Famous People from Belgium — Obituaries

Margriet Hermans dead at age 72, presenter, and politician, senator, euthanasia

presenter, and politician, senator, euthanasia · Belgium · 03 June 2026 · June 2026 · June 3 · Pisces

June 3, 2026

Marie-Jo Lafontaine dead at age 75, Belgian sculptor and video artist

the Belgian sculptor and video artist, died on May 28, 2026. She was 75. Born in Antwerp on November 17, 1950, she studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts visuels de La Cambre from 1975 to 1979 and later… · 28 May 2026 · May 2026 · Scorpio

May 28, 2026

tijdens de opening van een dierenasiel in Zemst waarvan zij meter was

Martine Prenen dead at age 62, Expeditie Robinson), pancreatic cancer

the Belgian former model and television presenter known for Supertalent in Vlaanderen and Expeditie Robinson, died on May 26, 2026, of pancreatic cancer. She was 62. Prenen, born in Wilrijk on February 25, 1964, was also identified in official biographical… · 26 May 2026 · May 2026 · Pisces

May 26, 2026

Philippe Samyn dead at age 77, engineer, and urbanist

the Belgian architect, engineer and urbanist, died on May 24, 2026, at the age of 77. Born in Ghent on September 1, 1948, he built a career that combined architecture and engineering, and was known as Sir Philippe Samyn. His… · 24 May 2026 · May 2026 · Virgo

May 24, 2026

Étienne Davignon dead at age 93, public figure

Belgian diplomat and civil servant who served as European commissioner from 1977 to 1985, died on May 18, 2026, at age 93. Born in Budapest on October 4, 1932, he received a doctorate in law from the Catholic University of… · 18 May 2026 · May 2026 · Libra

May 18, 2026

Jean-Claude Maene dead at age 71, Belgian politician, MP, Walloon deputy

a Belgian politician and civil servant, died on May 16, 2026, at the age of 71. A member of the Socialist Party (PS), he served in the Chamber of Representatives from 2004 to 2007, replacing Claude Eerdekens, and later sat… · 16 May 2026 · Aquarius · May 2026

May 16, 2026

Jean Harlez dead at age 101, Belgian film director

the Belgian film director, died on May 15, 2026, at the age of 101. Born in Erquelinnes, Belgium, on December 31, 1924, he worked as a filmmaker from 1955 to 2026. He was the first assistant to Charles Dekeukeleire from… · France · 15 May 2026 · Capricorn · May 2026

May 15, 2026

Jilke Michielsen dead at age 19, Ewing sarcoma

a Belgian racing cyclist, died on May 15, 2026, after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. Born on January 5, 2007, she won the Belgian National Road Race Championships in the rookie category in 2022 and the second-year category in 2023.… · 15 May 2026 · Capricorn · May 2026

May 15, 2026

Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond dead at age 95, Congolese Roman Catholic prelate, bishop of Luiza a…

a Congolese Roman Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Luiza from 1971 to 1997 and archbishop of Kananga from 1997 to 2006, died on May 14, 2026, at the age of 95. Born on August 31, 1930, in Tshibingu-Mukese… · Belgium · 14 May 2026 · May 2026 · Virgo

May 14, 2026

Rosemarie Bergmans dead at age 82, Belgian actress

2026. She was a Belgian actress known for Pauline and Paulette. Bergmans’ work was identified with that film, and her death was noted in her 82nd year · 10 May 2026 · May 2026 · May 10

May 10, 2026

Karl-Heinz Ripkens dead at age 88, Bayer Leverkusen)

the German footballer who played as a forward, died on May 8, 2026, aged 88. He began his career with 1. FC Köln, where he won two championships, before moving to Belgian club Standard Liège in 1964. After one season… · 08 May 2026 · Sagittarius · May 2026

May 8, 2026

Olivier Dupuis dead at age 68, MEP

a Belgian politician and member of the European Parliament from 1996 to 2004, died on May 4, 2026. He was 68. Born in Ath, Belgium, on February 25, 1958, Dupuis was a Belgian-Italian politician associated with the Pannella List and… · Saint-gilles · 04 May 2026 · May 2026 · Pisces

