Because Belgium is so small, there aren’t that many people who can be called “famous”, but here are some of the better known ones (including some “characters”:

• Tintin, the comic book Belgian reporter created by Georges Remi, a.k.a. Hergé.

• Charlemagne the founder of the Holy Roman Empire.

• Baldwin IX the leader of the 4th crusade and the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople.

• Leopold I, first King of the Belgians and the uncle of both Queen Victoria of England and her Consort Albert .

• King Leopold II, second King of the Belgians, who created a private empire in Congo with the help of famous Welsh explorer Stanley Livingstone.

• Jacky Ickx (1945-), racing driver and 6 times winner of the 24h of Le Mans and of several F1 races

• Ambiorix, Gaul chief, prince of Eburones, who resisted the invasion of Julius Caesar.

• Pierre (Peter) Minuit Walloon who purchased the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans in 1626.

• Hercule Poirot, fictional character of Agatha Christie’s novels

• Adolphe Sax (1816-1896), Wallon inventor of the saxophone

• Georges Remi, a.k.a. Hergé (1907-1983), creator of world-famous comics “Tintin”.

• Maurice de Bevere, creator of the famous comic strip “Lucky Luke”.

• Pierre Culliford, creator of the “Smurfs” and other comic strips.

• The singer Jacques Brel (1929-1978).

• Audrey Hepburn, the actress, was born in Brussels of an English father and Dutch mother.

• Jean-Claude Van Damme, Hollywood actor

• Helmut Lotti, singer

Belgium boasts many famous artists. For a complete listing visit: Works by Flemish Painters

Details extracted from www.eupedia.com

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