Five Most Famous Belgians Worth Knowing About
When you think of Belgium, black chocolate, beer, and mussels might come to mind. However, the small and relatively young country of Belgium draws additional attention when it comes about famous Belgium people on the global stage—from historical figures, artists, and musicians to cinema stars and Nobel laureates.
While many people may be familiar with these Belgian celebrities, few know that they are Belgians.
Here is a list of the most famous person from Belgium, contemporary cultural figures, who continue to inspire the world today.
René Magritte (1898-1967), Walloon surrealist artist
At some point in your life, you've likely encountered the works of René Magritte. "The Son of Man" is a painting by the Belgian surrealist artist from 1964 and perhaps his most famous piece of art. Magritte gained popularity on the surrealistic art scene in the 1920s Paris. His paintings present a collection of ordinary objects that offer a new perspective on everyday things.
Georges Simenon (1903-1989), Walloon writer (Inspector Maigret)
The future writer was born in Liège. Throughout his life, he wrote almost five hundred novels covering various genres, including romance, crime, erotica, and psychological thrillers. Simenon is best known for creating the detective Maigret, the main character in seventy-five novels and twenty-eight short stories over several decades.
Lara Fabian (1970-), singer
Lara Fabian is not only a singer but also a songwriter with a multicultural background. Born in Brussels, she has Flemish, Italian, and French origins. Fabian sings in many different languages: French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, English, and German. Today, she is one of the best-selling Belgian musicians.
Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), Hollywood actress
Audrey Hepburn was a Hollywood actress and an icon of style and fashion. Hepburn was born in Brussels. In 1939, at the age of ten, Audrey Hepburn moved from an English boarding school to the Netherlands, which soon became a war zone. Her experiences during the five years of Nazi occupation remain largely unexplored, as does her involvement in the Dutch Resistance and caring for the wounded. She starred in iconic films such as "Roman Holiday" (1953), "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), and "Sabrina" (1954).
Jean-Claude Van Damme (1960-), Hollywood actor
Muscles from Brussels—that's a nickname and legacy that's hard to ignore. Jean-Claude Van Damme, a martial arts master and actor, received a black belt in shotokan karate and starred in numerous action films of the 80s and 90s, including "Bloodsport" (1988), "Kickboxer" (1989), "Universal Soldier" (1992), and "Timecop" (1994). He became the most famous Belgian actor ever to grace American screens.
