first motor sport event Anton Gonnissen will be behind him steering the trike from over the rear wheel for 36 days 13,840 kms (8,600 miles) aiming to finish in Paris six weeks later The only concession to comfort for the endurance rally specialist from Belgium is a Harley Davidson saddle in place of the original bottom crusher Anton Gonnissen: “The story for Auguste Pons was a short one Stranded without petrol early in the race they couldn’t be rescued by the other competitors as they were ahead of them They ended up drinking the water out of the radiator and then started their perilously long walk back to Peking in the heat They nearly died and the Contal is still out there covered by sand somewhere “Auguste Pons and navigator Oscar Foucauld were the only men not to eventually make it back to Paris so we intend to lay that ghost to rest and exorcise their long lost spirits Pons was certainly the bravest of the five competitors in the race as he attempted the absolute impossible race even his 1906 driving licence was left in the trike when the Contal was abandoned “As it is one of the few original Mototri Contal we have tried to keep as many original parts as possible which is why some components of the original trike will be in place In some cases we have simply had to beef up the chassis with the endurance rally and the finish in mind  “We are nearly ready to start testing the Mototri Contal which has to be ready to be shipped to China in early March We want to be prepared but I am not underestimating the formidable challenge ahead We know this will be a life changing event into heroes if we can get the Mototri Contal all the way to Paris and finish the job for Auguste Pons 112 years on.” Sign up to our newsletter and be the first to here all the latest Historic Racing news We’re unable to locate the page you requested If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, you can contact us Business Insider SRL is a carrier of data with personal character registered in the “Registrul de Evidenta a Prelucrarilor de Date cu Caracter Personal” with the no Romania-Insider.com is a trademark registered with the help of NOMENIUS and all exclusivity rights are reserved to the owner of Business Insider SRL Any unauthorized use will be sanctioned according to the provisions of trademarks law 84/1998 who has spent quite a lot of time inside them The structures have to be enormous to do their job gas or nuclear energy to heat water and create steam Once that steam drives the turbines that generate power Billions of droplets rain down to the bottom which has in recent years shuttered its coal-fired power plants His fascination with photographing desolate buildings started in childhood so when he heard about an abandoned plant in Charleroi in 2009 They climbed the staircase to the cooling tower “It really resembled a scene from a sci-fi movie,” he says The visit began an infatuation with cooling towers Van de Velde's photographed more than 30 throughout Europe When he isn't designing ad campaigns at work in Sint-Martens-Latem If no one is there when Van de Velde arrives it's just crawling under a fence,” he says He makes long exposures a few seconds long to compensate for the low lighting so he has to wear ear plugs to protect against the water's deafening roar “You enter a place that's more or less sealed off from the outside world,” Van de Velde says “The only sound you hear is from birds who occasionally venture inside.” That and the click of a shutter echoing through an impossibly large space This story originally appeared on WIRED. The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast is hosting a new exhibition on the work of the Flemish symbolist painter Gustave Van de Woestyne (1881 – 1947) The museum has quite a collection of the painter’s work and the present exhibition will be an opportunity to show off some of its recent acquisitions Many of the works have rarely been on show.  They include an early self-portrait that is among the MSK’s most recent acquisitions. Van de Woestyne is usually pigeonholed in the First School of Latem together with George Minne, Valerius De Saedeleer and Albijn Van den Abeele.  