51.0534° N, 3.7250° E

GENT

Most Famous People Born in Gent, Belgium

Notable people
850
Peak decade
1980s
Median birth year
1897
Most distinctive
Rower 9.6×

Charles V's birthplace and a Flemish Primitive stronghold — the Painter bench tracks Van Eyck's altarpiece and the long wake of Hugo van der Goes and Théo van Rysselberghe. The real oddity is a Rower cohort wildly out of proportion to anything else (thank the Watersportbaan) sitting next to a Conductor line that runs from Jacob Obrecht straight through Herreweghe's early-music revival.

Through the Centuries

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

What Gent Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Politician is Gent's biggest profession — 17% of all notables (146).

Gent over-indexes on rower9.6× the global rate.

Gent under-produces actor — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Politician146
  2. Painter90
  3. Sport54
  4. Football50
  5. Rower30
  6. Lawyer27
  7. Writer20
  8. Actor19
  1. Rower309.6×
  2. Conductor115.0×
  3. Painter904.0×
  4. Sport543.8×
  5. Sculptor132.3×
  6. Lawyer271.8×
  7. Composer181.6×
  8. Architect121.6×
  1. Actor190.4×
  2. Football500.5×

Profession Mix Over Time

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

1500155016001650170017501800185019001950
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Art & Design
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Other
All850
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850 notable people

0301 LIBERAL

Julius Vuylsteke

1836 - 1903

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0302 PAINTER

Georges Buysse

1864 - 1916

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0303 PAINTER

Adolf Alexander Dillens

1821 - 1877

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0304 SPORT

Rik Van Slycke

Born 1963

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0305 FOOTBALL

Frédéric Dupré

Born 1979

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0306 HOCKEY

Barbara Nelen

Born 1991

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0307 PAINTER

Hippolyte Daeye

1873 - 1952

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0308 WRITER

Frans de Potter

1834 - 1904

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0309 DIPLOMAT

André de Staercke

1913 - 2001

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0310 SPORT

Ingmar De Poortere

Born 1984

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0311 SCULPTOR

Georges Van der Straeten

1856 - 1928

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0312 FILM

Vincent Bal

Born 1971

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0313 SINGER

Walter De Buck

1934 - 2014

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0314 SPORT

Jef Van Meirhaeghe

Born 1992

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0315 PAINTER

Xavier de Cock

1818 - 1896

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0316 PAINTER

Albrecht De Vriendt

1843 - 1900

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0317 FOOTBALL

Björn Sengier

Born 1979

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0318 JOURNALIST

Charles d'Ydewalle

1901 - 1985

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0319 SPORT

Jarl Salomein

Born 1989

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0320 FENCER

Ferdinand Feyerick

1865 - 1920

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0321 FOOTBALL

Sadio Ba

Born 1973

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0322 JOURNALIST

Jan Becaus

Born 1948

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0323 ARISTOCRAT

Richard Orsini

1230 - 1303

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0324 FOOTBALL

Richard Orlans

Born 1931

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0325 VIOLIN

Joseph Ghys

1801 - 1848

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0326 PAINTER

Jodocus Sebastiaen van den Abeele

1797 - 1855

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0327 ACTOR

Verona Verbakel

Born 1992

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0328 PAINTER

Gustave Den Duyts

1850 - 1897

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0329 RADIO

Armand Pien

1920 - 2003

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0330 SPORT

Willy Debosscher

Born 1943

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0331 ATHLETIC

Nathalie De Vos

Born 1982

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0332 ROWER

Maurice Hemelsoet

1875 - 1943

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0333 FEMINIST

Marthe de Kerchove de Denterghem

1877 - 1956

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0334 HOCKEY

Florent van Aubel

Born 1991

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0335 ACTOR

Jack Lawrence (ator pornográfico)

