List of Belgians

This is a list of notable Belgian 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."

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)
*Hendrik Beyaert

Authors

*Gentil Theodoor Antheunis (1840 – 1907)
*Pieter Aspe (born 1953)
*Henry Bauchau (born 1913)
*Jean-Marie Berckmans
*Anton Bergmann (1835 – 1874)
*Philipp Blommaert (1809 – 1871)
*Louis Paul Boon (1912 – 1979)
*Herman Brusselmans (born 1957)
*Cyriel Buysse (1859 – 1932)
*Emile Cammaerts (1878 – 1953)
*Ernest Claes (1885 – 1968)
*Hugo Claus (1929 – 2008)
*Hendrik Conscience (1812 – 1883)
*"Julio Cortázar, Argentinian writer born in Brussels"
*Joanna Courtmans (1811 – 1890)
*Fernand Crommelynck
*Johan Daisne
*Johan Michiel Dautzenberg (1808 – 1869)
*Herman de Coninck (1944 – 1997)
*Charles De Coster (1827 – 1879)
*Julius de Geyter (1830 – 1905)
*Michel De Ghelderode (1898 – 1962)
*Lodewijk de Koninck (1838 – 1924)
*Patricia de Martelaere
*Pol de Mont (1857 – 1931)
*Filip De Pillecyn (1891 - 1962)
*Paul De Wispelaere
*Christine D'Haen
*Maria Doolaeghe (1803 – 1884)
*Gaston Durnez (1928 - )
*Georges Eekhoud
*Willem Elsschot
*Jef Geeraerts
*Guido Gezelle
*Marnix Gijsen (1899 – 1984)
*Maurice Gilliams
*Jacqueline Harpman
*Kristien Hemmerechts
*Stefan Hertmans
*Hubert Lampo
*Tom Lanoye
*Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck (1805 – 1847)
*Camille Lemonnier
*Suzanne Lilar – essayist, novelist, and playwright (1901 – 1992)
*Rosalie Loveling (1834 – 1875)
*Virginie Loveling (1836 – 1923)
*Maurice Maeterlinck – Nobel Prize in Literature 1911
*Marcel Mariën – surrealist
*Hugo Matthysen
*Bob Mendes
*Jef Mennekens
*Pierre Mertens
*Henri Michaux – poet and painter
*Ivo Michiels
*Erwin Mortier – novelist, essayist, poet.
*Alice Nahon
*Leonard Nolens
*Amélie Nothomb
*Paul Nougé – surrealist
*Octave Pirmez
*Anne Provoost
*Jean Ray
*Frans Rens (1805 – 1874)
*Albrecht Rodenbach
*Georges Rodenbach – Symbolist poet and novelist
*Maria Rosseels (1916 – 2005)
*Ward Ruyslinck
*Georges Simenon
*Jan Lambrecht Domien Sleeckx (1818 – 1901)
*Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert (1809 – 1872)
*August Snieders (1825 – 1904)
*Jan Renier Snieders (1812 – 1888)
*Reimond Stijns (1850 – 1905)
*Stijn Streuvels
*Herman Teirlinck
*Isidoor Teirlinck (1851 – 1934)
*Jotie T'Hooft
*Felix Timmermans
*Jan van Beers (1821 – 1888)
*Jos Vandeloo
*Walter van den Broeck
*Karel van de Woestijne
*Prudens van Duyse (1804 – 1859)
*Raoul Vaneigem
*Peter Frans Van Kerckhoven (1818 – 1857)
*"Jacob van Maerlant"
*Paul Van Ostaijen
*Jan Theodoor van Rijswijck (1811 – 1849)
*Anton van Wilderode (1918 - 1998)
*Emile Verhaeren
*Peter Verhelst
*Dimitri Verhulst
*August Vermeylen (1872 - 1945)
*Baron Gerard Walschap
*Jan Frans Willems (1793 - 1846)
*"Marguerite Yourcenar, French novelist born in Belgium"

