List of Belgians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable people who either:
- are or were Belgian citizens during at least one period of their life,
- were born in Belgium or in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but who were not or are not Belgian citizens (either because Belgium did not exist at the time of their life or because they had or have another citizenship). The names of people of this category are italicized.
The list also comprises
- fictional characters who are undisputedly Belgians
- important ones whose citizenship is unknown or not Belgian and with Belgian creators. The names of fictional characters of this category are italicized.
The same person may appear under several headings.
[edit] Architects
- Roger Bastin (1913 - 1986)
- Stéphane Beel
- Hilde Daem
- Xaveer De Geyter (born 1957)
- Paul Hankar (1859 - 1901)
- Victor Horta (1861 - 1947)
- Eugeen Liebaut
- Paul Robbrecht
- Paul Saintenoy (1862 – 1952)
- Gustave Strauven (1878 - 1919)
- Henry Van de Velde (1863 – 1957)
- Marie-José Van Hee
- Bob Van Reeth
- Jules Wabbes (1919 - 1974)
[edit] Authors
- Pieter Aspe (born 1953)
- Henry Bauchau (born 1913)
- Louis Paul Boon (1912 - 1979)
- Herman Brusselmans (born 1957)
- Cyriel Buysse (1859 - 1932)
- Emile Cammaerts (1878 - 1953)
- Ernest Claes (1885 - 1968)
- Hugo Claus (born 1929)
- Hendrik Conscience (1812 – 1883)
- Fernand Crommelynck
- Herman de Coninck
- Charles De Coster (1827 - 1879)
- Michel De Ghelderode (1898 - 1962)
- Georges Eekhoud
- Willem Elsschot
- Jef Geeraerts
- Guido Gezelle
- Jacqueline Harpman
- Kristien Hemmerechts
- Tom Lanoye
- Camille Lemonnier
- Suzanne Lilar - essayist, novelist, and playwright
- Jacob van Maerlant
- Maurice Maeterlinck - Nobel Prize in Literature 1911
- Marcel Mariën - surrealist
- Hugo Matthysen
- Jef Mennekens
- Pierre Mertens
- Henri Michaux - poet and painter
- Ivo Michiels
- Erwin Mortier - novelist, essayist, poet.
- Amélie Nothomb
- Paul Nougé - surrealist
- Octave Pirmez
- Anne Provoost
- Jean Ray
- Albrecht Rodenbach
- Georges Rodenbach - Symbolist poet and novelist
- Georges Simenon
- Stijn Streuvels
- Herman Teirlinck
- Felix Timmermans
- Karel van de Woestijne
- Raoul Vaneigem
- Paul Van Ostaijen
- Emile Verhaeren
- Peter Verhelst
- Baron Gerard Walschap
- Marguerite Yourcenar, French novelist born in Belgium
[edit] Businesspeople and economists
- William Damseaux
- Étienne Davignon
- Édouard-Jean Empain
- George Forrest
- Albert Frère - self made businessman
- Alexandre Galopin (1879 - 1944) - director of the Société Générale de Belgique
- Silvio Gesell
- Jean-Pierre Hansen (born 1948) - CEO of Electrabel
- Rob Heyvaert - founder of Capco
- Georges Jacobs
- Maurice Lippens
- Alfred Lowenstein (1877-1928), soldier, aviator, sportsman, entrepreneur
- Gustave de Molinari - economist
- Georges Nagelmackers
- Philippe van Parijs
- Bruno van Pottelsberghe (born 1968)
[edit] Criminals
- Nordine Ben Allal - multiple escapes
- Madani Bouhouche
- Pierre Carette - terrorist
- Marc Dutroux - rapist and serial killer
- Patrick Haemers
- Freddy Horion - violent gangster, 6 time killer
- Murat Kaplan
- Tomas Van Der Heijden - art thief
- Hans Van Themsche
- Robert Jan Verbelen (1911 - 1990) - Nazi collaborator and murderer of businessman Alexandre Galopin
- Alex Vercauteren - killer of veterinary Karel Van Noppen
[edit] Fictional characters
- Dr. Evil -- main villain in the Austin Powers films.
- Jo, Zette and Jocko -- Belgian by their creator at least (Hergé)
- Milo Perrier - the character based on Hercule Poirot in the film Murder by Death
- Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie) -- a private detective.
- Tintin -- reporter
- Samson en Gert -- characters from a popular Flemish television series.
