50.8462° N, 4.3558° E

BRUSSELS

Most Famous People Born in Brussels, Belgium

Notable people
3,534
Peak decade
1960s
Median birth year
1912
Most distinctive
Painter 4.3×

A small capital with an outsized share of painters and architects. Brussels's distinctive professions are painters and architects at more than three times the global rate, alongside sculptors, artists, composers, and a deep film bench — the legacy of the Académie Royale, the franco-belge comics tradition, and a postwar Belgian cinema that punched above its weight. The 19th century is unusually heavy here, when Brussels was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe and art nouveau was inventing itself in the streets around the Palais Royal.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Brussels during each.

What Brussels Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Painter is Brussels's biggest profession — 11% of all notables (399).

Brussels over-indexes on painter4.3× the global rate.

Brussels under-produces football — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Painter399
  2. Politician394
  3. Actor199
  4. Football198
  5. Writer170
  6. Architect108
  7. Lawyer89
  8. Singer82
  1. Painter3994.3×
  2. Architect1083.4×
  3. Sculptor612.6×
  4. Artist782.1×
  5. Film821.9×
  6. Composer751.6×
  1. Football1980.5×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Brussels's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

15001550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Art & Design
  • Politics & Law
  • Sports
  • Writing
  • Film & TV
  • Music
  • Other
All3,534
Sort By