Businesspeople and economists

*Luc Bertrand
*Mark Bils
*Philippus Jacobus Brepols (1778 - 1845)
*Marc Coucke
*William Damseaux
*Étienne Davignon
*Paul D'Hoore
*Édouard-Jean Empain
*George Forrest
*Albert Frère – self made businessman
*Alexandre Galopin (1879 – 1944) – director of the Société Générale de Belgique
*Silvio Gesell
*Lieven Gevaert
*Jean-Pierre Hansen (born 1948) – CEO of Electrabel
*Rob Heyvaert – founder of Capco
*Georges Jacobs
*André Leysen and his sons Christian Leysen and Thomas Leysen
*Maurice Lippens
*Alfred Lowenstein (1877-1928), soldier, aviator, sportsman, entrepreneur
*Gustave de Molinari – economist
*Georges Nagelmackers
*Philippe van Parijs
*Bruno van Pottelsberghe (born 1968)
*Jules A. Steverlynck Deweer (1895 – 1974) – moved to Argentina in 1927, where he founded several textile companies

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
*Hans Van Themsche
*Robert Jan Verbelen (1911 – 1990) – Nazi collaborator and murderer of businessman Alexandre Galopin
*Alex Vercauteren – killer of veterinary Karel Van Noppen

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.
*"Hopla" -- 3D character from educational series with the same name.
*"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
*"Afterman" -- character from three famous films by Rob Van Eyck
*"Jommeke"

Historians

*"Philippe de Commines"
*François-Louis Ganshof
*Xavier Mabille
*Ludo Martens
*Anne Morelli
*Henri Pirenne
*Pierre François Xavier de Ram

Humorists

*Laurence Bibot
*Bruno Coppens
*Raf Coppens
*"Raymond Devos, French humorist born in Belgium"
*Frédéric DuBus
*Philippe Geluck
*Noël Godin, "l'entartreur", aka Monsieur Gloup-Gloup
*Wim Helsen
*Marc Herman
*Geert Hoste
*Pierre Kroll
*Bert Kruismans
*André Lamy
*François Pirette
*Lieven Scheire
*Stéphane Steeman
*Bruno Taloche
*Vincent Taloche
*Manu Thoreau
*Urbain Servranckx (Urbanus)
*Wouter Deprez
*Alex Agnew

Journalists

*Paul Belien
*René-Philippe Dawant
*Koenraad Elst
*Martine Tanghe

Military figures

*"Ambiorix" – Gaulish warlord
*"Baldwin I of Jerusalem" – Crusader, King of Jerusalem
*"Baldwin I of Constantinople" – Crusader, first Latin Emperor
*Jean-Pierre de Beaulieu – Belgian-born Austrian General
*Adrian Carton de Wiart – Belgian-born British Lieutenant General
*"Charlemagne", founder of the Frankish Empire
*"Charles Martel", Duke of the Franks, stopped the Muslim expansion at Poitiers
*"Clovis I", King of the Franks
*"Godfrey of Bouillon" – Crusader and first King of Jerusalem
*"Pepin of Herstal", Duke of the Franks
*"Pepin the Short", first Carolingian King of the Franks
*"Edgard Potier" – Pilot during the World War II
*"Jean Schramme", mercenary.
*"Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly" – Field Marshal

Models

*Brigitta Callens
*Elise Crombez
*Sylvie De Caluwé
*Véronique De Kock (born in Antwerp)
*Tanja Dexters
*Hannelore Knuts
*Anouck Lepere, supermodel (born in Antwerp).
*Stephanie Meire
*Tom Nuyens, supermodel from Antwerp, first Mister World (1996).
*An Oost
*Ingrid Parewijck
*Ellen Petri
*Ingrid Seynhaeve
*Jessica Van Der Steen (from Antwerp)
*Anke Vandermeersch
*Ann Van Elsen
*Phaedra Hoste

Monarchs

*Albert I
*Albert II
*Baudouin I
*"Charles V of Habsburg", Holy Roman Emperor
*"Charles VII of Habsburg", Holy Roman Emperor
*"Clemens August of Bavaria", Archbishop-Elector of Cologne
*Leopold I
*Leopold II
*Leopold III

Performing artists

Actors and actresses

*Patrick Bauchau
*Bernard Cogniaux
*Jey Crisfar
*Koen De Bouw
*Jan Decleir
*André Delvaux
*Émilie Dequenne
*Cécile de France
*Herbert Flack
*Marie Gillain
*Olivier Gourmet
*"Audrey Hepburn, British and Dutch actress born in Belgium"
*Christian Labeau
*Jacky Lafon
*Yolande Moreau
*Ann Petersen
*Benoît Poelvoorde
*Natacha Régnier
*Jérémie Renier
*Jean-Claude Van Damme
*Philippe Volter
*Natacha Amal

