Wouter Van Bellingen

Wouter Van Bellingen (Antwerp, 20 april 1972) is a Flemish politician for the political party Spirit. Before that, he was employed by the city of Sint-Niklaas as a civil servant working on youth and developing world issues.

Since January 2, 2007, Van Bellingen is an alderman in Sint-Niklaas, where he lives. As such, he became the first black alderman in Flanders.(subscription required) " [http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=GGD16AUP9 Zwarte Vlaming wordt eerste gekleurde schepen] ". "De Standaard", December 29, 2006 (subscription required) Languageicon|nl|Dutch] He is responsible for the city's activities related to youths, parties, international projects, civilian affairs and the civil registry and some administrative functions.Stad Sint-Niklaas: " [http://www.sint-niklaas.be/modules/phpwiki/index.php?pagename=Samenstelling%20en%20bevoegdheden%20college Samenstelling en bevoegdheden college] ". Retrieved March 19, 2007. Languageicon|nl|Dutch]

Van Bellingen drew media attention in February 2007 when it was reported that 3 couples cancelled their wedding ceremony because they didn't want to be wed by a black registrar.Ian Traynor " [http://www.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,,2016936,00.html Flanders race row fails to muffle wedding bells] ". "The Guardian", February 20, 2007.] Alex Duval Smith " [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2020822,00.html Flemish couples don't want to be wed by Wouter] ". "The Observer", February 25, 2007.] In response to the event, Van Bellingen decided to organise a multicultural wedding event on March 21, 2007, which is also the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." [http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=37638 Couples sign up for mass marriage] ". "Expatica News", March 14, 2007.] 626 couples were symbolically married by Van Bellingen that day [cite web |url=http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070322_%2BMass%2Bwedding%2Bagainst%2Bracism%2Bupdate |title=Mass wedding against racism |date=2007-03-22 |publisher=flandersnews.be |accessdate=2007-03-23] and this event was perceived as a strong anti-racism signal. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6476115.stm |title=Belgians in anti-racism weddings |publisher=BBC |date=2007-03-21 |accessdate=2007-03-22]

Van Bellingen was given up for adoption by his Rwandan mother. He grew up in Sint-Niklaas as the youngest son in a family with 4 adopted children." [http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G7P17R5CR BLIKVANGER. Wouter Van Bellingen] . "De Standaard", February 3, 2007. (subscription required) Languageicon|nl|Dutch] He is married and has 2 children. He was very active in the different sections of the youth councils in Flanders, and a scouting leader.

References

*Spirit: [http://sites.spirit.be/spirit1/faces/web/pers.jsp?name=In%20de%20pers&group=woutervanbellingen&curgroup=woutervanbellingen Wouter Van Bellingen] . Retrieved March 19, 2007. Languageicon|nl|Dutch

Footnotes

External links