Showing 234 of 3,534 notable people

0003 PHILOSOPHER

Claude Lévi-Strauss

1908 - 2009

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0005 CARTOONIST

Hergé

1907 - 1983

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0009 NOVELIST

Marguerite Yourcenar

1903 - 1987

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0014 MONARCH

Leopold III of Belgium

1901 - 1983

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0053 KING

Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

1903 - 1983

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0065 PENCILLER

Edgar P. Jacobs

1904 - 1987

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0075 MONK

Sœur Emmanuelle

1908 - 2008

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0093 PRELATE

Leo Joseph Suenens

1904 - 1996

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0126 FILM

Raymond Rouleau

1904 - 1981

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0155 ACTOR

Fernand Gravey

1905 - 1970

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0156 SCREENWRITER

Charles Spaak

1903 - 1975

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0174 FILM

Pierre Chenal

1904 - 1990

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0266 PAINTER

E. L. T. Mesens

1903 - 1971

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0298 PAINTER

Louis Van Lint

1909 - 1986

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0313 FILM

Mário Peixoto

1908 - 1992

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0321 BIOCHEMIST

Jean Brachet

1909 - 1988

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0329 SPORT

Jean Aerts

1907 - 1992

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0342 PAINTER

Jacques Van Melkebeke

1904 - 1983

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0351 NOVELIST

Irène Hamoir

1906 - 1994

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0356 ACTOR

Harry Hindemith

1906 - 1973

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0358 PRELATE

Jean Jadot

1909 - 2009

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0393 FILM

Lauritz Falk

1909 - 1990

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0430 CONDUCTOR

Léon Barzin

1900 - 1999

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0439 WORLD WAR

Suzanne Spaak

1905 - 1944

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0463 POLITICIAN

Cornelis van Geelkerken

1901 - 1976

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0487 FOOTBALL

Arnold Badjou

1909 - 1994

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0494 FILM

Charles Dekeukeleire

1905 - 1971

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0508 PAINTER

Jacques Laudy

1907 - 1993

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0517 PRIEST

Henri Reynders

1904 - 1981

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0521 PAINTER

Anne Bonnet

1908 - 1960

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0526 WRITER

Francis Walder

1906 - 1997

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0569 PAINTER

Akarova

1904 - 1999

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0606 FOOTBALL

Ferdinand Adams

1903 - 1992

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0609 WRITER

Albert Ayguesparse

1900 - 1996

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0625 GOVERNOR

Jean-Paul Harroy

1909 - 1995

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0661 MILITAR

Émile Janssens

1902 - 1989

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0666 POET

Marcel Lecomte

1900 - 1966

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0701 MEDIEVALIST

Charles Verlinden

1907 - 1996

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0741 POLITICIAN

Roger Motz

1904 - 1964

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0744 PAINTER

Lismonde

1908 - 2001

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0789 AUTHOR

Gustav René Hocke

1908 - 1985

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0796 ILLUSTRATOR

Mark Severin

1906 - 1987

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0809 ACADEMIC

Fernand van Steenberghen

1904 - 1993

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0811 PAINTER

Marcel Hastir

1906 - 2011

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0812 PAINTER

Jane Graverol

1907 - 1984

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0817 FILM

Max de Vaucorbeil

1901 - 1982

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0819 ARCHITECT

René Pechère

1908 - 2002

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0829 FOOTBALL

Jean Claessens

1908 - 1978

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0866 WRITER

Jean d'Osta

1909 - 1993

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0880 SINGER

Louisa Ghijs

1902 - 1985

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0887 LAWYER

Marcel-Henri Jaspar

1901 - 1982

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0889 OFFICIER

Henri Bernard

1900 - 1987

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0892 ARTIST

Fernand Dineur

1904 - 1956

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0896 EXPLORER

Max Cosyns

1906 - 1998

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0922 FILM

Denis Marion

1906 - 2000

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0931 POLITICIAN

Hendrik Fayat

1908 - 1997

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0939 COMPOSER

René Bernier

1905 - 1984

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0946 FOOTBALL

Jules Pappaert

1905 - 1945

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0950 FOOTBALL

Félix Welkenhuysen

1908 - 1980

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0952 FENCER

Max Janlet

1903 - 1976

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0977 ACADEMIC

Léo Moulin

1906 - 1996

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0981 ACTOR

Lucienne Le Marchand

1908 - 1992

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0990 ECONOMIST

Raymond W. Goldsmith

1904 - 1988

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1002 PAINTER

Jean Milo

1906 - 1993

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1004 PLAYER

Josane Sigart

1909 - 1999

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1012 FILM

André Cauvin

1907 - 2004

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1016 ENGINEER

Zora Arkus-Duntov

1909 - 1996

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1024 FILM

Henri, 8th Duke d'Ursel

1900 - 1974

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1039 PAINTER

Antoine Mortier

1908 - 1999

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1049 FILM

E.G. de Meyst

1902 - 1989

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1054 SCENOGRAPHER

René Moulaert

1901 - 1965

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1056 FENCER

Henri Paternóster

1908 - 2007

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1071 ARCHITECT

Lucien de Vestel

1902 - 1967

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1101 COMPOSER

Raymond Chevreuille

1901 - 1976

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1102 PIANIST

Stan Brenders

1904 - 1969

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1131 PAINTER

Antoine Allard

1907 - 1981

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1175 COMPOSER

Aimée van de Wiele

1907 - 1991

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1204 WRITER

Louis Dubrau

1904 - 1997

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1209 PHILOSOPHER

Philippe Devaux

1902 - 1979

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1227 DANCER

Charlotte Bara

1901 - 1986

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1229 COMPOSER

David Bee

1903 - 1992

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1258 ACADEMIC

Jean De Clerck

1902 - 1978

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1262 FENCER

Charles Debeur

1906 - 1981

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1278 SPORT

Jean Van Buggenhout

1905 - 1974

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1282 PAINTER

Ghislaine de Menten de Horne

1908 - 1995

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1284 BOBSLED

René Lunden

1902 - 1942

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1291 ARCHITECT

Maxime Brunfaut

1909 - 2003

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1310 SOCIOLOGIST

Wilfrid Schreiber

1904 - 1975

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1311 COMPOSER

Gaston Brenta

1902 - 1969

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1315 ARCHITECT

Stanislas Jasinski

1908 - 1979

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1321 TRUMPET

Gus Deloof

1909 - 1974

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1337 ROWER

François de Coninck

Born 1902

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1383 HOCKEY

Carlos Van den Driessche

1901 - 1972

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1392 SWIMMER

Henri Stoelen

1906 - 1977

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1395 RÉSISTANCE

William Ugeux

1909 - 1997

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1406 BANK

Hubert Ansiaux

1908 - 1987

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1442 ARCHIVIST

Omer Jodogne

1908 - 1996

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1491 OPERA

Sim Viva

1903 - 1982

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1496 BOTANIST

Raymond Boutique

1906 - 1985

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1512 THEOLOGIAN

Gustave Thils

1909 - 2000

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1514 SKATER

Yvonne de Ligne

1907 - 1952

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1536 FENCER

Jenny Addams

Born 1909

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1558 POLITICIAN

Jean-Florian Collin

1904 - 1985

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1563 ARCHITECT

Maurice Houyoux

1903 - 1960

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1566 PAINTER

Zoum Walter

1902 - 1974

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1568 BIOLOGIST

Marc Herlant

1907 - 1986

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1574 PAINTER

Jean Maillard (peintre)