Choreographers

*Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker
*Philippe Callens
*Wim Vandekeybus

Composers

*Jean Absil
*Florent Alpaerts
*Peter Benoit
*"Gilles Binchois"
*"Ivan Caryll"
*"Jacob Clemens non Papa"
*"Armand Coeck"
*"Cypriano de Rore"
*"Josquin des Prez"
*"Guillaume Dufay"
*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
*Pieter van Maldere
*Henri Vieuxtemps
*"Giaches de Wert"
*"Adrian Willaert"

Filmmakers

"See also: List of Belgian film directors"
*Chantal Akerman
*Tom Barman
*Lucas Belvaux (born 1961)
*Rémy Belvaux ("Man Bites Dog")
*Alain Berliner ("Ma vie en rose")
*Yvan Boeckmans
*André Bonzel ("Man Bites Dog")
*Jan Bucquoy
*Stijn Coninx
*Carl Colpaert (American, born in Belgium)
*Gérard Corbiau
*Jean-Pierre Dardenne
*Luc Dardenne
*Robbe De Hert
*André Delvaux
*Dominique Deruddere
*Marc Didden
*Jacques Feyder
*Jonas Geirnaert
*Harry Kümel
*Roland Lethem
*Benoît Mariage
*Henri Storck
*Erik Van Looy
*Jan Verheyen
*Rob Van Eyck
*Dirk Beliën ("Oscar Nomination 2003, Short Live Action")

Musicians and singers

"See also: List of Belgian bands and artists."

*"Salvatore Adamo" – Italian living in Belgium
*Geike Arnaert – Hooverphonic
*Liliane Saint-Pierre
*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
*André Brasseur
*Jacques Brel
*Alex Callier – Hooverphonic
*Fud Candrix
*Stef Kamil Carlens – Zita Swoon
*Philippe Catherine
*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
*Jean-Luc De Meyer – Front 242
*Luc De Vos – Gorki
*David Dewaele – Soulwax, 2 Many DJ's
*Stephen Dewaele – Soulwax, 2 Many DJ's
*Jan De Wilde
*Droon
*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
*Bobby Jaspar
*Ya Kid K – Technotronic
*Sandra Kim
*Danni Klein – Vaya Con Dios
*Steven Kolacny – Scala & Kolacny Brothers
*Stijn Kolacny – Scala & Kolacny Brothers
*Flip Kowlier
*Sigiswald Kuijken – violinist and conductor
*Philippe Lafontaine
*Fred Lani – Fred and the Healers
*Victor Lazlo
*Fud Leclerc
*Pierre Leemans (conductor and composer)
*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
*Jacques Pelzer
*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
*René Thomas
*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!
*Dirk Verbeuren – Soilwork
*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

Theater directors

*Bruno Belvaux
*Bernard Cogniaux
*Christian Labeau
*Stephen Shank

Politicians

A – C

*"Frans Ackerman"
*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
*Geert Bourgeois
*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

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

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
*Caroline Gennez
*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

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

M

*Nelly Maes
*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

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
*Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, founder of Institut de Droit International, adviser to Rama V of Thailand

– U

*Hugo Schiltz (1927-2006)
*Frans Schollaert
*Jacques Simonet
*Marie-Dominique Simonet
*Jef Sleeckx
*Miet Smet
*Tom Smets
*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
*Freddy Thielemans
*Marianne Thyssen
*Leo Tindemans
*Bruno Tobback
*Louis Tobback
*Jules de Trooz
*Nathalie de T'Serclaes
*Robert Urbain

V

*Achille van Acker
*Jacob van Artevelde
*Frans Van Cauwelaert
*Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
*Johan Vande Lanotte
*Hugo Vandenberghe
*Paul Vanden Boeynants
*Freya Van den Bossche
*Luc Van den Bossche
*Luc Vandenbrande
*Frank Vandenbroucke
*Jules Vandenpeerebom
*Alain Van der Biest
*The family Vanderpoorten: Arthur, Herman and Marleen
*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

W – Y

*Melchior Wathelet
*Freddy Willockx
*Charles Woeste
*Yvan Ylieff

Religious figures

aints

*"St. Gertrude of Nivelles"
*"St. Gudula from Brussels and Eibingen – National Saint of Belgium and Patroness of Brussels"
*"St. John Berchmans"
*"St. Hubertus"

