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

0601 LAWYER

Maurice van der Bruggen

1852 - 1919

Preview
0602 POLITICIAN

Johan Deckmyn

Born 1967

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0603 KATHOLISCHER

Jean Beyer

1914 - 2002

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0604 PAINTER

Victor Papeleu

1810 - 1881

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0605 ARCHIVIST

Arthur Gaillard

1847 - 1912

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0606 LAWYER

Jean-Baptiste Minne-Barth

1796 - 1851

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0607 GENEALOGIST

Claude-René Paternostre de La Mairieu

1929 - 2010

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0608 COMPOSER

Jane Vignery

1913 - 1974

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0609 POLITICIAN

Robert de Kerchove d'Exaerde

1876 - 1954

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0610 WATERCOLOURIST

Jeanne Hebbelynck

1891 - 1959

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0611 FILHA

Alice Maria de Kerchove

1838 - 1877

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0612 POLITICIAN

Émile Coppieters

1849 - 1922

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0613 PAINTER

Guillaume Met de Penninghen

1912 - 1990

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0614 LAWYER

Pierre de Ryckere

1793 - 1863

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0615 SCIENTIST

Ann Van Gysel

Born 1964

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0616 JÉSUITE

Édouard Dhanis

1902 - 1978

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0617 ROWER

Christophe Raes

Born 1982

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0618 FOOTBALL

David Gevaert

Born 1969

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0619 LAWYER

Roger Kervyn de Marcke ten Driessche

1896 - 1965

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0620 MEDALLIST

Joseph-Pierre Braemt

1796 - 1864

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0621 ARTIST

Daniel Dutrieux

Born 1955

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0622 POLITICIAN

Henri de Kerchove d'Exaerde

1870 - 1942

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0623 WRITER

Josse De Rycke

1587 - 1627

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0624 PAINTER

Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot

1702 - 1772

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0625 FOOTBALL

Muhammet Kurtuluş

Born 1974

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0626 PAINTER

Emile Pierre Joseph De Cauwer

1828 - 1873

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0627 POLITICIAN

Robrecht Bothuyne

Born 1979

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0628 PAINTER

Marie De Keyser

1899 - 1971

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0629 POLITICIAN

Prosper de Kerchove de Denterghem

1813 - 1853

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0630 SPORT

Ruben Scheire

Born 1991

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0631 SPORT

Kenny De Maerteleire

Born 1961

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0632 POLITICIAN

Norbert Van Aken

1767 - 1832

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0633 PRIEST

Joseph-Floribert Cornelis

1910 - 2001

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0634 POLITICIAN

Alfred Vanderstegen

1869 - 1959

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0635 FOOTBALL

Franz König (football)