Born 1967

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0336 POET

Theophiel Coopman

1852 - 1915

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0337 SPORT

Jean-Pierre Heynderickx

Born 1965

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0338 COXSWAIN

Alfred Van Landeghem

Born 1887

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0339 POLITICIAN

André de Kerchove de Denterghem

1885 - 1945

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0340 POLITICIAN

Charles Van Hulthem

1764 - 1832

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0341 ENGINEER

François Romain

1646 - 1737

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0342 PAINTER

Melchior de la Mars

1577 - 1627

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0343 PAINTER

Willy Bosschem

Born 1930

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0344 SINGER

Bea Van der Maat

Born 1960

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0345 LAWYER

Edouard Rolin-Jaequemyns

1863 - 1936

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0346 CONDUCTOR

Georges Lonque

1900 - 1967

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0347 ROWER

Georges Mys

1880 - 1952

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0348 PAINTER

Cécile Cauterman

1882 - 1957

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0349 FOOTBALL

Björn De Wilde

Born 1979

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0350 ACADEMIC

Roger Dragonetti

1915 - 2000

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0351 SWIMMER

Carine Verbauwen

Born 1961

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0352 HISTORIAN

Herman Balthazar

Born 1938

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0353 ATHLETIC

Christophe Impens

Born 1969

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0354 ROWER

Oscar Taelman

1877 - 1945

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0355 COMPOSER

Charles-Louis Hanssens

1802 - 1871

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0356 THEOLOGIAN

Joannes Bunderius

1482 - 1557

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0357 PAINTER

Nicolas de Liemaker

1601 - 1646

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0358 SLAVE

Pierre Ignace Liévin van Alstein

1733 - 1793

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0359 PRODUCER

Miguel Wiels

Born 1972

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0360 ARTIST

Pieter De Poortere

Born 1976

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0361 WORLD WAR

Yvonne Nèvejean

1900 - 1987

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0362 SCREENWRITER

Dorothée Van Den Berghe

Born 1969

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0363 POLITICIAN

Bart Laeremans

Born 1966

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0364 PHYSICIST

Marc de Hemptinne

1902 - 1986

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0365 PAINTER

Victor Lagye

1825 - 1896

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0366 SCULPTOR

Julien Vande Veegaete

1886 - 1960

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0367 CONDUCTOR

Florian Heyerick

Born 1958

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0368 MILITAR

Marie Schellinck

1757 - 1840

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0369 COMPOSER

Lucien Goethals

1931 - 2006

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0370 SCULPTOR

Octave Landuyt

Born 1922

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0371 POLITICIAN

Auguste Couvreur

1827 - 1894

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0372 PRIEST

Adolphe Petit

1822 - 1914

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0373 PAINTER

Jos Verdegem

1897 - 1957

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0374 BASKET

Kristof Ongenaet

Born 1985

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0375 PAINTER

Zacharie Noterman

1820 - 1890

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0376 PAINTER

Jacob van Laethem

1460 - 1522

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0377 SINGER

Lauren De Ruyck

Born 1995

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0378 POLITICIAN

Lucienne Herman-Michielsens

1926 - 1995

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0379 PAINTER

Jan Van Imschoot

Born 1963

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0380 POLITICIAN

Alain Zenner

Born 1946

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0381 SKATER

Kaat Van Daele

Born 1989

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0382 WRITER

Mathilde Bourdon

1817 - 1888

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0383 THEATRE

Jean-Pierre De Decker

1945 - 2001

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0384 JOURNALIST

Wouter Vandenhaute

Born 1962

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0385 CIVIL SERVICE

Mario Verstraete

1962 - 2002

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0386 PAINTER

Marcus van Vaernewyck

1518 - 1569

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0387 SPORT

August Meuleman

1906 - 2000

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0388 PHYSICIAN

Levinus Battus

1545 - 1591

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0389 WRITER

Karel Broeckaert

1767 - 1826

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0390 MINERALOGIST

Alfred Schoep

1881 - 1966

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0391 SINGER

Jan van der Crabben

Born 1964

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0392 FILM

Jo Röpcke

1928 - 2007

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0393 POET

Florimond Van Duyse

1843 - 1910

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0394 ASTRONOMER

Thierry Pauwels

Born 1957

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0395 COUREUR

Jean van den Bosch

1910 - 1985

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0396 FOOTBALL

Jari Vandeputte

Born 1996

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0397 PHYSICIST

Gérard Fourez

1937 - 2018

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0398 BASKET

Jorn Steinbach

Born 1989

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0399 ROWER

Marcel Morimont

1886 - 1900

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0400 CONDUCTOR

Julien Paul Blitz

1885 - 1951

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0401 ROWER

François Vergucht

1887 - 1900

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0402 ACTOR

Ingrid De Vos

Born 1954

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0403 POLITICIAN

Joseph Van Crombrugghe

1770 - 1842

