The rich history and culture of Belgium have been influenced over the centuries by countless famous Belgians. People who have not only shaped the country but also the world at large.
From world-renowned scientists and sportsmen to inventors and creators that have had a major impact and the way we live, even today.
Join me as we explore some of the most famous Belgians of all time.
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx is probably one of the most famous Belgians of all time. He was born on June 17, 1945, and went on to become a highly successful professional Belgian cyclist and one of the most successful of all time.
He won a total of five Tour de France titles and five Giros in Italy. He won the cycling world championships three times, held the word hour record for decades, and won countless local road races in Belgium. It is hard to take in just how much he won, but it was impressive, to say the least.
Adolphe Sax
There are not many people who can claim that they invented a popular musical instrument but Adolphe Sax did just that. He invented the saxophone in 1846. Although he is best known for this impressive creation he also invented other instruments such as the saxotromba and the saxhorn. You can see the results of his work in a small museum in Dinant.
Gerardus Mercator
Mercator is a famous Flemish cartographer, philosopher, and mathematician. But what he is really famous for is his invention of the Mercator projection. It is a special way of viewing globes on flat surfaces that defines how we use maps even today.
He also made countless other significant contributions to the fields of geography, mathematics, and astronomy throughout his lifetime. He even has a museum dedicated to his life and works.
Andreas Vesalius
Although he was born in 1514, Andreas Vesalius was an accomplished anatomist and physician. He is considered the father of modern anatomy and wrote the groundbreaking “De Humani Corporis Fabrica”, a huge work on human anatomy that shaped medicine for centuries to come.
Georges Lemaître
Everyone talks about the Big Bang these days as if it was proposed just recently. The trust is, our next famous Belgian, Georges Lemaître, came up with the idea in 1927.
He was both an astronomer and professor of physics, as well as a Belgian catholic priest just to keep things interesting. He was quite a key figure in the development of modern cosmology.
Romelu Lukaku
If you are a fan of modern football, then maybe you have heard of Romelu Lukaku, one of Belgian’s most famous and successful footballers. He is a member of Chelsea and has scored over 200 goals in his career. Not only that but he is considered one of the best strikers in the world.
Georges Remi Hergé
Belgium is famous for its comics and perhaps the most famous Belgian artist in this area is Hergé. Born on May 22, 1907, he is famous for his creation of Tintin, one of the most popular Belgian comics and perhaps the most widely translated of all time. No wonder he also has a museum in his name!
Kim Clijsters
Although she is no longer active, Kim Clijsters is one of the all-time greats when it comes to women’s tennis. She won four women’s single Grand Slams over the years as well as two Grand Slam doubles titles. No wonder she is one of the most famous Belgian sportswomen of all time.
Eden Hazard
Another famous Belgian footballer is Eden Hazard. He is often considered one of the best and most creative attacking midfielders and has won many individual awards in the sport. He currently plays for Real Madrid in Spain and is only 22 years old.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
If you have ever watched martial arts movies back in the 80s and 90s, then you have probably seen Jean-Claude Van Damme. Not the best actor if you ask me, but he has certainly accomplished a lot in his career. He is known for his role in action movies such as Bloodsport and Kickboxer and has since worked as both a director and producer in a wide variety of other movies, and as a voice actor in animated movies like the Minions and Kung Fu Panda 3.
Matthias Schoenaerts
Another noteworthy Belgian actor that you may have come across in your movie-going career is Matthias Schoenaerts. He is known for his roles in a few famous films such as Bullhead and Rust & Bone.