1874 - 1959

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0636 POLITICIAN

Freya Saeys

Born 1984

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0637 DIPLOMAT

Aldephonse du Jardin

1796 - 1870

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0638 FILM

Jan van Raemdonck

1922 - 2010

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0639 JOURNALIST

Bart Lotigiers

1914 - 1995

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0640 LINGUIST

Joseph Mansion

1877 - 1937

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0641 POLITICIAN

Emmanuel Chauvière

1850 - 1910

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0642 SWIMMER

Herman Verbauwen

Born 1944

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0643 LAWYER

Alfred Claeys-Boúúaert

1844 - 1936

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0644 THEOLOGIAN

Daniel Colonius der Ältere

1566 - 1635

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0645 FOOTBALL

Yves Soudan

Born 1967

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0646 ROWER

Guy Defraigne

Born 1958

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0647 PAINTER

Angelus de Baets

1793 - 1855

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0648 BROTHER

Engilbert of Liederkerque

1289 - 1305

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0649 WRITER

Philippe Lesbroussart

1781 - 1855

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0650 SPORT

Thomas Vernaeckt

Born 1988

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0651 LAWYER

Patrick Lachaert

1948 - 2012

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0652 ROWER

Jaak Van Driessche

Born 1969

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0653 PAINTER

Alice de Keghel

Born 1869

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0654 POET

Paul Méral

1895 - 1946

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0655 POET

Michel de Smet

1912 - 2006

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0656 POLITICIAN

Gustaaf Eylenbosch

1856 - 1939

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0657 POLITICIAN

Constant de Kerchove de Denterghem

1790 - 1865

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0658 PAINTER

Jules de Keghel

1835 - 1879

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0659 DIPLOMAT

Frédéric van den Steen de Jehay

1858 - 1918

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0660 FOOTBALL

Alfred Delcourt

1929 - 2012

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0661 ROWER

William Defraigne

Born 1950

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0662 POLITICIAN

Amand Casier de ter Beken

1862 - 1938

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0663 ENGINEER

Fritz Marguerre

1878 - 1964

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0664 ACADEMIC

Bea Verschraegen

Born 1955

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0665 POLITICIAN

Guillaume de Giey

1860 - 1914

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0666 LAWYER

Carlos De Baeck

1906 - 1993

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0667 POLITICIAN

Karin Temmerman

Born 1958

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0668 POLITICIAN

Caroline Croo

Born 1963

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0669 PRIEST

Geert Stuyver

Born 1964

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0670 SWIMMER

Pascale Verbauwen

Born 1963

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0671 PHYSICIAN

Ivan Beghin

1932 - 2015

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0672 PAINTER

Felix Klipstein

1880 - 1941

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0673 VIOLIN

Theodor Haumann

1808 - 1878

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0674 PSYCHIATRIST

Jacques De Busscher

1902 - 1966

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0675 BIOLOGIST

Armand Hacquaert

1906 - 1991

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0676 MUSIC

Reinhard van Hoorickx

1918 - 1997

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0677 ENGINEER

Julien Dulait

1855 - 1926

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0678 PAINTER

Émile Seeldrayers

1847 - 1933

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0679 FATHER

Joseph van der Straeten

1918 - 2010

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0680 POLITICIAN

Frédéric de Kerchove

1805 - 1880

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0681 POLITICIAN

Émile de Neve de Roden

1840 - 1915

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0682 COLUMNIST

Saul Akkemay

Born 1964

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0683 POLITICIAN

Emile Flamant (homme politique)

1933 - 1994

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0684 LAWYER

Paul Terlinden

1858 - 1935

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0685 COMPOSER

Pieter Maessins

1505 - 1562

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0686 LAWYER

Léonce Lagae

1894 - 1964

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0687 POLITICIAN

Gaston Crommen

1896 - 1970

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0688 POLITICIAN

Hippolyte della Faille

1799 - 1875

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0689 SKIER

Dries van den Broecke

Born 1995

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0690 FENCER

Robert Feyerick

1892 - 1940

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0691 POLITICIAN

Hermann della Faille d'Huysse

1846 - 1922

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0692 ATHLETIC

Charles Dewachtere

1927 - 2020

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0693 POLITICIAN

Désiré Vandemoortele

1871 - 1953

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0694 POLITICIAN

Victor Carpentier

1878 - 1938

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0695 ARCHITECT

Jacques-Jean Dutry

1746 - 1825

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0696 COMPOSER

Jan Marmenout

-

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0697 POLITICIAN

Edmond Van Dieren

1879 - 1961

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0698 SOLDIER

Gilles De Haes

1597 - 1657

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0699 POLITICIAN

Adolphe della Faille

1798 - 1873

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0700 POLITICIAN

Karel Van Damme

1887 - 1951

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0701 POLITICIAN

Tanguy Veys

Born 1972

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0702 PAINTER

Jules Evarist van Biesbroeck

1848 - 1920

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0703 POLITICIAN

Edouard Van Vlaenderen

1868 - 1958

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0704 ENTREPRENEUR

Luc De Bruyckere

Born 1945

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0705 SPORT

Norbert Seeuws

Born 1943

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0706 BISHOP

George Chamberlain (bishop)

1576 - 1634

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0707 GUITAR

Peter Hertmans

Born 1960

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0708 SPORT

Bart Vanheule

Born 1983

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0709 FILM

Sven Faulconer

Born 1980

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0710 POLITICIAN

Léopold Beosier

1855 - 1935

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0711 POLITICIAN

Achilles De Roo

1876 - 1938

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0712 MILITAR

Charles Dusart

1860 - 1914

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0713 POLITICIAN

Joseph Libbrecht

1860 - 1928

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0714 PILOTA

Didier Van Keymeulen

Born 1983

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0715 POLITICIAN

Louis Maertens

1781 - 1872

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0716 POLITICIAN

Isidoor De Greve

1878 - 1965

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0717 THEOLOGIAN

Egidio Riccardi

Died 1545

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0718 POLITICIAN

Alfons Colle

1882 - 1968

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0719 OFFICER

François-Joseph Lecat

1764 - 1842

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0720 LAWYER

Frédéric Vergauwen

1874 - 1919

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0721 POLITICIAN

Auguste Huyshauwer

1862 - 1926

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0722 POLITICIAN

Victor Hessens

1868 - 1957

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0723 CHOREOGRAPHER

Jean-Baptiste Brulo

Born 1746

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0724 POLITICIAN

Amédée Pycke de Peteghem

1824 - 1898

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0725 LAWYER

Ferdinand d'Hoop

1798 - 1866

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0726 POLITICIAN

Edward Anseele jr.