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0404 FOOTBALL

Alessio Alessandro

Born 1996

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0405 ENTOMOLOGIST

Maurice Emile Marie Goetghebuer

1876 - 1962

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0406 PAINTER

Théodore Canneel

1817 - 1892

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0407 PAINTER

Jan Frans Cantré

1886 - 1931

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0408 PRINTER

Arend De Keysere

1450 - 1490

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0409 POET

Maurice Roelants

1895 - 1966

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0410 ARCHITECT

Edmond De Vigne

1841 - 1918

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0411 FILM

Peter Monsaert

Born 1975

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0412 EDUCATION

Gérard de Vivre

-

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0413 ARCHITECT

Marie-José Van Hee

Born 1950

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0414 PAINTER

Robert Aerens

1883 - 1969

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0415 COMPOSER

Frank Agsteribbe

Born 1968

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0416 MODEL

Joke Van de Velde

Born 1979

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0417 CONDUCTOR

Charles-Louis-Joseph Hanssens

1777 - 1852

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0418 GUITAR

Francis Alfred Moerman

1936 - 2010

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0419 PAINTER

Gustave Vanaise

1854 - 1902

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0420 POLITICIAN

Henri Story

1897 - 1944

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0421 POLITICIAN

Anneleen Van Bossuyt

Born 1980

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0422 FOOTBALL

Freddy Chaves

1918 - 2004

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0423 ROWER

Rodolphe Poma

1884 - 1954

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0424 ACADEMIC

Adolphe Burggraeve

1806 - 1902

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0425 WRITER

Johanna Otho

1549 - 1621

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0426 FOOTBALL

Karel De Smet

Born 1980

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0427 SPORT

Nicky Cocquyt

Born 1984

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0428 PLAYER

Debbrich Feys

Born 1984

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0429 PAINTER

Karel Dierickx

1940 - 2014

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0430 POLITICIAN

Philippe Vilain XIIII

1778 - 1856

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0431 FOOTBALL

Miguel Van Damme

Born 1993

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0432 POLITICIAN

Elisabeth Meuleman

Born 1975

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0433 FILM

Peter Krüger (film director)

Born 1970

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0434 COLLECTOR

Pierre-Jacques Goetghebuer

1788 - 1866

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0435 LAWYER

Güler Turan

Born 1975

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0436 REPRESENTATIVE

Johan C. Verbeke

Born 1951

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0437 BUSINESS

Joseph de Hemptinne

1822 - 1909

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0438 SCULPTOR

Gustave Van Vaerenbergh

1873 - 1927

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0439 ARCHITECT

Albert Van huffel

1877 - 1935

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0440 POLITICIAN

Louis Fredericq

1892 - 1981

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0441 DIPLOMAT

Dominique Struye de Swielande

1947 - 2015

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0442 FENCER

Seppe van Holsbeke

Born 1988

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0443 SPORT

Steven Van Vooren

Born 1986

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0444 ARTIST

Graba'

1940 - 2016

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0445 FOOTBALL

Stefan Leleu

Born 1970

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0446 POLITICIAN

Georges Vereeken

1896 - 1978

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0447 FOOTBALL

Sefa İşçi

Born 1996

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0448 SPORT

Eric Van De Wiele

Born 1952

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0449 POLITICIAN

Stefaan Van Hecke

Born 1973

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0450 PHYSIOLOGIST

Isidoor Leusen

1923 - 2010

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0451 ARTIST

Paul Guermonprez

1908 - 1944

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0452 PIANIST

Caroll Vanwelden

Born 1971

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0453 PAINTER

Adolphe Pierre Sunaert

1825 - 1876

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0454 ARCHITECT

Auguste Van Assche

1826 - 1907

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0455 PAINTER

Edgar Bytebier

1875 - 1940

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0456 LAWYER

Alfons Jonckx

1872 - 1953

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0457 SCULPTOR

Olivier van Ghent

1470 - 1512

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0458 ARTIST

Anouk De Clercq

Born 1971

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0459 COMPOSER

Pieter Verheyen

1750 - 1819

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0460 DIPLOMAT

Émile de Borchgrave

1837 - 1917

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0461 HISTORIAN

Martin-Jean de Bast

1753 - 1825

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0462 SWIMMER

Nina van Koeckhoven

Born 1983

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0463 ILLUSTRATOR

Kaatje Vermeire

Born 1981

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0464 PHYSICIAN

Bart Lambrecht

Born 1968

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0465 PAINTER

Lievin Cruyl

1634 - 1709

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0466 MILITAR

Tristan l'Hermite

Died 1478

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0467 PAINTER

Julius de Praetere

1879 - 1947

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0468 PAINTER

Peter Van Gheluwe

Born 1957

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0469 POLITICIAN

Jan Smets

Born 1951

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0470 ACTOR

Céline Montaland

1843 - 1891

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0471 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Jozef Vergote

