LL-L: "Events" LOWLANDS-L, 30.JUL.2000 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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  L O W L A N D S - L * 30.JUL.2000 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Roger Thijs [roger.thijs at village.uunet.be]
Subject: Events

"Gordelen" is a Belgian Dutch verb that means "participate at the "De
Gordel" event.

This event is organized for the 20th consecutive year on Sunday September
3th 2000 and is sponsored by:
- Radio 2 (the most popular chain of the national Belgian - actually
regionalized and not national anymore - radio broadcasting in Dutch)
- Ring TV (the TV chain of the municipalities around Brussels (only
distributed on local cable over there)
- KBC, the major bank in the North of the country
- Coca Cola,
and many others.

Gordel (french: ceinture) refers to the municipalities around bi-lingual
Brussels that are part of the new region "Vlaanderen", and are, at least
"formally", Dutch speaking. Since this country is split by a formal fixed
language border in 1963 these municipalities have to do their
administration in Dutch only. Municipal councils e.g. have to be held in
Dutch only, otherwise they are invalid. For six municipalities though,
people may communicate __individually__ in French with the authorities (the

municipalities are called "faciliteitengemeenten"). The political
majorities in these municipalities became French language political parties

recently (who legally can only meet in Dutch for formal "__common__
municipal" matters though).

These cultural expansion of the French speaking core of Brussels is called
the Brussels "olievlek" (expanding oil stain). Flemish politics for the
municipalities around Brussels focus on having this stain "stopped".
Brussels itself is actually a "capital region" with 19 municipalities.
Language censi are forbidden, since, in the past, they did not reflect the
reality, but turned into political referenda. However we have some idea: a
couple of days ago one could read in the press that in Brussels 89 perc. of

the people pay their Radio & TV taxes on French language forms and 11 perc.

do it in Dutch.

"De Gordel" is a walk/ biking happening, not too overstressed with
nationalistic slogans, so even some French speaking people participate, as
well as many Anglo-Saxons, living in the Brussels suburbs.

Facilities for bike hiking, care-taking of small kids, bike repair services

etc. are foreseen. Bus-returns are organized for all tours that are not
closed loops.

Organized walks include:
- Gezellig op stap, 7 km, departure from Dilbeek
- Gezellig op stap, 7 km, departure from Overijse
- Gezellig op stap, 7 km, departure from Zaventem
- Gezellig op stap, 7 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode
- De monumentenwandeling, 15 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode
- De Kraai-Eik wandeling, 16 km, departure from Kraainem
- De Kraai-Eik wandeling, 16 km, departure from Jezus-Eik
- De hollewegwandeling, 16 km, departure from Zaventem
- De hollewegwandeling, 16 km, departure from Wezembeek-Oppen
- De Keizer-Karelwandeling, 15 km, departure in Overijse
- De randwandeling, 13 km, departure in Dilbeek
- De druiventocht, 28 km, departure in Overijse

Organized bike tours include:
- Trapplezier voor kleine en grote benen, 25 km departure from
Sint-Genesius-Rode
- Trapplezier voor kleine en grote benen, 25 km departure from Dilbeek
- Trapplezier voor kleine en grote benen, 25 km departure from Zaventem
- Trapplezier voor kleine en grote benen, 25 km departure from Overijse
- Het grotere verzet, 50 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode
- Het grotere verzet, 50 km, departure from Dilbeek
- Het grotere verzet, 50 km, departure from Zaventem
- Het grotere verzet, 50 km, departure from Overijse
- De gorderklassieker, 100 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode
- De gorderklassieker, 100 km, departure from Dilbeek
- De gorderklassieker, 100 km, departure from Zaventem
- De gorderklassieker, 100 km, departure from Overijse
- De gordel voor wielertoeristen, 160 km, departure from Vilvoorde

Organized mountain-bike tours:
Avontuurlijk gordelen, 25 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode
Avontuurlijk gordelen, 40 km, departure from Sint-Genesius-Rode

It's advised to take an inscription ahead (necessary for rental of bikes).
This can be done at the municipal offices of most Flemish municipalities
and at the offices of the KBC bank. (Also in Belgian Railway stations in
the North of this country for cheap combinations of a train ticket with
participation fee).

Participants get a commemorative medal.

Participation is generally very high, though very much dependent on the
weather for last-minute inscriptions on site.

There is a central "gordelfoon" +32 - 2 - 380.44.44 or locally 02.380.44.44

Regards,

Roger

r.thijs at ieee.org

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