- Suske en Wiske
- Largo Winch -- Belgian by its creator at least
- XIII -- Belgian by its creator at least
- Thorgal -- Belgian by its creator at least
- Gaston Lagaffe -- cartoon character by (André Franquin)
- Spirou et Fantasio -- cartoon character by (André Franquin)
- Achilles de Flandres -- Antagonist in Orson Scott Card 's Shadow series.
- Nero -- comic book character by Marc Sleen
- Smurfs -- cartoon characters by Peyo
- Snorks -- cartoon characters by Nic Broca
[edit] Historians
- Philippe de Commines
- François-Louis Ganshof
- Xavier Mabille
- Ludo Martens
- Anne Morelli
- Henri Pirenne
- Pierre François Xavier de Ram
[edit] Humorists
- Laurence Bibot
- Bruno Coppens
- Raf Coppens
- Raymond Devos, French humorist born in Belgium
- Philippe Geluck
- Noël Godin, "l'entarteur", aka Monsieur Gloup-Gloup
- Geert Hoste
- Bert Kruismans
- Stéphane Steeman
- Manu Thoreau
- Urbain Servranckx (Urbanus)
[edit] Journalists
- Paul Belien
- René-Philippe Dawant
- Koenraad Elst
[edit] Military figures
- Ambiorix - Gaul warlord
- Charlemagne
- Frank De Winne - astronaut
- Jean-Pierre de Beaulieu - Belgian-born Austrian General
- Godfrey of Bouillon - Crusader
- Baldwin I of Jerusalem - Crusader
- Charles Martel
- Edgard Potier - Pilot during the World War II
- Jean Schramme, mercenary.
[edit] Models
- Brigitta Callens
- Elise Crombez
- Véronique De Kock
- Tanja Dexters
- Anouck Lepere, supermodel (born in Antwerp).
- Stephanie Meire
- Tom Nuyens, supermodel from Antwerp, first Mister World (1996).
- Ingrid Parewijck
- Ellen Petri
- Ingrid Seynhaeve
- Jessica Van Der Steen (from Antwerp)
- Anke Vandermeersch
- Ann Van Elsen
[edit] Monarchs
Main article: List of Belgian monarchs.
- Albert I of the Belgians
- Albert II of the Belgians
- Baudouin I of the Belgians
- Leopold I of the Belgians
- Leopold II of the Belgians
- Leopold III of the Belgians
[edit] Performing artists
[edit] Actors and actresses
- Patrick Bauchau
- Bernard Cogniaux
- Jan Decleir
- André Delvaux
- Émilie Dequenne
- Cécile de France
- Marie Gillain
- Olivier Gourmet
- Audrey Hepburn, British actress born in Belgium
- Christian Labeau
- Jacky Lafon
- Yolande Moreau
- Ann Petersen
- Benoît Poelvoorde
- Natacha Régnier
- Jérémie Renier
- Jean Claude Van Damme
- Philippe Volter
[edit] Choreographers
- Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker
- Philippe Callens
- Wim Vandekeybus
[edit] Composers
- Jean Absil
- Florent Alpaerts
- Peter Benoit
- Gilles Binchois
- Ivan Caryll
- Jacob Clemens non Papa
- Cypriano de Rore
- Josquin des Prez
- François Joseph Fétis
- César Franck, Belgian composer who worked in Paris
- Karel Goeyvaerts
- Nicolas Gombert
- François Joseph Gossec
- André Grétry
- Joseph Jongen
- Léon Jongen
- Orlande de Lassus (a.k.a. Orlandus Lassus/Orlando di Lasso), born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Guillaume Lekeu
- Jacques Loeillet - baroque composer
- Jean-Baptiste Loeillet de Ghent - baroque composer
- Charles Loos
- Wim Mertens
- Vidna Obmana -- the pseudonym of Dirk Serries
- Johannes Ockeghem
- Henri Pousseur
- Didier van Damme
- Henri Vieuxtemps
- Giaches de Wert
- Adrian Willaert
[edit] Filmmakers
- Chantal Akerman
- Tom Barman
- Lucas Belvaux (born 1961)
- Rémy Belvaux (Man Bites Dog)
- André Bonzel (Man Bites Dog)
- Jan Bucquoy
- Stijn Coninx
- Gérard Corbiau
- Jean-Pierre Dardenne
- Luc Dardenne
- Robbe De Hert
- André Delvaux
- Marc Didden
- Jacques Feyder
- Jonas Geirnaert
- Harry Kümel
- Roland Lethem
- Benoît Mariage
- Erik Van Looy
[edit] Musicians and singers
See also: List of Belgian bands and artists.