1902 - 1981

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0727 SKATER

Simon van Vossel

Born 1979

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0728 POLITICIAN

Oscar Pycke de Peteghem

1823 - 1903

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0729 POLITICIAN

Henri Kervyn

1809 - 1894

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0730 BASKET

Evelien Callens

Born 1984

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0731 POLITICIAN

Rudolf Vercammen

1880 - 1966

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0732 POLITICIAN

Gustave Martens

1875 - 1932

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0733 COMPOSER

Pieter Bordon

1450 - 1484

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0734 POLITICIAN

Joseph van Goethem

1803 - 1894

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0735 POLITICIAN

Charles Hannick

1867 - 1944

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0736 POLITICIAN

Alfred Amelot

1868 - 1966

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0737 POLITICIAN

Polydore De Visch

1878 - 1930

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0738 MILITAR

Robert Lentz

1885 - 1949

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0739 BOURGMESTRE

Albéric de Formanoir de la Cazerie

1882 - 1954

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0740 SPORT

Niels Reynvoet

Born 1991

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0741 SPORT

Paul Seye

Born 1944

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0742 DIPLOMAT

Werner van den Steen de Jehay

1854 - 1934

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0743 BROTHER

Walter of Liederkerque

-

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0744 POLITICIAN

Charles d'Hane de Steenhuyze

1787 - 1858

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0745 FOOTBALL

Dylan de Bruycker

Born 1997

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0746 PARLEMENT

Pierre Taffin

1664 - 1745

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0747 POLITICIAN

Charles de Rodes

1790 - 1868

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0748 POLITICIAN

Amaury de Ghellinck d'Elseghem Vaernewyck

1851 - 1919

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0749 POLITICIAN

Brigitte De Pauw

Born 1958

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0750 DESIGNER

Honorine Deschrijver

1887 - 1977

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0751 RUNNER

Oscar Blansaer

1890 - 1962

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0752 CIVIL SERVANT

Henri Gondry

1845 - 1889

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0753 SPORT

Jules Hesters

Born 1998

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0754 LAWYER

Janine Ghobert

Born 1931

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0755 COMPOSER

Hilaire Verloge

1684 - 1734

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0756 FOOTBALL

William Bryant (footballer, born 1899)