This is a group of artists who settled in rural Sint-Martens-Latem outside Ghent around 1900. The exhibition also includes the first Van de Woestyne that the MSK ever acquired in 1013.  Made in 1910 it portraits the painter’s wife. In the beginning of his career Van de Woestyne‘s works betray his admiration for the Flemish primitives Jan Van Eyck and Hans Memling.  Later modern masters like Picasso provided inspiration. “Gustave Van de Woestyne created a style all his own.  He imbued many difference influences” says MSK exhibitions director Johan De Smet.  “He was an artist of international significance.  Today we still notice what an impact he has on foreign visitors”. Gustave Van de Woestyne runs until 4 October 2020 at the MSK in Ghent. According to figures from the latest Notary Barometer, the price of real estate in Flanders continues to rise. However, the general economic climate and a rise in mortgage interest rates has meant that during the past year far fewer houses and flats were sold in our region. Notary Bart Van Opstal says that “the rush on real estate that began post-corona has reached its end.” At 16.9% the fall in the number of real estate transactions was most pronounced in Flanders. Meanwhile, in Brussels and Wallonia the number of real estate transactions was down 12%. Last year the number of houses and flats sold in West Flanders fell by 18.4%. The fall in the number of real estate transactions was 17.5% in East Flanders, 16.6% in Antwerp Province and 16.8% in Limburg. Flemish Brabant saw the smallest fall in the number of houses and flats sold. There the number of real estate transactions in 2023 was down 14.6% on the figures for 2022.  House prices up in all 5 Flemish provinces The average price of a house rose in all 5 Flemish provinces in 2023. Leuven is the most expensive provincial capital for those wishing to buy a house. Flemish Brabant (of which Leuven is the capital) is also the most expensive province. Last year the average price of a house in Flemish Brabant was 420,129 euro, a rise of 4.6% on 2022.  The cheapest houses are to be found in the east of the province, in Zoutleeuw, Geetbets, Tienen, Landen and Linter. The highest average house prices are to be found in Overijse, Wezembeek-Oppem, Tervuren and Keerbergen.  In 2023 Hasselt was the provincial capital with the lowest average house price. Nevertheless, average house prices in Limburg as a whole rose by 3.9%. In 2023 a house in Limburg province cost an average of 307.935 euro. Tongeren, Gingelom, Sint-Truiden, Heers en Dilsen-Stokkem are the Limburg municipalities with the lowest average house prices. The most espensive houses are to be found in Diepenbeek, Lummen, Alken, Hasselt Hamont-Achel. Last year the average price of a house in East Flanders was 342,717 euro, a rise of 2.4% on 2022. The cheapest houses are to be found in  Ronse, Zelzate, Geraardsbergen, Eeklo and Lierde The most expnsive East Flemish municipalities when it comes to houses are Nazareth, Destelbergen, Lochristi, De Pinte and Sint-Martens-Latem. House prices in West Flanders rose by an average of 2.2% in 2023. On average a house in west Flanders costs 322,070 euro. Menen, Wervik, Poperinge, Izegem and Staden are the cheapest municipalities when it comes to house prices. De Haan, Damme, Jabbeke, Koksijde and Knokke-Heist are the most expensive. In Antwerp Province the average price of a house rose by 1.8% in 2023. A house in Antwerp Province costs an average of 384,921 euro Niel, Meerhout, Boom, Turnhout and Mol are the cheapest places in the province when it comes to house prices. Kalmthout, Zoersel, Brasschaat, Hove and Schilde are the most expensive places in the province for those wishing to buy a house.   