De Grootste Belg was 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".
Father Damian in 1878 on Molokai. He was voted the "Greatest Belgian" in 2005.
Image: Father Damien, photograph by William Brigham
Image: Beerse Statue Paul Janssen 070225
Image: Eddy Merckx Molteni 1973
Les plus grands Belges, is a television show that aired in 2005 on the Belgian French-speaking public channel RTBF. In the program the audience could vote for the greatest Belgian by using the website, sending an SMS or using the telephone. In total several hundred thousand votes were cast. 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".
Image: Jacques Brel 1971 2
Image: Anefo 911 3016 Tweede dag (cropped)
Image: Father Damien, photograph by William Brigham
Image: Eddy Merckx Molteni 1973
