2004 in Belgium

This article details events occurring in the year 2004 in Belgium. Major events include a gas explosion in Ghislenghien, which killed 24 people, and the restructuring of the Vlaams Blok political party.

Incumbents

• Monarch: Albert II
• Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt

Events

• 1 March – Marc Dutroux brought to trial.
• 22 March – Marc Dutroux sentenced to life imprisonment.
• 24 April – Sporting Anderlecht wins the Belgian First Division
• 30 July – Gas explosion in Ghislenghien, Hainaut, causes 24 deaths.
• 21 August – Justine Henin wins the Olympic final against French tennis player Amélie Mauresmo, earning the gold medal
• 29 August – Kimi Räikkönen wins the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
• 25 October – Patrick Hoogmartens succeeds Paul Schruers as Bishop of Hasselt
• 14 November – Flemish political party Vlaams Blok dissolves and rebrands as Vlaams Belang.
• 26 December – 12 Belgians are among the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Publications

• Xavier Mabille, Histoire politique de la Belgique: Facteurs et acteurs de changement (Brussels, C.R.I.S.P.).

Art and architecture

Buildings

• Ethias Arena opens in Hasselt
• North Galaxy Towers in Brussels completed (begun 2002)

Births

• 6 January – Roméo Lavia, footballer
• 6 February – Princess Louise of Belgium
• 2 March – Evy Poppe, snowboarder
• 13 October – Ben Mertens, snooker player

Deaths

January

• 1 January – Jean-Pierre Hallet, anthropologist and human rights activist.
• 7 January – Leonce-Albert Van Peteghem, bishop
• 28 January – André Van Lysebeth, yoga instructor

February

• 2 February – Arthur Gilson, politician
• 7 February – Leopold Maertens
• 9 February – Mechtilde van Mechelen, actress
• 11 February – Ugo Prinsen, actor
• 13 February – Jan De Laender, psychologist and journalist
• 21 February – John Taylor, politician

March

• 13 March – Roger Nols, mayor
• 14 March – Petrus Weemaels, composer
• 17 March – Jan Van Der Auwera, soccer player

April

• 2 April – Guillaume Marie van Zuylen, bishop
• 4 April – Briek Schotte, cyclist
• 5 April – Fernand Goyvaerts, soccer player

May

• 3 May – Marc Mortier, entrepreneur
• 5 May – Marc Scheers, TV producer
• 16 May – Omer Grawet, journalist and news reporter
• 18 May – Rik Hamblok, abstract painter
• 26 May – Frans Buyens, film and TV-director

June

• 7 June – Karel Biddeloo comic book creator
• 15 June
• Maurits Sabbe, priest and theologian
• Denise Zimmerman, actress
• 20 June – Stive Vermaut, cyclist

July

• 3 July – Freddy de Vree, poet
• 8 July – Emile Brichard, cyclist
• 27 July – Léon Hurez, politician

August

• 2 August – François Craenhals, comic book writer
• 10 August – Remi Piryns
• 31 August — Jean-Marie Ghuysen, chemist

September

• 5 September – Cecil de Strycker, economist and banker
• 9 September – Hein Beniest, film director
• 16 September – Cyrillus-Camillus Barbary, First World War veteran
• 26 September – Tim Pauwels, cyclist
• 30 September – Fernand Terby conductor

See also

• 2004 in Belgian television

References