Flat prices up everywhere except Flemish Brabant Ghent is the most expensive provincial capital for those wishing to buy a flat. In Ghent a flat costs an average of 310,624 euro. This is more or less (-0.1%) the same as it was a year ago. In East Flanders as a whole the average price of a flat rose by 3.8% to 278,218 euro last year. At 4.9% Limburg is the province that has seen the sharpest rise in average flat prices. In 2023 buyers paid an average of 245,922 euro for a flat in Limburg province. Hasselt is the cheapest provincial capital for flat buyers. A flat in Hasselt costs 256,537 euro, down 1.8% on a year ago. In West Flanders a flat costs an average of 296,989 euro, a rise of 4.5% on a year ago. The cheapest flats are to be found in Kuurne, Torhout, Middelkerke, Wervik and Wingene. Oudenburg, Zedelgem, Jabbeke, Oostkamp and Knokke-Heist are the municipalities with the highest average prices for a flat. In Antwerp Province average flat prices rose by 3% last year to 265.596 euro. Duffel, Wuustwezel, Stabroek, Retie and Borsbeek are the municipalities with the lowest average prices, while  Schilde, Zandhoven, Boechout, Brecht and Hove are the places where the average price of a flat is highest.  The only province in Flanders where average flat prices fell in 2023 is Flemish Brabant. The average price of a flat in the province fell by 1% to 284,885. Striking is the 6.8% fall in the average price of a flat in the provincial capital Leuven. and the city’s laid-back vibe lends itself perfectly to the relaxed breakfast and brunch experiences on offer here century-old bakkerij or a lively brunch hang-out the following places know a thing or two about starting the day off right Simple food done right is the basis for Belgian breakfasts | © Lot Dewaele Even though Himschoot has expanded to include second and third locations in Dok Noord and Sint-Martens-Latem its first location in the historical Groentenmarkt still makes it a regular haunt for many this authentically charming Ghent institution is known for its unwavering commitment to traditional recipes and its expertise in all things baked The bakkerij (bakery) itself is a little bigger than your regular hole in the wall it more than makes up for in its excellent selection of baked goods ranging from sweet to savoury and everything in between such as mattentaart (cheesecake surrounded by puff pastry) and pain à la grecque (milk bread with brown sugar and cinnamon) Courtesy of Clouds in my Coffee Sitting in what was once an elementary school in the culturally diverse Dampoort neighbourhood Clouds in my Coffee is part of Veva van Sloun and Jan Wauters’s Clouds9000 project a gorgeous B&B and creative spaces for hire which is enhanced by a terrace filled with lush plants and pastel-hued seats start with ‘Le Petit Bird’ (coffee or tea plus a croissant) or treat yourself to its best-selling ontbijt de luxe (luxurious breakfast) and you can pair it with a selection of cakes courtesy of renowned Belgian pâtisserie Les Tartes de Françoise If you’ve ever wondered what Ghent’s food scene is like a stroll down Vlaanderenstraat will give you a fairly accurate overview of what the city has to offer As a one-stop destination for foodies of all stripes (and budgets) a Michelin-star restaurant and a Gault & Millau-certified chocolatier happily co-exist with a kebab joint and a slew of international eateries brunch and cocktail spot complete with a vintage-store vibe and a street-side terrace Breakfast here ranges from no-fuss options such as groot ontbijt (a big breakfast of fresh juice plus organic bread with spreads and a choice of pastry) Situated a quick 10-minute walk from the city centre Gust is the perfect spot for those looking to enjoy their breakfast or brunch away from the crowds and dive into its all-day breakfast offerings that taste as exciting as they sound Try crowd-pleasers such as half an avocado with an organic runny egg dukkah and chimichurri or choose from one of its breakfast combos for a more fulfilling feast Grab a friend and indulge in the ‘naughty brunch’ throw in an extra €4.50 (£4) for a glass of prosecco a mimosa or a pompelosa (prosecco with grapefruit juice) Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy © Emma D’Havé With its location on the car-free, pedestrian-friendly backstreet of Walpoortstraat, Pain Perdu enjoys the kind of gezelligheid (a Dutch phrase that loosely translates to ‘convivial cosiness’) that can’t be found elsewhere in the