h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Famous Belgians - A1026019
Author: Just zis Guy, you know? † Cyclist [A690572] :: At the 51st centile of ursine intelligence - U54363

It needed doing, so I did it: an entry on the excellent parlour game Famous Belgians.

Nice one Guy! Mind you, I'd have thought you of all people would spot your typo in Eddy Merckx's surname and I think the first name of your racing driver was more commonly spelt as Jacky Ickx - interesting that they both end in 'ckx' .

I have some other famous sporting Belgians that I will pop back with later and submit for your approval, if I may.



Cheers,
Number Six

Must be the go faster ckx

Nice one Just Zis Guy now we will never be stumped again by the question name 10 famous Belgians

Bosch (A944453) was NOT a surrealist. Surrealism was a firmly 20th century movement, linked in part with the then-developing field of psychology, and Bosch had nothing whatever in common with them either in terms of technique or in intent.

His works LOOK surreal to us, but they were never intended as such. They are an elaborate code which, with the context of contemporary society and art, make perfect sense. It's just that, removed from that context by 500 years, they seem fantastical and nonsensical.

H.

Excellent!

Much though it pains me to do so, I have to agree with Hoov - Bosch was not a surrealist. 'Gothic', I suppose, would be the most apt description.

One more question: How can you be 'reassuringly Belgian'?

B

Who invented the Duffel Coat (A882399)? They were probably Belgian.

Famous sporting belgians no.3 (following Merckx and Ickx)

Paul van Himst - an elegant, technically superb and refined footballer, possibly Belgium's best-ever player and known as 'the White Pele' at his peak. He certainly has the longest list of achievements in Belgian football: he won the league eight times with Anderlecht, and the cup four times. He was also Belgium's top scorer on three occasions, and won "De Golden Schoen" four times.

He also appeared in the multinational cast of footballers alongside Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Bobby Moore and Pele in the film 'Escape to Victory' (as no 2. Michael Fileu), and went on to manage the national football team, taking them to the 1994 World Cup.

Yeah but are the duffel coat inventors famous though.

I've played this game at a dinner party. It's a convenient alternative to Twenty Famous Welshmen!

Fine entry. keep up the good work!

Great entry, Guy!

And a link to 'I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue' to boot!

I seem to have posted to the worng forum...my apologies. I have made a comment which can be found at the actual entry *mutters*stupid peer review system...*

Thanks, all - three corrections corrected, and now we have to decide: what are the criteria for fame? There are Belgians listed on the Famous Beligans website who fail my own personal fame test (i.e. I don't recognise either their names or their faces). I can see how Paul van Himst might make the grade, but I lack sufficient knowledge of sport to judge his, let alone the bevy of tennis players. I suppose the judges' decision is final - maybe the subs will slip a few more in along the way

"three corrections corrected"

If you've corrected the corrections, does that mean that they're wrong again?

B

As to the tennis players I mentioned, Clijsters is number 2 in the womens world rankings (ahead of Venus Williams at the moment)and has been a French Open finalist. Henin-Hardenne is behind Venus at nuber 4 and has been a Wimbledon finalist. Although I don't know Malisse's exact ranking, I estimate him to be somewhere in the top thirty. Hope that helps. I think these three should be included at any rate, but obviously it's up to you.

I like it - well written, factual, informative... a perfect guide entry.

I didn't know what to expect from the title, but I'm very glad I read it...

Fun little entry!


- Jimi X

Great Entry!

As a resident of Belgium, I felt compelled to comment...

How about Ernest Solvay, scientist and industrialist - invented the process by which we make soap, I believe.

And you can't not have Jacques Brel - singer, songwriter and a massive influence on French popular music. In addition, Johnny Halliday, French equivalent of Mick Jagger, also originates from Belgium but doesn't talk about it. Much like Simenon in fact.

In fact a whole host of 'French' media types and singers fall into that category. They may not be famous in the Anglophone world though.

You have Van Dyck in with the Flemish Primitives but is it not Van Eyck? That's how the Flemish spell it... Maybe specify that we mean Pieter Breughel the Elder as Breughel the Younger is mainly famous for copying his dad's work.

You could have King Albert the First as well. Excellent Victorian mountaineer and Alpinist, he was killed climbing in the Ardennes, the only royal to be killed that way I believe. Or the English historical figure John of Gaunt (from Ghent)

Somewhere in the article you could specify that as Belgium only started in 1830, we're talking about people from what is now covered by the modern day territory of Belgium.

Willy Claes is more infamous for corruption scandals than famous in a good way. If you're having infamous Belgians, than why not have King Leopold the first, who ruled the Belgian Congo with an iron hand. So bad in fact that even by Victorian standards his exploitation was considered shocking and he was forced to hand the country back to the Belgian state.

Anyway, good stuff.

Sprout

Thanks, all - I'll add the ones which pass the Fame Test (i.e. either I or my wife have heard of them ). I particularly like John of Gaunt - a trump card in any game of Famous Belgians, I think.

I've heard of Jacques Brel!

There's more than you think actually - just popped into my brain include Anne of Cleves (The Flanders mare) Henry VIII's fifth? wife.

Paul Delvaux - important surrealist painter, mates with Magritte.

Loads more cartoonists - how about Philippe Geluck, who draws 'the cat' cartoons, for one.

Or another infamous one - the child killer, can't remember his name now, but notorious, definitely.

Sprout