1910 - 1992

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0472 POLITICIAN

Jean-Baptiste d'Hane-Steenhuyse

1757 - 1826

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0473 POLITICIAN

Jan van Hembyze

1513 - 1584

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0474 POLITICIAN

Joseph-Sébastien-Ghislain della Faille d'Assenede

1756 - 1830

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0475 PIANIST

Marcel Gazelle

1907 - 1969

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0476 POLITICIAN

Karl von Utenhove der Ältere

1500 - 1580

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0477 CLERIC

Auguste Onclair

1822 - 1900

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0478 COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Herbert Van de Sompel

Born 1957

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0479 CYCLIST

Albert Billiet

1907 - 1977

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0480 SPORT

Luc Colijn

Born 1958

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0481 HISTORIAN

Carlos Wyffels

1922 - 2003

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0482 BUSINESS

Marc Coucke

Born 1965

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0483 FOOTBALL

Louis Baert

1903 - 1969

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0484 ACTOR

Vanessa Van Durme

Born 1948

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0485 ROWER

Rita Defauw

Born 1963

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0486 ACTOR

François Bernard (acteur)

1914 - 2003

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0487 PAINTER

Jan Baptist Lodewyck Maes

1794 - 1856

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0488 ARTIST

Jean Schwind

1935 - 1985

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0489 POLITICIAN

Frank Beke

Born 1946

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0490 PHILOLOGIST

Jean Stecher

1820 - 1909

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0491 SINGER

Isolde Lasoen

Born 1979

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0492 PHYSICIAN

Bertha De Vriese

1877 - 1958

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0493 DIPLOMAT

Arnold t'Kint de Roodenbeke

1853 - 1928

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0494 THEOLOGIAN

Oscar Joliet

1878 - 1969

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0495 HOCKEY

Pierre Van Reysschoot

1906 - 1966

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0496 ACTOR

Lucas Tavernier

Born 1971

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0497 CONDUCTOR

Guy Duijck

1927 - 2008

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0498 PRIEST

Brice Meuleman

1862 - 1924

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0499 THÉORICIEN

Ernest Tanrez

1898 - 1954

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0500 FOOTBALL

Ludwin Van Nieuwenhuyze

Born 1978

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0501 MATHEMATICIAN

Luc de Brabandere

Born 1948

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0502 HOCKEY

Jacques Van Reysschoot

Born 1905

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0503 SPORT

Roland de Neve

Born 1944

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0504 WRITER

Régina Louf

Born 1969

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0505 POLITICIAN

Constantin d'Hane-Steenhuyse

1790 - 1850

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0506 PAINTER

Désiré de Keghel

1839 - 1901

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0507 PRIEST

Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen

1874 - 1955

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0508 OPERA

Jane Mérey

Born 1872

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0509 BASKET

Jana Raman

Born 1991

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0510 MILITAR

Adrian Poynings

1512 - 1571

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0511 SCULPTOR

Dirk De Keyzer

Born 1958

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0512 HISTORIAN

Joseph-Jean De Smet

1794 - 1877

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0513 FOOTBALL

Arno Monsecour

Born 1996

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0514 POLITICIAN

Ferdinand Elbers

1862 - 1943

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0515 NAVIGATOR

Annie Van de Wiele

1922 - 2009

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0516 THEOLOGIAN

Henri Bracq

1804 - 1888

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0517 POLITICIAN

Ferdinand Minnaert

1887 - 1975

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0518 BASKET

Armand Van Wambeke

1926 - 2011

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0519 BOTANIST

Édouard-Christophe Pynaert

1835 - 1900

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0520 BASKET

René Steurbaut

1928 - 2019

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0521 POLITICIAN

Sarah Claerhout

Born 1977

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0522 MILITAR

Eddy Blondeel

1906 - 2000

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0523 POLITICIAN

Jan Roegiers

Born 1967

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0524 SPORT

Tony Bracke

Born 1971

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0525 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Alfonso Mabilde