city centre wooden floors and hanging plants add to the cosy atmosphere with a spacious back garden thrown in for those warmer days While the café’s signature pain perdu met bruine suiker en ahornsiroop (french toast with brown sugar and maple syrup) comes highly recommended a zout ontbijt (savoury breakfast) is also available for those with less of a sweet tooth its brunch served with a glass of cava is an excellent choice Venture slightly away from the ever-buzzing high street of Veldstraat and tourist attractions such as Het Belfort van Gent and you’ll stumble upon the coffee haven that is Take Five Espresso Bar the café combines owner Alexis Ywaska’s passions for coffee and jazz and the fusion has struck a chord with young and old alike Apart from top-notch coffee (try its famed 12-hour cold brew or AeroPress) simple breakfasts are another area where it excels Crowd-pleasers include overnight oats with seasonal fruits and broodmandje (a basket of toasted raisin bread and wholemeal bread served with butter Head to the second floor where you can plop down on one of its plush couches facing floor-to-ceiling windows A grocery store, a café and a coffee-roasting shop rolled into one, Moor and Moor fully lives up to Ghent’s green credentials with its five-point ethos that champions all things pure the concept carries over to its vegan-friendly breakfast options Order and pay (by card only) at the counter and choose your seat in the lofty mezzanine level – a space dominated by 1960s retro tile floors and sultry red stools There’s also an outdoor seating area should you fancy catching some rays or watching the crowd of Jakobijnenstraat go by Courtesy of Simon Says Perched on the corner of Sluizeken Simon Says has long been fuelling many a Gentenaar’s mornings and the hospitality is of the kind you will want to write home about (no surprise there as owners Simon and Christopher also run a two-room B&B under the same roof) which is set in a 1904 Art Nouveau building goes by a “low on food miles and high on taste” philosophy and gets a nod of approval from Ghent’s residents including local café Pain Perdu manager Lot Dewaele you can construct your breakfast by choosing items from ‘Sweet’ or have the best of all three worlds by opting for one of its sets Having breakfast at Maison Elza on the charming cobblestone strip of Jan Breydelstraat is an experience unto itself Named after and inspired by owner Freddy Bové’s grandmother the eatery previously known as House of Eliott boasts a classic Parisian bistro facade and a wonderfully kitsch interior that exudes 1920s nostalgia Magda whips up an assortment of breakfast formulas and to-die-for eggs benedict with a choice of cooked ham or smoked salmon (high tea is also available from 2.30pm) Grab a seat by the window or on a canal-side terrace for a view of the Gravensteen and the Oude Vismijn This article is an updated version of a story originally created by Nana Van de Poel See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Vlaams Belang maakt topkandidaten bekend voor 2024: nieuwkomers in elke top drie Het Vlaams Belang maakte vandaag haar lijsttrekkers en topkandidaten bekend voor de Vlaamse federale en Europese verkiezingen volgend jaar De partij trekt daarbij resoluut de kaart van vernieuwing “In elke top drie schuiven we een nieuw talent naar voor” “Het mag duidelijk zijn: het Vlaams Belang is klaar om de Vlamingen in 2024 het degelijke en rechtse beleid te geven dat ze verdienen.” Vandaag keurde de partijraad van het Vlaams Belang in Antwerpen de kandidaten definitief goed “We gaan met een sterke ploeg naar de kiezer” “Met heel wat nieuwe gezichten onder de kandidaten geven we ruimte voor nieuwe politieke beloften Gecombineerd met de ervaring van onze al gekende Kamer- en Vlaams Parlementsleden spelen we een ijzersterke combinatie uit De lijst voor het Vlaams Parlement in West-Vlaanderen wordt getrokken door Vlaams Parlementslid Immanuel De Reuse De tweede plaats wordt er ingevuld door nieuwkomer Sarah T’Joens (32) uit Wervik T’Joens heeft een bachelor in Toerisme en Recreatiemanagement en is momenteel vertegenwoordiger