- Salvatore Adamo - Italian living in Belgium
- Geike Arnaert - Hooverphonic
- Natacha Atlas
- Tom Barman - dEUS
- Claude Barzotti
- Guido Belcanto
- Plastic Bertrand (Roger Jouret)
- Julos Beaucarne
- Sarah Bettens - K's Choice
- Jean Blaute - producer
- Jeff Bodart
- Sandy Boets - Touch of Joy, Xandee
- Jo Bogaert - Technotronic
- Francy Boland - jazz pianist, arranger
- Jacques Brel
- Alex Callier - Hooverphonic
- Fud Candrix
- Stef Kamil Carlens - Zita Swoon
- Philippe Catherine
- Charles Cluytens - conductor
- Miel Cools
- Annie Cordy
- Suzanne Danco - soprano
- Kris de Bruyne
- Jeanine Deckers, a.k.a. The Singing Nun or Soeur Sourire
- Wim Decraene
- Arthur De Greef - pianist and composer
- Luc De Vos - Gorki
- David Dewaele - Soulwax, 2 Many DJ's
- Stephen Dewaele - Soulwax, 2 Many DJ's
- Jan De Wilde
- Elmore D
- Maurice Engelen - Praga Khan, Lords of Acid
- Peter Evrard - winner of Idool 2003, Belgian edition of Pop Idol
- Lara Fabian
- Jean-Luc Fonck
- Frédéric François
- Stéphane Galland
- Ferre Grignard
- Piet Goddaer - Ozark Henry
- Rita Gorr - mezzo soprano
- Arthur Grumiaux - violinist
- Fanny Heldy - opera soprano
- Philippe Herreweghe - conductor
- Arno Hintjens - TC Matic
- Sandra Kim
- Danni Klein - Vaya Con Dios
- Steven Kolacny
- Stijn Kolacny
- Flip Kowlier
- Sigiswald Kuijken - violinist and conductor
- Philippe Lafontaine
- Fred Lani - Fred and the Healers
- Victor Lazlo
- Fud Leclerc
- Jo Lemaire
- Jan Leyers - Soulsister
- Lio
- Charles Loos
- Helmut Lotti
- Maurane
- Wim Mertens
- Stijn Meuris - Noordkaap, Monza
- Paul Michiels - Soulsister
- Brian Molko - Placebo
- Marc Moulin - Telex
- Deborah Ostrega - Lords of Acid
- Mauro Pawlowski - Evil Superstars, dEUS
- Bart Peeters - The Radios
- Axl Peleman - Ashbury Faith, Camden
- Belle Perez
- Pol Plançon - basso
- Pierre Rapsat
- Axelle Red
- Django Reinhardt
- Kate Ryan
- Bobbejaan Schoepen
- Jonas Steur - Trance DJ and Producer
- Jasper Steverlynck - Arid
- Daan Stuyven - Dead Man Ray
- Toots Thielemans
- Rudy Trouvé
- Will Tura
- Luc Van Acker of The Revolting Cocks
- Urbanus van Anus
- Wouter Van Belle - producer
- Frank Van Der Linden - De Mens
- Tim Vanhamel - Evil Superstars, Eagles of Death Metal, Millionaire
- Raymond van het Groenewoud
- Marcel Vanthilt - Arbeid Adelt!
