Authentic Brussels

Hello, I 'm Livinus, raised in Antwerp. I went to college in Ghent and Brussels. Retired now, but still passionately attached to city life and its history. With my wife, Catherine, I share the love for painting (she is American and went to art college at Penn University) and gardening. I am a amateur jazz musician, painter (oil, watercolor), and author of graphic novels, cartoons and comic books. Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels inspires me because of its medieval history (and subsequent Spanish, French, Austrian and Dutch occupation/influences), the connection to the sea (Antwerp), the great vibe and fantastic atmosphere. I guess, in Antwerp, the port with all the worldwide shipping, the warehouses, the seamen, ship-repair, etc. created this vibrant, cosmopolitan setting. But Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels are also at the center of world-famous European Art, going back to gothic over barock and rococco style. The nice thing is that all of it is on a human scale: the car-free historic centers can be easily discovered on foot or bike. Ghent is such an inspiring city: markets, medieval abbey, palaces,..It was the first city on the continent to "industrialize" (weaving factories). A museum is dedicated to this activity. From the 1920s on, millions of people (mainly from Eastern Europe) booked a passage on the "Red Star Line", operating from the port of Antwerp, seeking a new life in N-America. Irvin Berlin, Albert Einstein. . . to name a few. The Red Star Line Museum, and the Plantin Moretus (printing)Museum are 2 of my favorit spots (Plantin Moretus, the only Antwerp museum in Unesco world heritage list). But let's not forget the Fine Arts Museum (which recently reopened after more than 10 years of renovation), the lively market places (like Sunday market, FridayMarket, Cattle Market, etc) with typical pubs, cafés, eateries, and charming boutique shops. All hidden gems waiting to be discovered, but the friday market is my top spot: you 'll find on "live" auction the weirdest objects: antique candelabras over pied-de-stalles to inflatable dolls…. everything spiced up by some clownesque vendors. However, don't raise your hand…you might end up with a art-deco bed and mattress… The best way to discover Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels is by walking and (if you want to cover a bigger distance) by bike or metro/tram. I could provide you with rental bikes Master in Industrial Engineering (telecom) For years I was an instructor (teaching all over the world) at a telecom company (national operator in Belgium) I followed courses in jazz (saxophone), graphical art (etching/litho) and history of art Since retirement (2016) I work in my own graphics studio operating my "Van Ginkel" historic etching press Organizer of drawing/painting/graphics workshops in Cultural Centres in Flandres and Wallonie: eg Lithography, Intaglio, Oil painting, linocut, cartoons/comics/graphic novels Author of two graphic novels (2016 & 2023) and cartoons I am a sailing instructor at Royal Yachting Club of Belgium at "Galgenweel" lake in Antwerp We mainly sail on RS Venture (if you are interested in learning to sail we could arrange that) International Certificate for Operating Pleasure Craft (I.C.C European standard certificate - sailing & motoring) First Aid Certificate (level 1 and level 2) None