Theologians and clergymen

*Joseph André, priest, Righteous among the Nations.
*Pieter Jan Beckx, 22th Superior General of the Jesuits.
*Jean Bolland – hagiographer
*Adolf Daens - priest and politician
*Blessed Father Damien ("Joseph De Veuster")
*Godfried Danneels – cardinal
*Victor-Auguste Dechamps – cardinal
*Charles A. Didier – General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
*Jacques Dupuis – Jesuit theologian (interreligious dialogue)
*"Henry of Ghent – medieval philosopher"
*Pierre-Lambert Goossens – cardinal
*Cornelius Jansen – bishop, theologian (Jansenism)
*Jean-Baptiste Janssens – 27th Superior General of the Jesuits
*Gustaaf Joos – cardinal
*André-Mutien Léonard – bishop
*Leonardus Lessius – Jesuit theologian
*Joseph Maréchal – philosopher, psychologist
*Désiré-Joseph Mercier – cardinal
*Everard Mercurian, 4th Superior General of the Jesuits.
*Charles de Noyelle, 12th Superior General of the Jesuits.
*Georges Pire – Dominican priest, Nobel Peace Prize 1958
*Edward Poppe - blessed priest
*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 inChina, Astronomer

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)
*Jean Terfve (1907 – 1978) (important leader of the Belgian resistance)

cientists

Botanists

*Alfred Cogniaux (1841 – 1916)
*"Rembert Dodoens" (1517 - 1585)
*Barthélemy Charles Joseph du Mortier

Chemists

*Jean-Claude Lorquet – theoretical chemist
*Ilya Prigogine – theoretical chemist Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1977 (born in Russia)
*Ernest Solvay – chemist
*Jean Stas – chemist
*"Jan Baptist van Helmont" (1579 - 1644) - chemist and physician

Geographers

*Gerardus Mercator – geographer
*Abraham Ortelius – geographer

Geologists

*Alphonse Francois Renard – geologist and petrographer
*Gaston Briart – geologist

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
*Alfred Belpaire – steam locomotive engineer
*Egide Walschaerts – steam locomotive engineer and inventor of the Walschaerts valve gear
*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)
*John Joseph Merlin – inventor associated with Cox's timepiece. He also invented inline skates in 1759.

Mathematicians

*Francois d'Aguilon – mathematician and physicist (optics)
*Jean Bourgain – mathematician
*Eugène Charles Catalan – mathematician
*Ingrid Daubechies – mathematician and physicist
*Pierre Deligne – mathematician, Fields Medal 1978
*Jan Denef – mathematician
*Jean-Charles de la Faille – mathematician
*Victor d'Hondt – lawyer and mathematician
*Constantin Le Paige – mathematician
*Adolphe Quetelet – mathematician and statistician
*Simon Stevin – mathematician and engineer
*André Tacquet – mathematician
*Antoine Thomas – mathematician and Astronomer (in China)
*Joseph Tilly – mathematician
*Jacques Tits – mathematician
*Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin – mathematician
*Adriaan van Roomen – mathematician

Political scientists and theorists

* Rik Coolsaet
* Vincent de Coorebyter
* Pascal Delwit
* Chantal Mouffe
* De Bruyne Pieter
* Devos Carl
* Verhoest Koen

Others

*Joachim Bleys – epidemiologist
*Jules Bordet – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1919
*Albert Claude – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
*Philippe Callens (nuclear auditor)
*Christian De Duve – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974 (born in Britain of Belgian parents)
*Frank De Winne – astronaut
*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 – priest & astronomer, the first cosmologist to propose the Big Bang theory.
*"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
*Jos Verhulst – scientist, philosopher
*Etienne Vermeersch - philosopher
*"Andreas Vesalius – anatomist"
*Marc Waelkens – archeologist
*"Luce Irigaray – French philosopher, born in Belgium"
*"Louis De Geer" – (1587-1652) born 1587-11-17 in Liège.He is considered the father of Swedish industry.

ports

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
*Marc Duez – racing 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

Basketball

*Ann Wauters

Cycling

"Including mountain biking and cyclo-cross."