- Peter Verhoyen - flutist
- Eddy Wally
- Koen Wauters - Clouseau
- Kris Wauters - Clouseau
- Anne Wolf - pianist
- Eugène Ysaÿe - violinist and composer
- Mike Dierickx, a.k.a M.I.K.E. - Trance DJ and producer
[edit] Theater directors
[edit] Politicians
[edit] A - C
- Magda Aelvoet
- Bert Anciaux
- Vic Anciaux
- William Ancion
- Eric André
- Jules Joseph d'Anethan
- Gerolf Annemans
- Bernard Anselme
- André Antoine
- Marie Arena
- Auguste Beernaert - Nobel Peace Prize 1908
- Ivo Belet
- André Bertouille
- Luc Beyer de Ryke
- Ward Beysen
- Fons Borginon
- Frederika Brepoels
- Charles de Broqueville
- Henri de Brouckere
- Jules de Burlet
- Willy Burgeon
- Bernard du Bus de Gisignies
- Philippe Busquin
- Henri Carton de Wiart
- Jos Chabert
- Marcel Cheron
- Willy Claes
- Philip Claeys
- Georges Clerfayt
- Guy Coëme
- Alexandra Colen
- Robert Collignon
- André Cools
- Gerhard Cooreman
- Anne-Marie Corbisier
- Hugo Coveliers
- Guy Cudell
[edit] D
- Michel Daerden
- Amand Dalem
- André Damseaux
- José Daras
- Norbert De Batselier
- Stefaan De Clerck
- Willy De Clercq
- Herman De Croo
- Armand De Decker
- Jean-Marie Dedecker
- Philippe Defeyt
- Magda De Galan
- Léon Degrelle
- Karel De Gucht
- Léon Defosset
- Jean Defraigne
- Jean-Luc Dehaene
- Jean-Maurice Dehousse
- Véronique De Keyser
- Leon Delacroix
- Olivier Deleuze
- Francis Delpérée
- Hendrik de Man
- Rudy Demotte
- Gérard Deprez
- Erik Derycke
- Claude Desama
- Paul Deschanel
- Georges Désir
- Alain Destexhe
- Jean-Pierre Detremmerie
- Mia De Vits
- Franz de Voghel, Baron
- Patrick Dewael
- Filip Dewinter
- Paula D'Hondt
- Karel Dillen
- Koenraad Dillen
- Elio Di Rupo
- Didier Donfut
- François-Xavier de Donnea
- Vera Dua
- Abel Dubois
- Daniel Ducarme
- Germain Dufour
- Antoine Duquesne
- Isabelle Durant
- Jean-Pierre Duvieusart
[edit] E - K
- Claude Eerdekens
- Lamoral Egmont
- Saïd El Khadraoui
- Gaston Eyskens
- Mark Eyskens
- Valmy Féaux
- Daniel Féret
- Michel Foret
- Richard Fournaux
- Walthère Frère-Orban
- Jaak Gabriëls
- Gaston Geens
- Jacques Germeaux
- Count Goblet d'Alviella
- Jean Gol
- Didier Gosuin
- Jean-Pierre Grafé
- Mathieu Grosch
- Brigitte Grouwels
- Michel Hansenne
- Jean-Marie Happart
- José Happart
- Pierre Harmel
- Hervé Hasquin
- Arthur Haulot
- Pierre Hazette
- Alain Hutchinson
- Camille Huysmans
- Evelyne Huytebroeck
- Victor Jacobs
- Paul-Emile Janson
- Henri Jaspar
- Pierre Jonckheer
- Serge Kubla
[edit] L
- Henri La Fontaine - Nobel Peace Prize 1913
- Julien Lahaut (1884-1950), chairman of the Communist Party, assassinated.
- Roger Lallemand
- Auguste Lambermont
- Karl-Heinz Lambertz
- Renaat Landuyt
- Raymond Langendries
- Paul Lannoye
- Joseph Lebeau
- Edmond Leburton
- Theodore Lefevre
- Yves Leterme
- Anne-Marie Lizin
- Benoît Lutgen
- Guy Lutgen
[edit] M
- Olivier Maingain
- Philippe Mahoux
- Jules Malou
- Jean-Claude Marcourt
- Ludo Martens
- Wilfried Martens
- Guy Mathot
- Philippe Maystadt
- Kris Merckx
- Charles Michel
- Louis Michel
- Richard Miller
- Joëlle Milquet
- Philippe Monfils
- Jacky Morael
- Patrick Moriaux
- Philippe Moureaux
- Serge Moureaux
- Felix Amand de Muelenare
[edit] N - R
- Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
- Jean-Marc Nollet
- Jean-Baptiste Nothomb
- Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb
- Laurette Onkelinx
- Joseph Pholien
- Charles Picqué
- Hubert Pierlot
- Prosper Poullet
- Jules Renkin
- Jean Rey
- Didier Reynders
- Frédérique Ries
- Charles Rogier
[edit] S - U
- Hugo Schiltz (1927-2006)
- Frans Schollaert