1901 - 1991

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1598 POET

Odilon-Jean Périer

1901 - 1928

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1604 CHEMIST

Gerhard Peters

1900 - 1974

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1605 WRITER

Herman Closson

1901 - 1982

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1615 ENGINEER

Jean de Wouters

1905 - 1973

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1629 POLITICIAN

Norbert Hougardy

1909 - 1985

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1662 COMPOSER

Peter Packay

1904 - 1966

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1678 PAINTER

Émile Salkin

1900 - 1977

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1679 BOXER

Adrien Anneet

Born 1908

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1683 POLITICIAN

Edmond Machtens

1902 - 1978

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1733 ACTOR

Jacques Maury (acteur 1903)

Born 1903

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1750 POLITICIAN

Charles-Emmanuel Janssen

1907 - 1985

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1766 SPORT

Jean Wauters (cyclisme)

1906 - 1989

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1795 ACTOR

Robert Blome

1905 - 2003

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1845 COMPOSER

Julio Perceval

1903 - 1963

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1849 HISTORIAN

Pierre Gilbert (historien)

1904 - 1986

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1851 CHEMIST

Lucia de Brouckère

1904 - 1982

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1878 FILM

Gaston Schoukens

1901 - 1961

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1907 ADELIGER

Tassilo Fürstenberg

1903 - 1987

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1927 PAINTER

Jacques Maes

1905 - 1968

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1951 FENCER

Robert T'Sas

1903 - 1981

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1957 FENCER

Émile Barbier

Born 1902

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1960 LAWYER

Charles van Renynghe de Voxvrie

1900 - 1982

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2005 WRITER

Andrée Sodenkamp

1906 - 2004

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2034 LAWYER

Charles Héger

1902 - 1984

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2048 WRITER

Max Servais

1904 - 1990

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2066 ORGANIST

Jean De Middeleer

1908 - 1986

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2090 SCULPTOR

Jeanne Louise Milde

1900 - 1997

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2093 POLITICIAN

Joseph Bracops

1900 - 1966

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2149 ACTOR

Georges Jamin

1906 - 1971

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2158 SPORT

Yves Van Massenhove

1909 - 1990

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2177 PAINTER

Albert Crommelynck

1902 - 1993

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2182 LAWYER

Madeleine De Meulemeester

1904 - 1996

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2193 CONDUCTOR

Jos Moerenhout

1909 - 1985

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2204 FILM

Jacques de Casembroot

1903 - 1988

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2218 ACTOR

Simone Max

1903 - 1983

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2238 BASKET

Robert Breuwer

Born 1907

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2242 ATHLETIC

Elise Van Truyen

Born 1906

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2295 PAINTER

Piet Volckaert

1901 - 1973

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2316 SCULPTOR

Giovanni Genucchi

1904 - 1979

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2341 PAINTER

Marie-Louise Verwée

1906 - 2010

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2345 FENCER

Raoul Henkart

1907 - 1955

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2353 BUSINESS

Alfred de Baillet Latour

1901 - 1980

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2366 BUSINESS

Roberto Alvim Corrêa

1901 - 1983

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2378 PHOTOGRAPHER

Joseph Cayet

1907 - 1987

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2394 ARCHITECT

Josse Franssen

1906 - 1990

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2409 ACTOR

Albert Cavens

1906 - 1985

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2412 POLITICS

Paul Garcet

1901 - 1945

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2433 ACTOR

Andrée Guize

1908 - 1988

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2434 WRITER

Ernest Delève

1907 - 1969

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2442 WRITER

Gustave Vanwelkenhuyzen

1900 - 1976

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2445 BOTANIST

François Stockmans

1904 - 1986

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2475 LAWYER

Jean Van Ryn

1906 - 2002

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2479 BANK

Louis Empain

1908 - 1976

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2505 NAVY

Victor Billet

1902 - 1942

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2511 MILITAR

Albert Crahay

1903 - 1991

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2527 WRITER

Roger-Henri Jacquart

1903 - 1962

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2533 SPY

Denis Rake

1902 - 1976

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2547 FEMINIST

Aimée Bologne-Lemaire

1904 - 1998

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2556 POLITICIAN

Emile De Winter

1902 - 1985

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2557 POLITICIAN

Maurice Van Hemelrijck

1901 - 1964

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2559 SCULPTOR

Robert Lippl

1908 - 2009

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2561 POET

Simone Kuhnen de La Cœuillerie

1905 - 1993

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2582 PIANIST

Gui Mombaerts

1902 - 1993

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2605 ARCHITECT

Marcel Van Goethem

1900 - 1959