*Mario Aerts
*Benoni Beheyt
*Tom Boonen
*Alex Close
*Eric De Vlaeminck – cyclo-cross
*Roger De Vlaeminck
*Fred de Bruyne
*Stijn Devolder
*Johan Bruyneel
*Hélène Dutrieu
*Matthew Gilmore – Australian-turned-Belgian
*Willy Lauwers
*Roland Liboton – cyclo-cross
*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 – cyclo-cross

Football (soccer)

*Philippe Albert – player
*Aimé Anthuenis – coach
*Walter Baseggio – player
*Roberto Bisconti – player
*Jean-Marc Bosman – player
*Toni Brogno – player
*Thomas Buffel – player
*Jan Ceulemans – player, coach
*Lei Clijsters – player, coach
*Bertrand Crasson – player
*Koen Daerden – player
*Gilles De Bilde – player
*Frank De Bleeckere – referee
*Glen De Boeck – player
*Mark De Man – player
*Geert De Vlieger – goalkeeper
*Filip De Wilde – goalkeeper
*Steven Defour – player
*Marc Degryse – player
*Laurent Delorge – player
*Olivier Deschacht – player
*Olivier Doll – player
*Marouane Fellaini – player
*Régis Genaux – player
*Eric Gerets – player
*Raymond Goethals – coach
*Bart Goor – player
*Michaël Goossens – player
*Georges Grün – player
*Alan Haydock – player
*Oleg Iachtchouk – player (Ukrainian-turned-Belgian)
*Vincent Kompany – player
*Jonathan Legear – player
*Philippe Léonard – player
*Steed Malbranque – player – French player, born in Belgium
*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 – Croatian turned Belgian
*Guy Thys – coach
*Nico Vaesen – goalkeeper
*Joos Valgaeren – player
*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
*Eric Viscaal – player
*Bernard Voorhoof – player
*Johan Walem – player
*Josip Weber – player
*Marc Wilmots – football player and elected senator
*Axel Witsel – player

Judo

*Ingrid Berghmans – judoka, olympic champion
*Jean-Marie Dedecker – coach
*Ilse Heylen – judoka
*Harry Van Barneveld – judoka
*Gella Vandecaveye – judoka
*Robert Van De Walle – judoka, Olympic champion
*Ulla Werbrouck – judoka, Olympic champion

Motocross

*René Baeten - 1958 500cc Motocross World Champion
*Marnicq Bervoets - Top motocross competitor from the 1990s
*Sven Breugelmans - 2005 MX3-GP World Champion
*Roger De Coster – Five-time 500cc Motocross World Champion
*Harry Everts – Three-time Motocross World Champion, father of Stefan Everts
*Stefan Everts – Ten-time Motocross World Champion
*Eric Geboers – Five-time Motocross World Champion
*Sylvain Geboers - Motocross des Nations winner
*Georges Jobé – Five-time Motocross World Champion
*André Malherbe - Three-time Motocross World Champion
*Jacky Martens - 1991 500cc World Champion
*Gaston Rahier – Three-time 125cc Motocross World Champion
*Steve Ramon - Two-time Motocross World Champion
*Joël Robert – Six-time 250cc Motocross World Champion
*Joël Smets – Three time 500cc Motocross World Champion

wimming

*Brigitte Becue – swimmer
*Fred Deburghgraeve – swimmer, Olympic champion
*Ingrid Lempereur – swimmer

Table tennis

*Jean-Michel Saive – player
*Philippe Saive – player

Tennis

*Sabine Appelmans – player
*Els Callens – player
*Kim Clijsters – player, former World #1, Masters 2002-2003 winner and Grand Slam singles champion
*Justine Henin – player, olympic champion, former World #1, Masters 2006 winner and 7-time Grand Slam singles champion
*Xavier Malisse – player
*Dominique Monami – player
*Christophe Rochus – player
*Olivier Rochus – player
*Kristof Vliegen – player

Track and field

*Ivo Van Damme – athlete
*Kim Gevaert – athlete, European champion 100 and 200 metres
*Tia Hellebaut – athlete, European champion high jump, olympic champion high jump
*Karel Lismont – athlete
*Emiel Puttemans – athlete
*Gaston Roelants – athlete, olympic champion
*Patrick Stevens – athlete
*Veerle Dejaeghere – athlete
*Cédric Van Branteghem – athlete
*Mohammed Mourhit – athlete

