The 'Dark Gate': one of the two remaining remnants of the Prinsenhof Palace in Ghent. The palace was huge, with over 300 rooms, and the place where Emperor Charles V was born in 1500. Photo: Visit Ghent.

The 'Westhoek' (the area including Ypres, Diksmuide, Passendale, Messines) in Belgium is one of those places where every inch reminds you of the horrors of World War I. Every town or every plot of land have a story to tell about #WWI Photo: Toerisme Westhoek #ArmisticeDay

Remembering my great-great grandfather who I never met. He fought in the Great War in the Belgian army, whilst his wife fled to the UK where she gave birth to my great-grandfather. #ArmisticeDay

#OTD in 1922, the 'Unknown Soldier' was laid to rest in Brussels in the presence of King Albert I of the Belgians and his son, the Duke of Brabant. The coffin of the soldier was chosen by a blind Belgian #WWI veteran #ArmisticeDay

The last Belgian soldier to be killed during WWI was a private called Marcel Terfve. He was shot at 10.42 on 11/11 by a German machine gun near the Gent-Terneuzen canal. He in the Belgian army since 1914 and sadly almost made it throught the entire war #armisticeday #LestWeForget

Noteer alvast in jullie agenda ! Op 22 maart 2026 stel ik mijn nieuwe boek ‘Karel V: de machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren’ voor in de geboortestad van de man: Gent. Meer info volgt !

Blind Belgian #WWI veteran Renold Haesebrouck. On 10 November 1922 he chose the 'Unknown Soldier' from 5 coffins. It is said he was selected to do so as he threw himself on King Albert I of the Belgians when the King visited the trenches & was shot at by the Germans #ArmisticeDay

This morning, the burial ceremony for a Belgian soldier who fell during #WWI kicked off in Diksmuide. His remains were discovered in Sept 2025 during roadworks. Photo: Focus WTV #remembrance

For #RemembranceSunday here is the Anglo-Belgian Great War Memorial in Brussels, a testament to the joint fight during #WWI (photo: Traces of War) 🇧🇪🇬🇧

#OTD in 1641, Cardinal-infant Ferdinand, who governed the Habsburg Netherlands, died suddenly at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels. Some suspected he was poisoned although most historians believe an ulcer killed him

Cool: a medieval 14th c. wooden road was discovered in Antwerp. Photo: Stad Antwerpen

On the 6th of November 1814, Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant. After studying in Brussels he presented his most famous invention in 1841: the saxophone. Yes, one of the most iconic instruments ever was invented by a Belgian !

The Habsburg Netherlands were governed by Archduchess Maria-Christina and her husband Albert Casimir who had to flee their residence near Brussels a few months later.

#OTD in 1792, French troops led by General Demouriez defeated the Habsburg troops led by Archduke Albert, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands at Jemappes. The victory would lead to the occupation of the Habsburg Netherlands by the French Republic

Somewhat hidden from view in Brussels, one can find the cool remnants of a 17th c. aristocratic mansion called the ‘Bellona House’. Photo: Visit Brussels

A mysterious and vanished pavilion in Mons, Belgium. Built around 1531, it featured Emperor Charles V’s various coat of arms although it is still not clear who commissioned the building that collapsed in 1955.

#OTD in 1549, Emperor Charles V, in his capacity as Lord of the Habsburg Netherlands, issued the Pragmatic Sanction stipulating the area was one and would be inherited by one heir

#OTD in 1576, disgruntled troops of the Habsburg Army of Flanders kicked off the Sack of Antwerp. Known as the ‘Spanish Fury’, the city, once known as the economic and financial heart of Europe, countless people were killed and buildings destroyed.

Fascinating: the Royal Library in Brussels holds a liturgical book used for the swearing in ceremony of Albert and Isabella (1599), sovereigns of the Habsburg Netherlands and Charles Alexander (1744), Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands. Photo shared by Jan Pauwels

#OTD in 1468, Charles the Bold’s troops sacked Liège after which the city was set on fire. The sack was part of the ongoing attempts for Burgundian influence over the Prince-Bishopric of Liège

#OTD in 1082, Mathilda of Flanders, Queen of England died. Born as d. of the powerful Count Baldwin V of Flanders, she married William of Normandy in 1051. After his conquest of England in 1066, she was crowned Queen in 1086. William was devastated after her death.

Met veel trots stel ik mijn nieuwe boek voor: '' Karel V - De machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren '' (publicatie: 13 maart 2026). Een biografie over de fascinerende Habsburgse keizer die werd geboren in Gent, opgevoed in Mechelen en over een wereldrijk zou heersen.

@ Boektopia om een lezing te geven en uiteraard te signeren

#OTD in 1700, King Charles II of Spain died aged 38. The death of this tragic monarch kicked off the War of the Spanish Succession that would take many years and would lead to some territorial changes across Europe.

This was painted in the 1420/1430s in a workshop in Bruges. The level of detail was very much unmatched and Jan van Eyck truly was one of the greatest painters ever.

Fascinerend hoezeer wij Belgen nauwgezet - en terecht - de Nederlandse verkiezingen volgen, maar dat het omgekeerd niet in die mate het geval is.

Nog drie dagen en dan onthul ik tijdens Boektopia het onderwerp van mijn nieuwe boek. Het zal uiteraard waanzinnig interessant zijn :) Watch this space !

#OTD in 1507, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba, was born. In the Belgian-Dutch history the Duke is known for his harsh rule as Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands and attempts to suppress the revolt

Antwerp truly was one of the artistic hubs in early modern Europe.

#OTD in 1312, Duke Jan II of Brabant and Limburg in Tervuren. Prior to his death, he issued the Charter of Kortenberg, a constitutional milestone in European history

Ferdinand was an interesting man: in many ways he was far more pragmatic than his brother Charles V.

Queen Astrid of the Belgians leaving her carriage for the baptism of her youngest child, Albert (future King Albert II of the Belgians) in 1934.

Hans Makart went all the way when he painted the entry of Emperor Charles V in Antwerp (1520).

Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant and heiress to the Belgian throne turns 24 today. The @MonarchieBe has therefore released a new photograph (by Bas Bogaerts)

#OTD in 1555, Emperor Charles V abdicated as Lord of the Habsburg Netherlands, at the Great Hall, built for his great (2x) grandfather, Philip the Good, of the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels, one of the grandest palaces in Europe.

#OTD in 1503, Isabella of Portugal, Emperor Charles V’s first and only wife, was born. Charles deeply loved his wife and commissioned this portrait (by Titiaan) after her death and took it wherever he went

The somewhat forgotten European monarch: Albert, Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands, who ruled from a grand court in Brussels from 1598 till 1621.

#OTD in 1958, the Smurfs appeared for the first time in a magazine. Created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (yes, people often forget the Smurfs are Belgian) the little bleu characters would become a global

Even pedant zijn @vrtnws: de redenen waarom Henry VIII zich afscheidde van Rome gingen verder dan enkel de scheidingsproblematiek. Privileges, het bestaan van aparte kerkelijke rechtbanken en het vraagstuk over wie belangrijker was (paus of koning) lagen ook aan de grondslag.

Je zal zien dat men een regeringscrisis zal koppelen aan ‘het institutionele’ terwijl dit een crisis van ego’s is en politici die niet verder kijken dan de volgende peiling

Considered amongst the finest and most spectacular 16th c. stained windows in Europe. Designed by Bernard van Orley and completed in 1537, featuring Emperor Charles V, who donated the windows, and his wife Isabella. St Michael and St Goedele's Cathedral, Brussels.

The President of Italy is paying a state visit to Belgium. During the banquet, the King of the Belgians referred to the very old ties between both countries and even flagged Tommaso Portinari and Giovanni Arnolfini who settled in 15th c Bruges.

#OTD in 1422, King Charles VI of France died. Known as ‘the mad’ he had various episodes of insanity and even believed he was made of glass and could shatter any moment.

Ghent’s grand medieval St Baafs’ Cathedral: home to one of the greatest paintings in Western art (Ghent Altarpiece) and the place where the most powerful man in 16th c Europe was baptised (Emperor Charles V in 1500)

#OTD in 1469, one of the most consequential marriages in European history happened when king Ferdinand II of Aragon married Queen Isabella I of Castile.

Remarkable: the mummified bodies of medieval monks were discovered in the Duivelsteen (a medieval mansion turned monastery) in Ghent, Belgium. Photo: Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed

#OTD in 1511, Philippe de Commines, one of the most important chroninclers in 15th Europe, died. Born in the County of Flanders, he served the Duke of Burgundy and King of France and was dubbed ‘’the first truly modern writer’’

Nog twee weken en dan onthul ik tijdens Boektopia (1 november) het onderwerp van mijn nieuwe boek (publicatie Q1 2026). En kleine tip van de sluier: het zal een biografie zijn :)

The Belfry of Bruges, built in the 13th at a time when Bruges was emerging as one of the richest cities in medieval Europe.

Did you know Belgium has one of the highest concentrations of castles per km2 in the world: from medieval structures, over fine Renaissance residences to grand 18th and 19th c buildings.