‘The great-grandfather I never knew has gradually become closer to me as I read what was written about him and discovered the circumstances in which he must have lived and worked. It has become Jos’s story, following his path from budding architect to the one who has the age I have now. For me it also became an act of looking back.’

Architect Jos Viérin (1872-1949) played a prominent role in the reconstruction of the Destroyed Regions. After World War I, it was decided to reconstruct i...

This affectionate cultural guide celebrates 100 icons that make Belgium different from any other country. In 100 short, informative texts, the author talks about food, people, places, traditions, inventions, buildings, and even expressions, that have shaped what he calls ‘the strangest country in the world’.

The author examines themes that are famously Belgian, like comic books, mussels served with fries, cycle racing, art nouveau architecture and rain. But he also looks at some of the o...