nonstopfresh aug 2018 UK

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Belgium: a Burgundian nation ■ The Burgundians were bon vivants who enjoyed life, particularly good food. In Belgium, good food is not always the same as haute cuisine – on the contrary. After all, the country’s most popular food item are Belgium chips (friet). The preferred method of consuming chips is to buy them from a chip shop (fritkot). With more than 5,000 chip shops in the country, a quick meal is always nearby. The Belgians’ favourite home-cooked dish is stoemp. Its basis is always the same: boiling potatoes and vegetables together in a large pan and mashing them up. A large variety of vegetables are used, but some recipes also use meat, fish, bacon or baked eggs. Another Belgian classic is moules. This dish is equally easy to prepare: simply stew mussels with sliced vegetables in white wine or beer for a short while and add cream if desired. Serve with a side of chips, delicious saffron sauce and a glass of wine or beer. Although not cultivated until the late 19th century, chicory is one of the most popular vegetables around. In Dutch, this vegetable is also known as Brussels lof, as there used to be many chicory growers in the Brussels area. For a Flemish classic, bake chicory in the oven with ham and a mild cheese sauce. Bilingual unity Belgium has three official languages. However, the percentage of German speakers is so low (1%) that the focus is usually on Dutch and French speakers only. When Belgium gained its independence, the French-speaking elites decided that the official language would be French. As Flemish nationalist sentiments increased over the years, so did the percentage of the population who spoke Dutch. However, it took until 1898 before Dutch became the country’s second official language. Belgians are known for liking their food and drink as part of their ‘Burgundian’ lifestyle. This label dates back to the 15 th -century Dukes of Burgundy, whose court was a paradise of luxury and riches. ■ What is the current situation on bilingualism in Belgium? Right now, 60% of the population identify as Flemish and 39% as Walloon. Brussels is entirely bilingual. In Flanders, French is compulsory as a foreign language in secondary education, whereas students in Wallonia can choose between Dutch and English. Mutual resentment on both sides of the linguistic divide is on the increase, to the extent that it has become a threat to Belgium’s unity. Nevertheless, special occasions such as large sporting events (e.g. the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, bicycle races) and the Eurovision Song Contest see Walloons and Flemings put their differences aside and feel as one. 6
Belgitude All over the world Belgium is a leading exporter of goods Its main export sectors are chemical products, transport materials and machinery It is also the world’s main exporter of diamonds. The diamond trade accounts for no less than 5% of Belgium’s total exports. In addition, Belgium plays a leading role on the markets for chocolate and margarine. Chocolate and praline brands such as Côte d’Or, Leonidas and Guylian are famous all over the world. Equally well-known are the Belgian beer brands Stella, Hoegaarden and Leffe. Billions of hectolitres of beer find their way to consumers worldwide. Jules Destrooper biscuits are for sale in 75 countries. Outside the realm of food and drink, the content management system Drupal is a Belgian opensource software product used everywhere in the world, even in the White House. TV production company Studio100 produces films and music, manages amusement parks at home and abroad, and sells merchandising. Series such as Maya the Bee, Vicky the Viking and House of Anubis are viewed by children in more than 100 countries. Brussels’ international role The area around the present-day city of Brussels has been inhabited since the Iron Age. Brussels was founded in the 10th century on the remains of a Roman army camp. These days, the Brussels metropolitan area is home to 2 million people. When Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830, Brussels was the perfect city to become the new country’s capital. Present-day Brussels also functions as the unofficial capital of the European Union. It houses many EU institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Commission. The various EU institutions employ around 55,000 people. In addition, Brussels has been home since 1967 to the headquarters of NATO, a military treaty between a large number of Western nations. This vast international organisation employs many thousands of people in Brussels alone. Such institutions makes Brussels a truly universal city. 7
Page 1 and 2: nonstop fresh/ magazine for the fre
Page 3 and 4: foreword Belgium, how lovely you ar
Page 5: Belgitude Belgitude ‘O dear Belgi
Page 9 and 10: Belgitude this 165-billion-fold enl
Page 11 and 12: join Frugro in 1995, the local comp
Page 13 and 14: ' AS A SMALL COUNTRY, YOU HAVE TO T
Page 15 and 16: 1.060 Belgian growers 120 Dutch gro
Page 17 and 18: International icons The aartsenfrui
Page 19 and 20: Belgians and beer, beer and Belgian
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Page 23 and 24: aartsenfruit around the world f.l.t
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Page 27 and 28: Aartsenfruit Kids Foundation gives
Page 29 and 30: Sensory garden now open! Singelloop
Page 31 and 32: y rooms of the Netherlands. 31
Page 33 and 34: Henk-Jan Ellen 33
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Page 37 and 38: Please introduce yourself I’m Jef
Page 39 and 40: My life’s motto is: it will all w
Page 41 and 42: Menno van Breemen Wenatchee. The la
Page 43 and 44: 'Aartsenfruit is a very fine compan
Page 45 and 46: Chips are a weekly fixture on Belgi
Page 47 and 48: NXT BRANDS Colophon nonstopfresh ma

nonstopfresh aug 2018 UK

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