IN PICTURE. Tom Waes poses with some Roman soldiers at the premiere of ‘The Story of Flanders’

TVA prestigious project deserves a grand premiere. It was there in Brusselsfor ‘The Story of Flanders’. In the Queen’s Gallery – noblesse oblige – hostTom Waes received numerous friends and colleagues for a first glimpse of theten-part series that can be released on the first day of the new year. “Thisis indeed exciting,” says Waes. “It is a major project, but -I hope- above alla series that matters. Although I especially hope that we will appeal to youngpeople and stimulate their interest in history, culture and museums. fuel.”Peter van de Veire, Xavier Taveirne and other colleagues, among others, didnot want to miss the first episode for anything.

Because here, in these regions, Neanderthals once walked around. And Romans,knights, Boer warriors, Burgundians… In modern Flanders, history sometimesseems far away, “…but a lot has happened here over the centuries. Who were thepeople who walked here before us? How did they live? How have they shaped ourhistory?

‘The story of Flanders’ brings history to life in ten episodes, each timezooming in on a period in history. This history is made tangible withhistorical re-enactments that take viewers to the battlefield of the Battle ofthe Golden Spurs, the time of the Romans or even to the bathroom of Philip theGood. Tom immerses himself completely in the past. He also conducts his ownresearch and talks to historians. What are the latest historical insights atthe moment? Thanks to innovative graphic techniques, we can also take a lookat what today’s Flanders used to look like.

Joel Hoylaerts/Photonews © Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews