De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian) is a 2005 vote conducted by Belgian public TV broadcaster Canvas, public radio broadcaster Radio 1, and newspaper De Standaard, to determine who is the Greatest Belgian of all time. It could be considered as a Flemish list, considering that French-speaking community broadcast RTBF also held a vote, Le plus grand Belge. Nominees needed to have lived between 50 BC and now, between the borders of present-day Belgium. This is because Belgium only gained its independence in 1830, while numerous historical individuals from, for example, the Spanish Netherlands, are considered to be "Belgians".
An initial list of 111 names (100 decided by a panel, 11 added by the public after a preliminary poll) was set online. People could vote for their favourites to reduce the longlist to a shortlist of ten. After the first television show, the final list of ten nominees was announced. Two of them, Ambiorix and Hendrik Conscience, came out of the 11 names chosen by the public instead of the 100 chosen by the panel. The ten finalists were each presented on Canvas with a documentary, their nomination defended by famous Flemish people.
On 1 December 2005, Pater Damiaan was announced as the winner of the "De Grootste Belg" poll, beating Paul Janssen and Eddy Merckx.
Top 10 Rank Person Notability Nomination defended by 1Father Damien Priest and humanitarian. Went to help leprosy victims in Molokai. Beatified in 1995, Canonized on 11 October 2009. Jef Vermassen, lawyer. 2Paul Janssen Physician. Founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica. Discovered more than 80 new medicines, including a record-breaking four which are listed on the WHO list of essential medicines. Frieda Van Wyck, TV presenter 3Eddy Merckx Cyclist, often named the greatest in his sport. Won more than 525 individual races, including three world championships, five times the Tour de France and an hour record which stood for 28 years. Mark Uytterhoeven, TV presenter 4Ambiorix Chieftain and resistance leader. Fought against Julius Caesar and won a decisive battle against him, after which he disappeared without ever being caught.Patrick de Witte, writer and comedian 5Adolf Daens Priest, activist and humanitarian. Helped poor people and fought for the rights of workers.Inge Vervotte, politician 6Andreas Vesalius Physician, father of modern anatomy.Robrecht Van Hee, professor. 7Jacques Brel Singer, most famous for Ne Me Quitte Pas and Le Plat Pays. Celebrated for his passionate, satirical and acerbic songs. Internationally covered by many singers and admired for his free-spirited nature. Johan Verminnen, singer 8Gerardus Mercator Cartographer. Founder of modern cartography.Dirk Draulans, biologist 9Peter Paul Rubens Painter. Creator of vivid, extravagant and sensual works (The Descent from the Cross), which made him the richest and most high-in-demand painter of his time period. Still internationally famous and respected to this day.Herr Seele, comics artist 10Hendrik Conscience Novelist. Author of the novel The Lion of Flanders, which was a major influence on the Flemish nationalistic movement.Marc Reynebeau, journalist and historian.
From 11 to 111 Rank Person Notability Nomination defended by 11 Desiderius Erasmus Writer, philosopher, theologian (In Praise of Folly). Born in Rotterdam or Gouda and thus technically a Dutchman by modern-day standards. 12 Adolphe Sax Inventor of the saxophone. 13 Jan Decleir Theatre, TV and film actor (Mira, Daens, Character, The Memory of a Killer). 14 Kim Clijsters Tennis player. 15 Victor Horta Architect and designer (Hôtel Tassel, Brussels-Central railway station, Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels). 16 Baudouin of Belgium King (1950–1993) and founder of the King Baudouin Foundation. 17 Pieter Bruegel the Elder Painter (The Peasant Wedding, The Blind Leading the Blind, Netherlandish Proverbs, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus). 18 René Magritte Painter (The Treachery of Images, The Son of Man). 19 Guido Gezelle Poet (Het Schrijverke, Dien Avond en die Rooze). 20 Toots Thielemans Jazz musician (Bluesette). 21 Charles V of Spain Spanish king (1517–1556) and Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1558), who was born in Ghent. 22 Louis Paul Boon Novelist (De Kapellekensbaan, Priester Daens, Mieke Maaike's Obscene Jeugd). 23 Jozef Cardijn Priest, cardinal and humanitarian. Founder of the Young Christian Workers. 24 Hergé Comics artist (The Adventures of Tintin, Quick and Flupke). 25 James Ensor Painter (Christ's Entry Into Brussels in 1889). 26 Peter Piot Physician. Co-discoverer of the Ebola virus, for which he found a way to contain the epidemic. 27 Jan van Eyck Painter (Ghent Altarpiece, The Arnolfini Portrait). 28 Christoffel Plantijn Printer and publisher. 29 Willy Vandersteen Comics artist (Suske en Wiske, De Rode Ridder) 30 Hugo Claus Novelist, poet, playwright and film director (The Sorrow of Belgium). 31 Jan Frans Willems Writer and activist. Founder of the Flemish movement. 32 Leo Baekeland Chemist. Inventor of bakelite. 33 Lieven Gevaert Businessman. Founder of Gevaert & Co (now Agfa-Gevaert). 34 Arno Hintjens Rock singer (TC Matic). 35 Mark Uytterhoeven TV presenter and sports journalist (Het Huis van Wantrouwen, Morgen Maandag, Alles Kan Beter). 36 Dirk Martens Printer. 37 Justine Henin-Hardenne Tennis player. 38 Raymond Goethals Association football player and trainer. 39 Ernest Solvay Chemist, businessman and philanthropist. Inventor of the ammonia-soda process. 40 Paul-Henri Spaak Prime Minister (1938–1939; 1946; 1947–1949). President of the United Nations General Assembly (1946–1947), Secretary General of N.A.T.O. (1957–1961). President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (1952–1954). 41 Achiel Van Acker Prime Minister (1945–1946; 1946; 1954–1958). 42 Marie Popelin Activist and feminist. Founder of the women's right movement Ligue belge du droit des femmes. First Belgian woman to receive a law doctorate. 43 Paul Delvaux Painter. 44 Simon Stevin Mathematician. Described the Decimal system for fractions and did mathematical groundwork for the construction of fortifications. Made windmills more efficient. Was the first to explain the tides using the attraction of the moon, discovered the hydrostatic paradox and proved the inclined plane. 45 Julien Lahaut Politician. 46 Christine Van Broeckhoven Molecular biologist. Did research on Alzheimer dementia, bipolar mental disorders and other neurological diseases. 47 Queen Elisabeth Queen (1909–1934). Established the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation and the Queen Elisabeth Competition. 48 Marc Sleen Comics artist (The Adventures of Nero, Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke, De Lustige Kapoentjes). 49 Willem Elsschot Novelist and poet (Het Huwelijk, Villa des Roses, Lijmen/Het Been and Kaas). 50 Paul Van Ostaijen Poet (Boem Paukeslag!, Melopee). 51 Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen Lawyer and politician. Founder of the Free University of Brussels. 52 Raymond Ceulemans Billiards player. 53 Jean-Marie Pfaff Association football player. 54 Georges Pire Priest and humanitarian. Nobel Peace Prize, 1958. 55 Isabelle Gatti de Gamond Activist and feminist. Launched the first systematic courses of secondary female education (Cours d'Éducation pour jeunes filles). 56 Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy (1419–1467). 57 Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery Polar explorer. First man to spend a few months on Antarctica. 58 Edward Anseele Politician. 59 Creator of the website SeniorenNet. His high vote was a result of many people, including himself and his family under a different name, trying to get him into this list. 60 Christian de Duve Cytologist and biochemist. Did research after the microstructure of cells. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1974. 61 Georges Lemaître Priest, astronomer, mathematician. Developed the Big Bang theory. 62 Rembert Dodoens Physician and botanist (Cruydeboeck). 63 John Cockerill Businessman; founder of John Cockerill. 64 Ilya Prigogine Physical chemist. Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 1977. 65 Tom Barman Rock singer (dEUS). 66 Django Reinhardt Jazz guitarist (Nuages). 67 Gaston Eyskens Prime Minister (1948–1950; 1958–1961; 1968–1973). 68 Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker Choreographer (Rosas danst Rosas). 69 Camille Huysmans Prime Minister (1946–1947) and activist. 70 Antoon van Dyck Painter (Charles I at the Hunt, Equestrian Portrait of Charles I). 71 Briek Schotte Cyclist. 72 Henry Van de Velde Architect (Bloemenwerf, Boekentoren). 73 Rik Coppens Association football player. 74 Hadewijch Poet (Book of Visions, Poems in Stanzas). 75 Ingrid Berghmans Judoka 76 Orlandus Lassus Composer (Lagrime di San Pietro, Prophetiae Sibyllarum). 77 Georges Simenon Novelist (Inspector Maigret). 78 Rik Van Looy Cyclist. 79 Ferdinand Verbiest Priest, astronomer and mathematician. 80 Dries Van Noten Fashion designer. 81 Cyriel Buysse Novelist and playwright (Het gezin van Paemel). 82 Hans Memling Painter (The Last Judgment, St. Ursula Shrine). 83 Jeanne Brabants Ballet choreographer. Founder of the Royal Ballet of Flanders. 84 Tom Lanoye Novelist (Alles Moet Weg, Kartonnen Dozen, Het Goddelijke Monster). 85 Rik Van Steenbergen Cyclist. 86 Adolphe Quételet Astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. Developed the body mass index scale. 87 Gaston Roelants Athlete. Olympic gold medal for 3000 m steeplechase (1964), European Championship 3000 m steeplechase (1962). 88 Jan van Ruusbroec Poet (The Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love, The Spiritual Espousals). 89 Paul Van Himst Association football player and trainer. 90 Emile Vandervelde Politician. Minister of Justice (1918–1921) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1925–1927). 91 Amélie Nothomb Novelist (Hygiène de l'assassin). 92 Frans Van Cauwelaert Politician and activist. 93 Constant Vanden Stock Association football player and trainer. 94 Gabrielle Petit Nurse and resistance fighter. 95 Marc Van Montagu Molecular biologist. Co-founder of the Plant Genetic Systems and CropDesign companies. Discovered the Ti plasmid. 96 Auguste Beernaert Prime Minister (1884–1894). Nobel Peace Prize, 1909. 97 Marcel Broodthaers Artist (Surface of mussels (with bag))). 98 Maurice Maeterlinck Novelist and playwright (The Blue Bird, Pelléas and Mélisande). Nobel Prize for Literature, 1911. 99 Pedro de Gante Missionary. Beatified in 1988. 100 Philippe Herreweghe Conductor. Founder of the Collegium Vocale Gent and La Chapelle Royale. 101 Rogier van der Weyden Painter (The Descent from the Cross). 102 Fernand Khnopff Painter (The Sphinx, or, The Caresses). 103 César Franck Composer (Grande Pièce Symphonique). 104 Gerard Mortier Opera director. 105 Pierre Wynants Cook. 106 Henri Pirenne Historian (Histoire de Belgique). 107 Pierre Deligne Mathematician. Proved the Weil conjectures. 108 Raoul Servais Animator and film director (Harpya). 109 Emile Francqui Soldier, diplomat and philanthropist. 110 Charles Rogier Prime Minister (1847–1852; 1857–1867). 111 Hugo van der Goes Painter (Portinari Altarpiece).
See also Les plus grands Belges, the Walloon version of this contest held around the same time. Greatest Britons spin-offs
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