- Jacques Simonet
- Marie-Dominique Simonet
- Miet Smet
- Paul de Smet de Naeyer
- Bart Somers
- Antoinette Spaak
- Paul-Henri Spaak
- Guy Spitaels
- Bart Staes
- Dirk Sterckx
- Steve Stevaert
- Frank Swaelen
- Willy Taminiaux
- Marc Tarabella
- George Theunis
- Bartholemy Théodore de Theux
- Marianne Thyssen
- Leo Tindemans
- Bruno Tobback
- Louis Tobback
- Jules de Trooz
- Nathalie de T'Serclaes
- Robert Urbain
[edit] V
- Achille van Acker
- Jacob van Artevelde
- Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
- Johan Vande Lanotte
- Paul Vanden Boeynants
- Freya Van den Bossche
- Luc Van den Bossche
- Hugo Vandenberghe
- Luc Vandenbrande
- Frank Vandenbroucke
- Jules Vandenpeerebom
- Alain Van der Biest
- Marleen Vanderpoorten
- Emile Vandervelde
- Alois van de Vyvere
- Jean-Sylvain van de Weyer
- Dirk Van Duppen
- Frank Vanhecke
- Johan Van Hecke
- Jean van Houtte
- Pierre-Edouard van Humbeeck
- Anne Van Lancker
- Dirk Van Mechelen
- Karel Van Miert
- Marc Van Peel
- Vincent Van Quickenborne
- Eric Van Rompuy
- Herman Van Rompuy
- Jean-Pierre Van Rossem
- Paul Van Zeeland
- Guy Verhofstadt
- Inge Vervotte
[edit] W - Y
- Melchior Wathelet
- Freddy Willockx
- Charles Woeste
- Yvan Ylieff
[edit] Religious figures
[edit] Saints
- St. Gertrude of Nivelles
- St. Gudula from Brussels and Eibingen - National Saint of Belgium and Patroness of Brussels
- St. John Berchmans
- St. Hubertus
[edit] Theologians and clergymen
- Jean Bolland - hagiographer
- Blessed Father Damien (Pater Damiaan)
- Godfried Danneels - cardinal
- Victor-Auguste Dechamps - cardinal
- Jacques Dupuis - Jesuit priest
- Henry of Ghent - medieval philosopher
- Pierre-Lambert Goossens - cardinal
- Cornelius Jansen - theologian
- Gustaaf Joos - cardinal
- André-Mutien Léonard - bishop
- Leonardus Lessius - Jesuit theologian and philosopher
- Désiré-Joseph Mercier - cardinal
- Georges Pire - Dominican priest, Nobel Peace Prize 1958
- Jozef-Ernest van Roey - cardinal
- Blessed John Ruysbroeck - mystic
- Jan Pieter Schotte - cardinal
- Brother René Stockman - Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity
- Leo Jozef Suenens - cardinal
- Ferdinand Verbiest - Jesuit missionary to China
[edit] Resistance workers
- Henri Gaillot
- Albert Guérisse (1911-1989)
- Arthur Haulot (1913-2005)
- Andrée "Dédée" de Jongh (born 1916)
- Marcel Louette (1907-1978)
- Georges Piron (1888-1943)
- Edgard Potier (1903-1944)
- Suzanne Spaak (c.1905-1944)
- Gabrielle Weidner (1914-1945)
- Johan Hendrik Weidner (1912-1994)
- Henri Reynders (Dom Bruno) (1903 - 1981)
[edit] Science
[edit] Botanists
- Alfred Cogniaux (1841 - 1916)
- Barthélemy Charles Joseph du Mortier
[edit] Chemists
- Jean-Claude Lorquet - theoretical chemist
- Ilya Prigogine - theoretical chemist Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1977 (born in Russia)
- Ernest Solvay - chemist
- Jean Stas - chemist
[edit] Geographers
- Gerardus Mercator - geographer
- Abraham Ortelius - geographer
[edit] Geologists
- Alphonse Francois Renard - geologist and petrographer
- Gaston Briart - geologist
[edit] Inventors and engineers
- Leo Hendrik Baekeland - inventor of bakelite
- Robert Cailliau - information and control engineer
- Zénobe Gramme - electrical engineer
- Bart Preneel - cryptographer
- Adolphe Sax - inventor of the saxophone
- Arthur Vierendeel - engineer and inventor of the Vierendeel truss
- Egide Walschaerts - engineer and inventor
- André Waterkeyn - engineer, best known for creating the Atomium
