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Showing posts with the label economy

21 Januari 2022 : Jacques Boël died

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On 21 January 2022, Jacques Boël died. Jacques Boël, descendant of the Boël family, born on 31 March 1929, was the son of Max Boël (1901-1975),vice-chairman of the Hoge Bosraad, and the grandson of Pol-Clovis Boël (1868-1941), president of the Usines Gustave Boël, industrialist, senator and representative. After completing his civil engineering studies, he headed the steel factory Usines Gustave Boël, among other things. Later he was a director at Union Financière Boël, among others. own picture Jacques Boël married Sybille Baroness de Selys Longchamps in 1962, but divorced her in 1978. Despite his discreet career, he was known to the general public as the legal father of Delphine Boël, until the latter could prove that she was the daughter of King Albert II of Belgium. Book cover Sybille de Selys Longchamps, Prince Albert (later King) and Delphine (later Princess) The basis of the Boël's family fortune was steel however they were investing in other companies, such as the dis...

Hotel Metropole in Brussels

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Recently (in april 2020) the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, capital of Belgium, was mentioned in the newspapers as bankrupt due to a lack of money and the Covid-19 crisis. This is a sad thing for the Belgian Tourism and the Hotels in Brussels. Hotel Metropole at the Brouckière square in Brussels was the only working hotel, founded in the 19th. century. Hotel Metropole Café in Brussels History In 1890, two brothers decided to open Café Metropole, to sell their own beer. It became a real success and later the family after café Wielemans-Ceupens bought the bank near the café to create a big hotel. They asked architect Alban Chambon to build a beautiful place. It was the first hotel in Brussels with electric lights and central heating systems. In 1911, the hotel hosted the famous Solvay conference with inter alia Einstein, Marie & Pierre Curie as guests. In 1957, a big reception (before Expo '58) took place at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. In Hotel Met...

An important meeting at the Oval Office

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On 23 April 2002 an important meeting took place at the Oval Office of the White House. Then, the US president, George W. Bush, met King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Later the president told to the media: "I've informed  His Majesty that our government will work to enact a free trade agreement with Morocco. Trade is an important part of a good foreign policy. It's an important part of making sure Americans can find jobs." Mohammed VI (born on 21 August 1963), is a member of the Alaouite dynasty. He became King of Morocco on 23 July 1999, upon the death of his father King Hassan II. Source picture: Wikipedia