in bouwmaterialen Op de derde plaats prijkt Vlaams Parlementslid Stefaan Sintobin Voor de Kamer zal Kamerlid Wouter Vermeersch opnieuw de West-Vlaamse lijst trekken Kamerlid Dominiek Sneppe volgt op de tweede plaats De derde plaats wordt opgenomen door Kristien Verbelen (41) uit Oostkamp Verbelen is actief in de bouwsector en voorzitter van de lokale Vlaams Belang-afdeling in Oostkamp In Oost-Vlaanderen trekt Vlaams Parlementslid en Ninoofs sterkhouder Guy D’Haeseleer opnieuw de Vlaamse lijst Op twee volgt nieuwkomer Freija Van den Driessche (34) uit Sint-Lievens-Houtem Van den Driessche heeft een doctoraat in de farmaceutische wetenschap Ze werkt vandaag als inhoudelijk medewerker voor de partij in de Kamer waar ze het thema Volksgezondheid opvolgt De derde plaats wordt ingevuld door Vlaams Parlementslid en Vlaams Belang Jongeren-voorzitter Filip Brusselmans Kamerfractieleider Barbara Pas trekt de Oost-Vlaamse Kamerlijst Op twee komt Kamerlid en huidige voorzitter van de commissie Binnenlandse Zaken Ortwin Depoortere Op drie staat ook een nieuw gezicht: Francesca Van Belleghem (28) uit Erpe-Mere Van Belleghem heeft een master in de Rechten en in Fiscaliteit Ze werkte eerder als advocaat en consultant maar volgt nu als inhoudelijk medewerker voor de partij in de Kamer het Asiel- en Migratiebeleid op Voorzitter Tom Van Grieken zal zoals eerder aangekondigd de lijst voor het Vlaams Parlement in Antwerpen trekken Hij wordt gevolgd door Anke Van dermeersch Op de derde plaats prijkt nieuwkomer Dries Devillé (35) Hij is advocaat en bedrijfsjurist en is tevens 12 jaar gemeenteraadslid geweest in Halle De Kamerlijst wordt in Antwerpen getrokken door voormalig Vlaams Parlementslid en coördinator van de studiedienst Lode Vereeck (58) uit Kalmthout De tweede en derde plaats voor de Kamer worden ingevuld door Kamerleden Ellen Samyn en Reccino Van Lommel In Vlaams-Brabant zal Vlaams Parlementslid Klaas Slootmans de Vlaamse lijst trekken Op twee staat Vlaams Parlementslid Suzy Wouters De derde plaats wordt ingevuld door Frédéric Erens (55) uit Keerbergen Erens is bankdirecteur en tevens afdelingsvoorzitter van de Vlaams Belang-afdeling in Keerbergen Hij is ook provinciaal voorzitter van de partij in Vlaams-Brabant Hij zetelde al eens voor de partij tussen 2004 en 2009 De top drie voor de Kamerlijst in Vlaams-Brabant bestaat uit maar liefst twee nieuwkomers De jonge historica Britt Huybrechts (24) uit Leuven zal de lijst trekken Huybrechts was de eerste vrouwelijke KVHV-praeses in Leuven en werkt vandaag als geschiedenisleerkracht Op twee komt jurist en ondernemer Kurt Moons (59) uit Beersel Moons was onder meer gedelegeerd bestuurder voor Brantano en voorzitter van Pro Flandria De top drie wordt gesloten door Kamerlid Katleen Bury In Limburg zal opnieuw Vlaams fractieleider Chris Janssens de Vlaamse lijst trekken Hij wordt op twee bijgestaan door Vlaams Parlementslid Roosmarijn Beckers De derde plek is voor nieuwkomer Michiel Awouters (29) uit Halen Awouters heeft een master in de Internationale Politiek en is momenteel inhoudelijk medewerker in de Kamer voor de partij De Kamerlijst wordt getrokken door Kamerlid Annick Ponthier Op drie komt ook hier een nieuwkomer: Dieter Keuten (35) uit Tessenderlo De Europese lijst wordt getrokken door Europees Parlementslid Tom Vandendriessche Op de tweede plaats staat Barbara Bonte (40) uit Sint-Martens-Latem Bonte werd in 2014 al eens verkozen in het Vlaams Parlement maar zette een stap opzij om zich volledig te kunnen focussen op haar gezin Europees Parlementslid Gerolf Annemans sluit de top drie Hij kondigde eerder al aan de Europese lijst niet meer te zullen trekken 44 miljoen euro aan belastinggeld wordt schaamteloos verkwist aan de monarchie een achterhaald prestigeproject van de Franstalige elite Von der Leyen doet aan partijpolitiek activisme En dat is onverenigbaar met haar functie van Europees Commissievoorzitter Aan de vooravond van 1 mei pleit het Vlaams Belang voor de splitsing van de sociale zekerheid Zo wordt Vlaanderen verantwoordelijk voor zijn eigen grondgebied en voor zijn eigen burgers 02/ 219.60.09 info@vlaamsbelang.org