- Joan Daemen - cryptographer (Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Rijndael)
- Vincent Rijmen - cryptographer (Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Rijndael)
[edit] Mathematicians
- Francois d'Aguilon - mathematician and physicist
- Jean Bourgain - mathematician
- Eugène Charles Catalan - mathematician
- Ingrid Daubechies - mathematician and physicist
- Pierre Deligne - mathematician, Fields Medal 1978
- Jean-Charles de la Faille - mathematician
- Victor d'Hondt - lawyer and mathematician
- Constantin Le Paige - mathematician
- Adolphe Quetelet - mathematician and statistician
- Simon Stevin - mathematician
- André Tacquet - mathematician
- Joseph Tilly - mathematician
- Jacques Tits - mathematician
- Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin - mathematician
- Adriaan van Roomen - mathematician
[edit] Political scientists and theorists
- Rik Coolsaet
- Vincent de Coorebyter
- Pascal Delwit
- Chantal Mouffe
[edit] Others
- Jules Bordet - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1919
- Albert Claude - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
- Christian De Duve - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974 (born in Britain of Belgian parents)
- Dirk Frimout - first Belgian astronaut
- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster - born in Ghent
- Adrien de Gerlache - explorer
- Jan Baptist van Helmont - chemist, physiologist and physician
- Corneille Heymans - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1938
- Albert Hustin - medical doctor, the first to practice non-direct blood transfusion
- Benoît Lengelé - medical doctor, the first to perform a partial face transplant
- Paul Janssen
- Georges Lemaître - astronomer
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, French scientist born in Belgium
- Justus Lipsius - classical philologian
- Michel Louette - ornithologist
- Paul Otlet - information architect
- Joseph Plateau - physicist
- Gregory of Saint-Vincent
- Louis-Joseph Seutin - surgeon
- Irina Veretennicoff - physicist
- Catherine Verfaillie - stem cell researcher
- Andreas Vesalius - anatomist
- Marc Waelkens - archeologist
- Luce Irigaray - French philosopher, born in Belgium
[edit] Sports
[edit] Automobile racing
- Philippe Adams - Formula One driver
- Georges Berger - Formula One driver
- Lucien Bianchi - Formula One driver
- Thierry Boutsen - racing driver
- Johnny Claes - Formula One driver
- Charles de Tornaco - Formula One driver
- François Duval - racing driver
- Paul Frère - Formula One driver
- Bertrand Gachot - racing driver
- Olivier Gendebien - race car driver
- Christian Goethals - Formula One driver
- Jacky Ickx - racing driver
- Camille Jenatzy - race car driver
- Arthur Legat - Formula One driver
- Bas Leinders - racing driver
- Willy Mairesse - Formula One driver
- André Milhoux - Formula One driver
- Patrick Neve - Formula One driver
- Théodore Pilette - racing driver
- André Pilette - Formula One driver
- Teddy Pilette (born 1942) - Formula One driver
- Jacques Swaters - Formula One driver
- Thierry Tassin - racing driver
- Eric van de Poele - Formula One driver
[edit] Cycling
Including mountain biking and cyclo-cross.
- Mario Aerts
- Tom Boonen
- Alex Close
- Roger De Vlaeminck
- Fred de Bruyne
- Johan Bruyneel
- Matthew Gilmore - Australian-turned-Belgian
- Willy Lauwers
- Roland Liboton
- Freddy Maertens
- Romain Maes
- Filip Meirhaeghe - mountain biker
- Axel Merckx - son of Eddy Merckx
- Eddy Merckx - considered by many as the greatest cyclist ever.