1899 - 1986

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0757 ENTREPRENEUR

Michel de Kemmeter

Born 1964

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0758 POLITICIAN

Frédéric Erens

Born 1968

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0759 ATHLETIC

Marie-Thérèse Renard

Born 1925

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0760 BUSINESS

Philippe de Buck

Born 1947

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0761 CHEMIST

Maurice de Keghel

1883 - 1965

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0762 POLITICIAN

Albert Mechelynck

1854 - 1924

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0763 POLITICIAN

Edgard de Kerchove d'Ousselghem

1846 - 1926

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0764 POLITICIAN

François Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega

1790 - 1840

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0765 POLITICIAN

Prosper Kestens

1867 - 1945

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0766 DRUCKER

Maurice Bouguereau

Died 1596

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0767 ATHLETIC

Arthur Delaender

1890 - 1966

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0768 FILS

Aloysius Bourgois

1796 - 1874

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0769 SPORT

Davy Tuytens

Born 1986

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0770 SPORT

Shana Van Glabeke

Born 1993

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0771 HOCKEY

Sebastian Strozynski

Born 1982

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0772 FOOTBALL

Julien Labeau

1920 - 2008

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0773 POLITICIAN

Georges de Baillet-Latour

1802 - 1882

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0774 ROMANIST

François Bethune

1868 - 1938

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0775 MAGISTRAT

Hermann Bekaert

1906 - 1989

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0776 PRIEST

Léon Maroten

1659 - 1729

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0777 FOOTBALL

Kristoff Deprez

Born 1981

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0778 ROWER

Léon Vleurinck

1899 - 1982

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0779 CIVIL SERVICE

Lieve Fransen

Born 1950

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0780 ATHLETIC

Jacques Feyerick

1874 - 1955

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0781 LAWYER

Robert Petitjean

1887 - 1951

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0782 COXSWAIN

Léonard Nuytens

Born 1892

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0783 SPORT

Bryan Boussaer

Born 1996

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0784 BASKET

Yves Defraigne

Born 1965

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0785 ILLUMINATOR

Bruno Christiaenssens

1810 - 1889

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0786 POLITICIAN

Jozef De Graeve

1891 - 1934

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0787 POLITICIAN

Désiré Fiévé

1825 - 1908

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0788 FENCER

Yves Brasseur

1943 - 2005

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0789 POLITICIAN

Jean-Alfred de Lanier

1855 - 1939

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0790 POLITICIAN

Abel de Kerchove d'Exaerde

1839 - 1914

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0791 POET

Olivier de Reylof

Died 1742

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0792 ROWER

Georges Van Den Bossche

1892 - 1966

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0793 POLITICIAN

Henricus Lefèvre

1863 - 1921

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0794 RELIGIEUX

Charles Van Hoorn

1617 - 1668

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0795 ROWER

Oscar Van Den Bossche

1893 - 1927

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0796 POLITICIAN

Camille De Bast

1845 - 1927

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0797 ROWER

Robert Demulder

1900 - 1967

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0798 ROWER

Robert Swartelé

1900 - 1967

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0799 FOOTBALL

René Schietse

Born 1889

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0800 POLITICIAN

Adolphe Devos

1836 - 1922

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0801 FOOTBALL

Firmin De Coster

1930 - 2006

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0802 CHOREOGRAPHER

Paul Grinwis

1920 - 2006

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0803 CHOREOGRAPHER

Sigrid T’Hooft

-

Preview
0804 POLITICIAN

Maurice de Maere d'Aertrycke

1864 - 1941

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0805 PRIEST

Georges Chamberlain

1576 - 1634

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0806 ROWER

Arthur D'Anvers

1898 - 1966

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0807 POLITICIAN

Jean-Jacques Dierman

1850 - 1910

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0808 FLAUTIST

Karin de Fleyt

Born 1972

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0809 POLITICIAN

Frédéric Spyers

1866 - 1941

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0810 POLITICIAN

Édouard Emmanuel Grenier

1795 - 1870

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0811 PHYSICIAN

Maurice Hamelinck

1882 - 1934

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0812 ROWER

Eugène Gabriels

1895 - 1969

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0813 ROWER

August Geinger

Born 1899

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0814 SPORT

Roger Ghyselinck

1924 - 2005

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0815 POLITICIAN

Henri Deraedt

1888 - 1956

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0816 CERAMIST

Dionysia Carmen Janssens

1921 - 2013

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0817 SPORT

Filip Van Vooren

Born 1962

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0818 GOUVERNEUR

Maximilien Vilain de Gand

1530 - 1583

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0819 SPORT

Joeri Clauwaert

Born 1983

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0820 SPORT

Nadine Fiers

Born 1966

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0821 PAINTER

Engelbert van Siclers

1725 - 1796

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0822 CLOWN

Émile Coryn

1914 - 1989

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0823 MISSING

Martin Jean François de Carrion de Loscondes

1762 - 1824

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0824 ARCHITECT

Josse Fermondt

1722 - 1800

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0825 PRIEST

Jacob Maximilien Villain de Gand

1567 - 1645

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0826 BUSINESS

Olivier van den Bossche

Born 1975

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0827 ARCHITECT

Albert Storrer

1894 - 1977

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0828 GYMNAST

Sarina Roberti

Born 1963

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0829 BUSINESS

Jean Delva

1909 - 2003

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0830 PRINTMAKER

Colette van den Keere

1568 - 1629

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0831 FOOTBALL

Frederik De Winne

Born 1985

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0832 SPORT

Cindy Bouque

Born 1975

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0833 PHILOSOPHER

Helen De Cruz

Born 1978

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0834 BASKET

Dana Boonen

Born 1979

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0835 DIPLOMAT

Gontran de Lichtervelde

1849 - 1905

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0836 PLAYWRIGHT

Édouard Baudry

1905 - 1943

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0837 POLITICIAN

Henry Scott Harden

1834 - 1879

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0838 WRITER

Livin de Hondt

Died 1650

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0839 LAWYER

Théophile Libbrecht

1829 - 1907

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0840 ROWER

Louis Choisy (aviron)

1869 - 1942

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0841 MISSING

Adrianus Todeschinus

1471 - 1546

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0842 SCULPTOR

Linde Ergo

Born 1966

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0843 POLITICIAN

Joannes Lampens

1850 - 1922

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0844 POLITICIAN

Henri Colson

1819 - 1900

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0845 ECCLÉSIASTIQUE

Pierre Quieke

Died 1506

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0846 PLAYER

Jean-Pierre Staelens

Born 1955

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0847 POLITICIAN

Theodore Harden

1830 - 1900

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0848 MISSING

Gustave van Belle

1889 - 1969

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0849 TRUMPET

Rudy Reunes

1967 - 2010

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0850 PHILOSOPHER

Jean Dullaert

1471 - 1513

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