King Filip has honoured 25 Belgians awarding them an honorary medal or ennobling them.
Six Belgians have been ennobled and in future bear the title baron or baroness. They are the president of the Auschwitz Foundation Henri Goldberg , co-founder of the Alzheimer's League Sabine Gössing, head of the Intensive Neonatology Department at the Queen Fabiola Children's Hospital Anne Johansson, cardiac surgeon Jean Rubay (University Hospital St-Luc), the co-founder of the non-profit organisation Street Nurses Emilie Meessen, and painter and illustrator Charles Schelfhout. A year and a half after their official appointment, they today formally received their titles from the head of state.
Commanders in the Order of the Crown
Paul Van Haver, known worldwide as singer-songwriter Stromae, was one of the deserving Belgians to receive a medal of honour at the royal palace in Brussels today. Stromae becomes a ‘Commander in the Order of the Crown’.
Others to the receive the title Commander in the Order of the Crown are VUB cancer researcher Damya Laoui, chef Sang Hoon Degeimbre, the director of the Centre for Solidarity and Trauma (Solentra) Geertrui Serneels, author and actress Geneviève Damas, conductor and former director of the Royal Brussels Conservatory Baron Arie Van Lysebeth and Ayman Ramdani for work with his organisation Play4Peace involving Brussels youngsters.
Gynecology professor Marleen Temmerman (VUB) was appointed Commander in the Order of Leopold.