May 4, 2026

Rita Mulier Belgian feminist author and economist dead at age 91

the Belgian feminist author and economist, died on April 20, 2026, at the age of 91. Born in Kortrijk in 1934, she studied law and economics at Leuven University and was the only female editor of the student newspaper, writing… · 20 April 2026 · April 2026

April 20, 2026

Sophie Flamand Belgian writer and journalist dead at age 61

a Belgian writer and journalist, died on April 14, 2026, at the age of 61. Born in Liège on November 6, 1964, she studied at the Université libre de Bruxelles and later became deputy director of the cultural center in… · 14 April 2026 · April 2026

April 14, 2026

Delphine Noels Belgian film director dead at age 52

a Belgian film director, died on April 12, 2026. Born in 1973 in Liège, Belgium, she was 52 or 53. Noels was noted for winning a special mention in the short film category at the IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival… · 12 April 2026 · April 2026

April 12, 2026

Charles Delhez Belgian Roman Catholic priest and sociologist dead at age 74

a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and sociologist, died on April 8, 2026, at the age of 74. Born in Uccle on October 30, 1951, he was ordained a priest in 1982 and served at the Paroisse de Blocry in Louvain-la-Neuve.… · 08 April 2026 · April 2026

April 8, 2026

Hermann Huppen Belgian comic book creator dead at age 87

the Belgian comic book creator known for Jeremiah, died on March 22, 2026, at the age of 87. Better known by the pen name Hermann, he was born on July 17, 1938, in Bévercé, now part of Malmedy, in Liège… · 22 March 2026 · March 2026

March 22, 2026

Steve Houben Belgian jazz saxophonist and flutist dead at age 76

a Belgian jazz saxophonist and flutist, died on March 20, 2026. Born in Liège, Belgium, on March 19, 1950, he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the mid-1970s. After returning to Belgium, he established the jazz seminar… · 20 March 2026 · March 2026

March 20, 2026

a Belgian footballer who played as a midfielder, died on February 23, 2026. He played almost his entire career with Gent and won the Belgian Cup with the club in 1964. Ghellynck received one call-up to the Belgian national team… · 23 February 2026 · February 2026

February 23, 2026

Herman Suykerbuyk Civil servant dead at age 92

a Belgian politician and civil servant, died on February 21, 2026, at the age of 92. Born in Kapellen on January 5, 1934, he studied law at the Catholic University of Leuven from 1952 to 1957. A member of the… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026

February 21, 2026

José van Dam Operatic bass-baritone dead at age 85

the Belgian bass-baritone known internationally for his work in opera, died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 85. Born Joseph Van Damme in Ixelles, part of Brussels, on August 25, 1940, he studied at the Royal Conservatory of… · France · 17 February 2026 · February 2026

February 17, 2026

Gérard Mathieu Schoolteacher dead at age 78

a Belgian politician and schoolteacher, died on February 16, 2026, in Arlon, Belgium, at the age of 78. A member of the Reformist Movement (MR), he taught Latin and Greek at the secondary school level and served in the Parliament… · 16 February 2026 · February 2026 · Gerard

February 16, 2026

Paulette Collet Belgian essayist and academic dead at age 99

a Belgian essayist and academic, died on February 13, 2026, at the age of 99. Born in Verviers in 1926, she fled to London at the onset of World War II and earned a bachelor’s degree from King’s College London… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026

February 13, 2026

Jacques Dubois (literary theorist) Belgian literary theorist and academic dead at age 92

the Belgian literary theorist and academic, died on February 13, 2026. He was Professor Emeritus of Literature at the Université de Liège and was born in Liège in 1933. Dubois developed the concept of the Literary Institution, following the work… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026

February 13, 2026

the Belgian actor and stage director, died on February 4, 2026. Born in Vilvoorde on February 2, 1938, he was also a singer and educator whose career ran from 1965 to 2026. Herman Teirlinck encouraged him to study theatre at… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026

February 4, 2026