Belgian Associations in Greece

In March 2005, the Belgian Business Club was launched in Athens. Its aim is to establish a first contact between Belgian businessmen and leaders of Belgian interests in Greece. The creation of this Business Club responds to the expectation and the objective of practical and concrete information exchange with our business community. 

Contact person of the Belgian Business Club is Ms. Geneviève Wlazel (tel.: 210/3610120-5, fax: 210/3610117, email).
 

Directοr: Prof. Tsingarida Athena (Athena.Tsingarida@ulb.be),
Assistant Directοr: Dr. Kalantzopoulou Tina

Address: Makri 11, GR-117 42  Athene  
Tel.: 210-3647102, 
Fax: 210-3647103 
E-mail : info@ebsa.info

EBSA's website.

EBSA's Facebook page.

Belgian archaeologists have been actively involved in excavations in Greece since the early 20th century, primarily in collaboration with the French School at Athens. In 1960, Herman Mussche initiated excavations on the Haghios Nikolaos peninsula at Thorikos. Recognizing the potential for joint exploration, in 1961, Ioannis Papadimitriou, director of the Greek Archaeological Service, proposed a collaboration between Belgian and Greek archaeologists. The "National Centre for Excavations Abroad" was established in Belgium in 1962 to oversee Belgian excavations in Greece, and the Thorikos excavations officially began in 1963.

In 1985, the Greek Government granted the Belgian Mission the esteemed status of a permanent School. Subsequently, in 1999, a non-profit association named the "Belgian Archaeological School in Greece" was founded, later replaced by the "Centre for Archaeological Research in Greece" (BCAOG-CBRAG) in 2002. The "Belgian School at Athens" (EBSA), a Greek non-profit society based in Athens, was established in 2003.

Thorikos, represents the oldest project of the Belgian School. Over the years, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary and international effort, involving more than 65 researchers from 30 universities and research institutions worldwide. Prof. Roald Docter and Dr. Sylviane Dederix currently serve as the Directors.

In addition to Thorikos, the Belgian School is actively engaged in other significant projects. The UCLouvain team, under the direction of Prof. J. Driessen and Dr. Charlotte Langohr, explores the archaeological site on the Bouffos hill at Sissi in East Crete. Meanwhile, the site of Itanos in Palaikastro, East Crete, has been under exploration since 2011 by a team directed by Prof. A. Tsingarida and Prof. D. Viviers from ULB, revealing an Archaic building alongside an extensive necropolis.

For more detailed information on these fieldwork projects, you can visit the respective websites:

1. Thorikos Archaeological Research Project - TARP, Laurion, East Attica (Ghent University)

The website of the Thorikos Archeological Research Project.

The Facebook page of the Thorikos Archeological Research Project.

2. Sissi Project, East Crete (UCLouvain)

The primary website of the Sissi Project.

The secondary website of the Sissi Project.

The Facebook page of the Sissi Project.

 3. Itanos Fieldwork Project, Palaikastro, East Crete (ULB)

The website of the Itanos Fieldwork Project.

The Friends of Belgian Circle of Athens was founded in 1975. In 1985, it merged with the association of Greek graduates from Belgian universities and colleges. Since then, the association has been called the Belgian-Hellenic Association of Friends. (That same year, Dutch speakers established a Flemish Circle; see further below).

For nearly fifty years, the association, especially under the impetus of Yvette Schroeders Stathopoulos, Founder and Honorary Chairman, and Michel De Landtsheer, brought together Belgians living in Greece. It also included numerous Greeks who spent their student years in Belgium or have a connection with our country.

Annually, alternately but in collaboration with the Flemish Circle, a Saint Nicholas feast and an annual ball are organized. Excursions, visits to exhibitions, or simply a dinner in a tavern are also on the agenda.

Like all associations since COVID, the Belgian-Hellenic Association is currently seeking a new impetus, with Mery Dimitriou, Guy Molla, and chairman Theo Dirix.

The Facebook page of Friends of Belgian Circle of Athens.

Send an e-mail for more information, including to receive the monthly newsletter 'Billet doux': amicalebh2@gmail.com.

The 'Vlaamse Kring' in Greece, founded in 1985, is an association for and by the Flemish, the Dutch speaking and their sympathizers who stay in Greece on a permanent or temporary basis.

It aims at bringing the Flemish and their families staying in Greece together and helping the newcomers to integrate smoothly in the local Flemish and Greek communities. Activities are organized for children (Saint-Nicholas, collecting Easter eggs) and adults such as excursions, cultural visits, dinners etc.

For more information, consult the website & the Facebook page or send an email to bestuur@vlaamse-kring.gr.

Flemings in the World is a foundation that, with 85 representatives worldwide, aims to be a bridge between expatriate Flemings and the Flemish community of 'individuals, companies, and government' in Belgium.

The foundation assists Flemings who wish to leave or return. It informs expatriates through digital and analog publications and in webinars. The foundation also aims to promote Flemish culture and the Dutch language abroad.

The representative in Greece (and member of the board) is Theo Dirix.

The Facebook page of the Flemings in the World.

The e-mail address for more information, including the monthly newsletter is v.i.w.ingr@gmail.com.

The Association for French speaking Belgians abroad (UFBE), founded in 1967, brings together and represents all categories of Belgians abroad: agents of international organisations, artists, managers and technicians, traders, official development workers, voluntary development workers, teachers, students, expatriates and emigrants, international experts, missionaries, employees, etc.

To contact UFBE Greece, send an e-mail to Ms Yvette Schroeders-Stathopoulos.