1806 - 1892

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0526 PAINTER

Caroline Stiénon du Pré

1883 - 1979

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0527 SINGER

Koen De Cauter

Born 1950

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0528 SWIMMER

Paul De Backer

1883 - 1956

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0529 PRODUCER

Jan Robbe

Born 1980

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0530 LAWYER

Jean-Baptiste Camberlyn

1772 - 1834

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0531 POLITICIAN

Adolphe Neyt

1830 - 1892

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0532 COXSWAIN

Philippe Cuelenaere

Born 1971

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0533 POLITICIAN

Tine Eerlingen

Born 1976

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0534 JOURNALIST

Louis Dumont-Wilden

1875 - 1963

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0535 PAINTER

Piet Raemdonck

Born 1972

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0536 PSYCHOLOGIST

Leen Ryckaert

Born 1957

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0537 FOOTBALL

Kwinten Clappaert

Born 1988

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0538 ACTOR

Maxime De Winne

Born 1977

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0539 FOOTBALL

Édouard de Laveleye

1854 - 1938

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0540 POET

Anna von Palant

1550 - 1599

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0541 CELLIST

Jean-Baptiste Dubois

1870 - 1938

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0542 PRIEST

Albert Louis de Lichtervelde

1715 - 1796

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0543 GYMNAST

Nikki Snel

Born 1993

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0544 POLITICIAN

Emiel Claeys

1894 - 1984

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0545 MAGISTRAT

Josse Joseph de Lehaye

1800 - 1888

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0546 PRIEST

Émile-Jean Seghers

1855 - 1927

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0547 SURGEON

Bernard de Hemptinne

Born 1944

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0548 HISTORIAN

Jan Roegiers

1944 - 2013

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0549 POLITICIAN

Pierre-George de Meulenaëre

1751 - 1825

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0550 PAINTER

Edouard Verschaffelt

1874 - 1955

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0551 PHILATELIST

André de Cock

1880 - 1964

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0552 PRIEST

Jean-Félix de Hemptinne

1876 - 1958

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0553 BUSINESS

Piet Van Waeyenberge

Born 1938

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0554 PAINTER

Henri Langerock

1830 - 1915

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0555 ARCHAEOLOGIST

Philippe Lippens

1910 - 1989

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0556 PHILOLOGIST

Eric Buyssens

1910 - 2000

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0557 ROWER

Jacques Haller

1897 - 1961

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0558 CYCLIST

Peter Van Den Abeele

Born 1966

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0559 POLITICIAN

Evita Willaert

Born 1981

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0560 SPORT

Alain De Roo

Born 1955

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0561 PAINTER

Emma De Vigne

1850 - 1898

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0562 POLITICIAN

Egbert Lachaert

Born 1977

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0563 FOOTBALL

Bart Goossens

Born 1985

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0564 FEMINIST

Éliane Vogel-Polsky

1926 - 2015

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0565 CANOE

Germain Van der Moere

1922 - 2018

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0566 ROWER

Eveline Peleman

Born 1993

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0567 POLITICIAN

Auguste Van Lokeren

1799 - 1872

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0568 REPRESENTATIVE

Guy Logiest

1912 - 1991

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0569 ARTIST

Jeroen De Coninck

Born 1956

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0570 SKATER

Katrien Pauwels

Born 1965

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0571 POLITICIAN

Pierre Joseph Pycke

1771 - 1820

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0572 WRITER

Alain Bertrand (écrivain)

1958 - 2014

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0573 LAWYER

Sas van Rouveroij

Born 1957

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0574 COMPOSER

Godfried-Willem Raes

Born 1952

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0575 PHOTOGRAPHER

Leon Van Loo

1841 - 1907

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0576 POLITICIAN

Boudewijn Maes

1873 - 1946

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0577 SPORT

François De Wagheneire

1937 - 2015

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0578 ART DEALER

August Klipstein

1885 - 1951

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0579 LAWYER

Hippolyte Metdepenningen

1799 - 1881

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0580 PAINTER

Ferdinand Willaert

1861 - 1938

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0581 POLITICIAN

Charles Surmont de Volsberghe

1798 - 1840

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0582 SPORT

Stijn Huys

Born 1986

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0583 PAINTER

Hendrick Joseph Dillens

1812 - 1872

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0584 SINGER

Melike Tarhan

Born 1978

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0585 POLITICIAN

François Maximilian Ghislain della Faille d'Huyss

1771 - 1835

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0586 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Joseph Van den Gheyn

1854 - 1913

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0587 LAWYER

Théodore Léger

1826 - 1912

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0588 POLITICIAN

Jef Van Damme

Born 1979

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0589 FOOTBALL

Krist Porte

Born 1968

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0590 MISSING

Jef D’hont

Born 1942

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0591 POLITICIAN

Charles de Kerchove de Denterghem

1819 - 1882

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0592 POLITICIAN

Henri de Kerchove

1810 - 1885

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0593 JOURNALIST

Marc Rombaut

Born 1939

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0594 ARCHITECT

Victor-Gaston Martiny

1916 - 1996

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0595 HOCKEY

Charles Vandeweghe

Born 1982

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0596 POLITICIAN

Peter Leyman

Born 1962

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0597 POLITICIAN

Patricia De Waele

Born 1960

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0598 PHOTOGRAPHER

Charles Leirens

1888 - 1963

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0599 POLITICIAN

Jean Casier

1820 - 1892

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0600 POLITICIAN

Monica Van Kerrebroeck

Born 1939

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