- Jean-Pierre Monseré
- Johan Museeuw
- Sven Nys - cyclo-cross
- Stan Ockers
- Alberic Schotte
- Patrick Sercu
- Andrei Tchmil - Soviet-turned-Ukrainian-turned-Belgian
- Philippe Thys
- Lucien Van Impe
- Frank Vandenbroucke
- Rik Van Looy
- Rik Van Steenbergen
- Bart Wellens
[edit] Football (soccer)
- Philippe Albert - player
- Aimé Anthuenis - coach
- Walter Baseggio - player
- Jean-Marc Bosman - player
- Toni Brogno - player
- Thomas Buffel - player
- Jan Ceulemans - player, coach
- Lei Clijsters - player, coach
- Koen Daerden - player
- Frank De Bleeckere - referee
- Glen De Boeck - player
- Mark De Man - player
- Geert De Vlieger - goalkeeper
- Filip De Wilde - goalkeeper
- Marc Degryse - player
- Laurent Delorge - player
- Olivier Deschacht - player
- Olivier Doll - player
- Eric Gerets - player
- Raymond Goethals - coach
- Bart Goor - player
- Georges Grün - player
- Oleg Iachtchouk - player (Ukrainian-turned-Belgian)
- Vincent Kompany - player
- Jonathan Legear - player
- Sandy Martens - player
- Joseph Mermans - player
- Emile Mpenza - player
- Mbo Mpenza - player
- Floribert N'Galula - player
- Luis Oliveira - player
- Tristan Peersman - goalkeeper
- Jean-Marie Pfaff - goalkeeper
- Luigi Pieroni - player
- Michel Preud'homme - goalkeeper
- Silvio Proto - goalkeeper
- Cédric Roussel - player
- Enzo Scifo - player, coach
- Tony Sergeant - player
- Francis Severeyns - player
- Timmy Simons - player
- Wesley Sonck - player
- Lorenzo Staelens - player
- Stijn Stijnen - goalkeeper
- Branko Strupar - player
- Guy Thys - coach
- Nico Vaesen - goalkeeper
- Gilbert Van Binst - player
- Daniel Van Buyten - player
- Constant Vanden Stock - honorary president and former president and player of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht
- Roger Vanden Stock - president of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht
- Franky Van Der Elst - player, coach
- Gunter Van Handenhoven - player
- Paul Van Himst - player, coach
- Jan Van Steenberghe - player
- Anthony Vanden Borre - player
- Erwin Vandenbergh - player
- Yves Vanderhaeghe - player
- Franky Vercauteren - player, coach
- Gert Verheyen - player
- Bernard Voorhoof - player
- Josip Weber - player
- Marc Wilmots - football player and elected senator
[edit] Judo
- Ingrid Berghmans - judoka, olympic champion
- Ilse Heylen - judoka
- Harry Van Barneveld - judoka
- Gella Vandecaveye - judoka
- Robert Van De Walle - judoka, Olympic champion
- Ulla Werbrouck - judoka, Olympic champion
[edit] Motorcross
- Roger DeCoster - Five-time 500cc Motocross World Champion
- Georges Jobé - Five-time Motocross World Champion
- Stefan Everts - Nine-time Motocross World Champion
- Joël Robert - Six-time 250cc Motocross World Champion
- Joël Smets - Three time 500cc Motocross World Champion
[edit] Swimming
- Brigitte Becue - swimmer
- Fred Deburghgraeve - swimmer, Olympic champion
- Ingrid Lempereur - swimmer
[edit] Table tennis
- Jean-Michel Saive - player
- Philippe Saive - player
[edit] Tennis
- Sabine Appelmans - player
- Els Callens - player
- Kim Clijsters - player, former World #1 and Grand Slam singles champion
- Justine Henin-Hardenne - player, olympic champion, World #1, Masters 2006 winner, Grand Slam singles champion in Roland-Garros, Sydney & New-York
- Xavier Malisse - player
- Dominique Monami - player
- Christophe Rochus - player
- Olivier Rochus - player
[edit] Track and field
- Ivo Van Damme - athlete
- Kim Gevaert - athlete, European champion 100 and 200 metres
- Tia Hellebaut - athlete, European champion high jump
- Karel Lismont - athlete
- Emiel Puttemans - athlete
- Gaston Roelants - athlete, olympic champion
- Patrick Stevens - athlete
[edit] Triathlon
- Kathleen Smets - 2005 world champion
- Luc Van Lierde - 2-time world champion and winner Iron Man
[edit] Water polo
- Gérard Blitz (1901 - 1979) - swimming and waterpolo olympic medalist
- Gérard Blitz (1912 - 1990) - water polo player and founder of the Club Med
- Maurice Blitz - Olympic waterpoloist
[edit] Other
- American Balloon - pro-wrestler
- Annelies Bredael - rower
- Raymond Ceulemans - billiards player
- Patrick Niessen - billiards player
- Nathalie Descamps - badminton player
- Karolien Gielen - multiple Belgian champion synchronized swimming
- Wendy Jans - Snooker player, 2006 IBSF Women's World Champion
- Tony Parker - NBA basketball player
- Jacques Rogge - IOC president
- Muriel Sarkany - climber
- Paul Van Asbroeck - marksman
- Kevin Van Der Perren - figure skating
- Hubert Van Innis - archer
- Bart Veldkamp - speed skater
- Gery Verbruggen - bowler
- Ann Wauters - WNBA basketball player
[edit] Visual artists
[edit] Cartoonists
See also: List of authors of Franco-Belgian comics.