Triathlon

*Kathleen Smets – 2005 world champion
*Luc Van Lierde – 2-time world champion and winner Iron Man
*Marc Herremans – wheelchair champion

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

Other

*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 – French nationality, born in Belgium
*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
*Frédéric Collignon (table soccer) ITSF multi-time and currently acting world champion

Visual artists

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
*Will (Willy Maltaite)

Costume Designers

*Thierry Bosquet

Fashion

"see also Antwerp Six"
*Dirk Bikkembergs
*Veronique Branquino
*Liz Claiborne, American designer born in Belgium
*Ann Demeulemeester
*Martin Margiela
*Raf Simons
*Olivier Strelli
*Walter Van Beirendonck
*Dries Van Noten
*Dirk Van Saene
*Marina Yee

Furniture designers

*Casimir (furniture designer)

Painters

*Pierre Alechinsky – Cobra member
*"Joachim Beuckelaer"
*"Boucicaut Master – manuscript illuminator"
*"Adriaen Brouwer"
*"Pieter Bruegel the Elder", and his family, including "Pieter Brueghel the Younger", "Jan Brueghel the Elder", and "Jan Brueghel the Younger"
*"Robert Campin"
*"Petrus Christus"
*Emile Claus – impressionism
*"Gerard David"
*"Philippe de Champaigne"
*"Gaspar De Crayer"
*Raoul De Keyser – abstract painter
*Paul Delvaux – surrealist
*Jean Delville – symbolist painter
*Gustave De Smet – expressionism
*Sam Dillemans
*James Ensor
*"Frans Floris"
*"Adriaen Isenbrandt"
*"Jacob Jordaens"
*"Justus of Ghent"
*Fernand Khnopff – symbolist
*Georges Emile Lebacq - Impressionist, Post-Impressionist painter
*"Limbourg brothers – manuscript illuminators"
*"Lambert Lombard"
*"Jan Mabuse"
*René Magritte – surrealist
*Xavier Mellery – symbolist
*"Hans Memling"
*"Kwinten Metsys (a.k.a. Quentin Matsys/Quentin Massys)"
*Constant Permeke – expressionist
*"Pieter Pourbus"
*Roger Raveel
*Félicien Rops
*"Peter Paul Rubens" – Baroque painter
*Victor Servranckx – cubist
*"Frans Snyders"
*Leon Spilliaert
*"David Teniers the Younger"
*Luc Tuymans
*"Pieter van Aelst"
*"Joos van Cleve"
*Frits Van den Berghe – expressionist
*"Hugo van der Goes"
*"Rogier van der Weyden (a.k.a. Rog(i)er de la Pasture)"
*Gustave Van de Woestijne
*"Sir Anthony van Dyck (Antoon van Dyck)"
*"Jan van Eyck" and his brother "Hubert van Eyck"
*Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven
*Eugeen Van Mieghem
*"Bernard van Orley"
*Théo van Rysselberghe – neo-impressionist
*"Jan Van Scorel"
*Fernand Verhaegen – painter of Walloon folklore
*Antoine Joseph Wiertz
*Jaak De Koninck – Oil and water paintings

Photographers

*Carl de Keyzer
*Leon Van Loo

culptors

*Delphine Boël
*René Carcan
*May Claerhout
*"François Duquesnoy"
*Jan Fabre
*Lucas Faydherbe
*Jean-Michel Folon
*George Grard
*Constantin Meunier
*George Minne
*Olivier Strebelle
*Rik Wouters

tage Designers

*Thierry Bosquet

Others

*Guillaume Bijl
*Jean De Bast
*Ade Bethune
*Marcel Broodthaers
*Victor Delhez
*Wim Delvoye
*Danny Devos
*Panamarenko
*Dr. Hugo Heyrman
*Kim Goossens

Others

*Bertrand Beghin – banker
*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
*Vanden Geyhn et Van Aerschodt Famille de foundeurs
*Pierre Wynants – chef
*Georges Zicot

ee also

*List of Belgian Americans
*List of Belgium-related topics
*List of fictional Belgians
*List of people by nationality
*Notable people from Brussels

External links

* [http://www.european-people.com/Belgians/Belgians.html Belgian People]
* [http://www.famousbelgians.net/ Famous Belgians]
* [http://noosphere.cc/flanders.html Famous Flemish people]