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2622 ACADEMIC

Paul Glansdorff

1904 - 1999

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2628 RÉSISTANT

Louise de Landsheere

1908 - 1989

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2644 ARTIST

Jean Van Noten

1903 - 1982

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2650 ACTOR

Léa Gray

1903 - 1987

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2652 ATHLETIC

Felix Meskens

1906 - 1973

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2669 ATHLETIC

Jenny Toitgans

Born 1905

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2678 ATHLETIC

Léontine Stevens

1907 - 1998

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2682 PAINTER

Hubert Olyff

1900 - 1977

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2696 WRITER

Berthe Delépinne

Born 1902

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2703 PAINTER

Arthur Grosemans

1906 - 1995

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2723 PAINTER

Max Van Dyck

1902 - 1992

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2733 PAINTER

Bonaventure Fieullien

1903 - 1976

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2745 BIOLOGIST

Raymond Jeener

1904 - 1995

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2800 DIPLOMAT

Jacques de Borchgrave

1902 - 1936

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2819 NOVELIST

Marcel Dehaye

1907 - 1990

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2828 PAINTER

Jean De Bremaeker

1908 - 2007

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2830 SAXOPHONIST

Jean Robert

1908 - 1981

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2841 FENCER

Edith Addams

1907 - 2002

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2859 HOCKEY

Fernand Carez

Born 1905

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2860 PIANIST

Yvonne Levering

1905 - 2006

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2882 POLITICIAN

Paul De Groote

1905 - 1997

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2885 MILITAR

Charles Paul de Cumont

1902 - 1990

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2894 SPORT

Marcel Sedille-Courbon

Born 1903

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2914 PIANIST

Fernand Coppieters

1905 - 1981

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2931 FOOTBALL

Pierre Weydisch

Born 1908

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2942 POLITICIAN

Fernand Jacquemotte

1902 - 1960

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2943 LITHOGRAPHER

Jean-Baptiste Van Genechten

1902 - 1986

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2952 WRITER

Joachim Huppelsberg

1907 - 1988

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2964 BUSINESS

Eugène de Barsy

1906 - 1985

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2965 PHILOSOPHE

Henri Van Camp

1908 - 1984

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2970 ENGINEER

Jean Marique

1900 - 1964

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3023 ATHLETIC

Joseph Van Der Wee

1902 - 1978

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3075 PHYSICIAN

Paul Mingers

1903 - 1994

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3088 ARTIST

Freddy Wybaux

1906 - 1977

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3114 POLITICIAN

Étienne de La Vallée Poussin (homme politique) �

1903 - 1996

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3195 SPORT

Édouard Écuyer de le Court

1901 - 1951

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3222 FILM

Henry-Alexandre Parys

Born 1901

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3223 POLITICIAN

Jean Berlemont

1901 - 1937

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3226 POLITICIAN

Joseph De Grauw

1907 - 1992

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3250 BOBSLED

Philippe de Pret Roose

1908 - 1983

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3253 ARCHITECT

Jean Rombaux

1901 - 1979

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3267 ENGINEER

André de Spirlet

1902 - 1981

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3279 SPORT

Erik Haps

1909 - 1934

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3293 FENCER

Adèle Christiaens

Born 1909

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3294 POLITICIAN

Pierre Warnant

1905 - 1967

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3297 MILITANT

Robert Royer

1906 - 1979

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3302 PAINTER

Gaston Kuypers

1903 - 1997

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3330 RÉSISTANT

Jean Greindl

1905 - 1943

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3360 WRITER

J. J. Marine

1904 - 1976

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3371 HISTORIAN

Marcel Bergé

1909 - 1986

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3387 CHEMIST

Albert Leon Henne

1901 - 1967

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3398 DIPLOMAT

Geoffroy d’Aspremont Lynden

1904 - 1979

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3406 MAGISTRAT

Lucien Van Beirs

1900 - 1970

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3432 BANK

Jean Cattier

Born 1902

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3438 PAINTER

Léopold-Jean Daras

1902 - 1980

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3442 ARCHITECT

Hyacinthe Devondel

1909 - 1976

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3458 FOOTBALL

Joseph De Ruymbeke

1900 - 1928

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3478 ARCHITECT

André Levêque

1908 - 1992

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3479 COMPOSER

Mady Kirsten

1903 - 1992

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3505 ART HISTORIAN

Pierre Janlet

1900 - 1991

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3520 BOTANIST

Georges Gilbert

1907 - 1983

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3523 NATIONALSOZIALISMUS

Maria Hernalsteen

1901 - 1986

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3530 ATHLETIC

Yvonne De Wynne

Born 1906

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