Flanders in the USA

🌎 Last week, our General Representative to the United States, Paul Hegge, continued to deepen transatlantic connections during his visit to Canada.



Across a series of high-level meetings, the visit highlighted strong complementarities and shared ambitions between Flanders and Canada in key sectors:



⚡ Energy & climate innovation
Engaging with Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) and The Electric Circuit, discussions focused on electrification, energy systems, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.



🧬 Life sciences & genomics
At Génome Québec, exchanges explored opportunities in cutting-edge research, including AI-driven genomics and international collaboration.



🏙️ Urban development & design
A meeting with the City of Montréal showcased how design, sustainability, and innovation are shaping the cities of tomorrow, an area with clear connections to Flemish expertise.



🌱 Climate adaptation & research
At Ouranos, conversations focused on climate science, resilience, and translating research into actionable policy, an increasingly shared priority on both sides of the Atlantic.

This visit reaffirmed the strong foundation for collaboration between Flanders and Canada and opened doors for future partnerships in innovation, sustainability and knowledge exchange.

🎹✨ This past Tuesday, our Representative Paul Hegge attended a joyful evening as part of the Belgian Days, organized by the Consulate General of Belgium in Montréal.



Renowned Belgian pianist Jef Neve, often called a true “piano wizard”, captivated the audience with his virtuosity, while Belgian sound studio Demute elevated the experience through an immersive audio journey blending music, technology and sensory storytelling.



It was a memorable showcase of the creativity and cultural dynamism of Flanders and Belgium on the international stage.

🎭 National Theatre Live Screening: All My Sons
📍 NYU Skirball Center | 🗓 31 May

Arthur Miller’s powerful post‑WWII drama comes to the big screen in a filmed stage production directed by Flemish director Ivo van Hove.

Starring Bryan Cranston, All My Sons confronts themes of responsibility, guilt, and moral compromise in the aftermath of war—questions that resonate far beyond the American context and deeply connect to European and Flemish perspectives on rebuilding after WWII.
A unique chance to experience world‑class theatre, on screen, in New York.

👉 More info & tickets in bio!

📍 🏛️ In the heart of Washington, D.C., Pershing Park became a place of remembrance as the Delegation of Flanders marked Memorial Day with a ceremony honoring those who lost their lives in Flanders Fields during the First World War.

The program opened with the sounding of Taps, setting a reflective tone for an evening that brought together leaders in diplomacy, veterans’ affairs, and historical remembrance. Remarks from Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Bernard, Paul Hegge, general delegate of FLanders to the US, and Clair Sassin of the Doughboy Foundation underscored the enduring ties between the United States, Belgium, and Flanders.

A powerful reading of In Flanders Fields by Rob Couture invited attendees to pause and reflect, before a wreath-laying ceremony and a moment of silence honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The closing notes of the Last Post by Kevin Paul served as a poignant reminder of lives lost and legacies carried forward.

The evening continued with a reception and exchange of perspectives at the Willard, where speakers, including Thomas Baum (Kazerne Dossin) on ‘How Societies Carry the Weight of the Past’, Catherine Bourgin granddaugher of a Hello Girl and Paul Hegge exploring how memory is preserved, shared, and passed on across generations.

More than a commemoration, the gathering reaffirmed a shared commitment: to keep the stories of the past alive, and to ensure their meaning endures in today’s world.

Lest we forget.

In light of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, we’re reflecting on our visit to the Stonewall Inn a few weeks ago. This is where spontaneous protests erupted in 1969 after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York, a moment widely seen as the turning point of the LGBTQIA+ movement.
History that still matters today 🌈✨

is one of the few selected artists showcasing her jewelry at in New York!

How to describe her work? Timeless elegant jewelry inspired by floral designs.

If you have the chance, stop by Friday May 8 11 am - 8 pm, Saturday May 9, 2 - 6 pm.

Last Friday, we had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Belgian artist Anton Kusters and discover the depth of his long-term project The Blue Skies Project.🕊️

In this series, Kusters researched and photographed the skies above every known former N**i SS concentration camp and killing center across Europe, culminating in the photo essay book 1078 Blue Skies / 4432 Days. The title references the 1,078 former concentration camps that existed for 4,432 days between 1933 and 1945.

🕊️Looking at the sky, confronting history
Flemish visual artist Anton Kusters presents The Blue Skies Project, a powerful visual reflection on memory, absence, and historical violence.

For this long-term photography series, Kusters researched and photographed the skies above all 1,078 known former N**i SS concentration camps and killing centers across Europe. The resulting work, published as 1078 Blue Skies / 4432 Days, reveals a painful contrast: serene blue skies above places marked by unimaginable atrocities. Today, more than half of these sites leave no visible trace.

In conversation, Kusters speaks about the act of witnessing, cultural amnesia, and the challenge of representing trauma and historical distance through art.

📍 In-person event
🕜 Doors open at 1:30 PM
🎟️ Registration required – seating is limited and not guaranteed - see link in bio

Images © Anton Kusters, The Blue Skies Project

✨ From Antwerp to New York: A Fashion Legacy That Endures ✨

The new exhibition “The Antwerp Six” at celebrates the designers who reshaped global fashion and put Antwerp firmly on the international fashion map. Their bold vision continues to inspire generations of creators and remains a cornerstone of Flanders’ creative identity.

At the Delegation of Flanders to the USA, this story resonates deeply.

During Flanders Day 2025 in New York, our theme State‑of‑the‑Art Fashion paid tribute to this same spirit of innovation, bridging the legacy of the Antwerp Six with the next wave of Flemish talent seeking opportunities in the U.S. market.

From visionary designers to emerging voices, Flemish fashion continues to connect cultures, spark creativity, and push boundaries.

🇧🇪✨ Explore the exhibition:
📅 28 March 2026 – 17 January 2027
De Antwerpse Zes - MoMu Antwerp