- Raoul Cauvin
- Gilbert Delahaye
- André-Paul Duchâteau
- Dupa (Luc Dupanloup)
- André Franquin
- Hergé (Georges Remi)
- Hermann Huppen
- Herr Seele
- Edgar P. Jacobs
- Janry (Jean-Richard Geurts)
- Jijé (Joseph Gillain)
- Kamagurka
- Lambil (Willy Lambillote)
- Roger Leloup
- Marcel Marlier
- Merho
- Morris (Maurice de Bevere)
- Jef Nys
- Eddy Paape
- Peyo (Pierre Culliford)
- Jean Roba
- Marc Sleen (Marc Neels)
- Philippe Tome (Philippe Vandevelde)
- Willy Vandersteen
- Jean Van Hamme
- François Walthéry
[edit] Ceramics
- Erika Chaffart [citation needed]
[edit] Fashion
- Dirk Bikkembergs
- Veronique Branquino
- Liz Claiborne, American designer born in Belgium
- Ann Demeulemeester
- Carine Lauwers
- Martin Margiela
- Raf Simons
- Olivier Strelli
- Walter Van Beirendonck
- Dries Van Noten
- Dirk Van Saene
- Marina Yee
[edit] Painters
Main article: List of Belgian painters.
- Peter Paul Rubens - born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed - lays buried in Antwerp
- Pierre Alechinsky - Cobra member
- Boucicaut Master - manuscript illuminator
- Pieter Brueghel the Elder, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Robert Campin
- Petrus Christus
- Emile Claus - impressionism
- Gerard David, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Philippe de Champaigne, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Gaspar De Crayer
- Raoul De Keyser - abstract painter
- Paul Delvaux - surrealist
- Jean Delville - symbolist painter
- Gustave De Smet - expressionism
- James Ensor
- Jacob Jordaens, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Justus of Ghent
- Fernand Khnopff - symbolist
- Limbourg brothers - manuscript illuminators
- René Magritte - surrealist
- Xavier Mellery - symbolist
- Hans Memling, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Kwinten Metsys (a.k.a. Quentin Matsys/Quentin Massys), born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Constant Permeke - expressionist
- Pieter Pourbus
- Roger Raveel
- Félicien Rops
- Victor Servranckx - cubist
- Franz Snyders
- Leon Spilliaert
- David Teniers the Younger
- Luc Tuymans
- Frits Van den Berghe - expressionist
- Hugo van der Goes
- Rogier van der Weyden (a.k.a. Rog(i)er de la Pasture), born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Gustave Van de Woestijne
- Sir Anthony van Dyck (Antoon van Dyck)
- Jan van Eyck, born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
- Eugeen Van Mieghem
- Bernard van Orley
- Théo van Rysselberghe - neo-impressionist
- Fernand Verhaegen - painter of Walloon folklore
- Antoine Joseph Wiertz
[edit] Photographers
[edit] Sculptors
- Delphine Boël
- René Carcan
- François Duquesnoy
- Jan Fabre
- Jean-Michel Folon
- George Grard
- Constantin Meunier
- George Minne
- Olivier Strebelle
- Rik Wouters
[edit] Others
[edit] Others
- Edgard Colle - chess player
- Sabine Dardenne - victim of child molestor Marc Dutroux
- Thierry de Duve - art critic and theorist
- Didier Defourny
- Joanna DeRoover - oldest documented living person in Belgium at the time of her death
- Alain Hubert - explorer
- Jean-Denis Lejeune - founder of Child Focus
- Claude Lelièvre - Commissioner for Children Rights, French-speaking Community
- Jean-Baptiste Moëns - "The Father of Philately"
- Gerard Mortier
- Peter Piot - Director of UNAIDS
- Charles-Joseph Sax - musical instrument maker
- Sybille de Selys Longchamps
- Jaap van Brakel - philosopher
- Joe Van Holsbeeck
- Dirk Verhofstadt
- Pierre Wynants - chef
- Georges Zicot
[edit] Trivia
There is an informal British parlour game, semi-jocular, which challenges the participants to come up with the names of five famous Belgians, implicitly asserting that Belgian nationals are far less likely to be notable in the United Kingdom than those of other countries. Fictional characters may or may not be allowed. Fame may be established according to arbitrary criteria such as how many other players have heard of the person or their notable achievement.
[edit] See also
- List of Belgium-related topics
- List of people by nationality
- List of fictional Belgians
- Notable people from Brussels
[edit] External links
- Famous Belgians
- A Website on famous Flemish people: [1]
- Belgians People