Random History of Belgium

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This history podcast tells the story of Belgium's history, in a non-chronological order. Every two weeks, we'll cover Belgian history and take the bits and pieces we like, to entertain and inform the listeners. Our place on the web: rhob.be

M. Van den Eynde


    • Apr 10, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 139 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Random History of Belgium

    EP138 - ... for now ..

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 14:51


    Episode 138 is probably the fianl episode of this series on the history of Belgium

    EP137 - Belgian social security - final part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 45:56


    EP137: In part 4 on the history of Belgian social security, we'll look at the post WWII situation on how both the pension and unemployment system evolved from the blueprint laid out by one of the main pioneers in social security Mr. Fuss. We will also look at the evolution of the RVA and much more.

    EP136 - Belgian social security (part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 48:27


    EP136: In part 3 on the history of Belgian social security, we'll go over the interbellum, the two World Wars and the government organized social systems like NDAW.

    EP135 - Belgian social security (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 45:55


    In EP135 of the Random history of Belgium, continues the journey through the history of our social security system. We look at child labor, factories, healthcare, the first large street battles and protests, but also the first laws protecting the workers.

    EP134 - Belgian social security (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 46:49


    In EP134 of the Random history of Belgium, we start a multi part journey, looking at the early versions of social protection, funds and charities for workers, before and during the industrial revolution. We'll track the origins of our social security systems and their history.

    EP133 - Hendrik Conscience

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 56:42


    EP133 - We look at the life and work of our most renowned author Hendrik Conscience. His career and impact, the way he forged his own language and legacy, the marketing and symbolism and some insights about the square in Antwerp named after him.

    EP132 - The Belgian Railways 1830 - 1926

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 43:19


    EP132 - We'll take a look at first 100 years of the Belgian railways. How it got started, the economic structure, some key elements and problems, as well as the building of stations. We focus on the early days to see where it all came from.

    EP131 - Port of Antwerp: Cockerill and Boelwerf

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2021 49:31


    In EP131 of the Random history of Belgium, we look at the expansion of the port of Antwerp, we focus on two shipyards and their importance and eventual decline. We look at the Saint-Michiels abbey, the straightening of the Scheldt river, Cockerill yards and of course Boel shipyards in Temse.

    EP130 - Trappist WestVleteren

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 42:53


    EP130 for this episode, I looked at the Trappist abbey of WestVleteren, their Cistercian religious order and their famous Trappist beers. We look at the early history of the site and their beer, while drinking a nice #Trappist

    EP129 - Black Sunday

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 49:24


    EP129 We look at the November 1991 election day, we look at the previous governments in charge, the way they wen down. The rise of new parties, and a few older ones that gained power, we talk about the aftermath and impact of this important election and their key players like CVP/PSC, SP/PS, Volksunie, Vlaams Blok and ROSSEM.

    EP128 - Jean-Pierre Van Rossem - Moneytron

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 51:51


    In EP128 we'll take a look at author, politician, macro-economic and "enfant terrible" of the early 1990s in Belgium: Jean-Pierre Van Rossem. We look at his Moneytron system, his media image, fraud allegations, political party and downfall.

    EP127 - Belgians in Korea

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 45:56


    In EP127 we'll take a quick look at the Belgian volunteer corps during the Korean war, we'll look at how Belgium got involved, who was sent there and what their impact and actions.

    EP126 - Georges Lemaître and the universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 36:49


    In EP126 we talk about abbé, Georges Lemaître, the begin behind the expanding universe theory. We look at his life, his connection with Albert Einstein and why he's been important in Belgian and even world history.

    EP125 - The Walloon movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 52:07


    EP125 is the last episode on our political institutions and movements for now, and deals with the Walloon movement, the language law of 1932. We talk about Jules Destrée, Julien Delaitte, letters to king Albert I, the struggle for the French language privileges and much more.

    EP124 - The Flemish movement (part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 54:45


    In Episode 124 of the Random history of Belgium we'll get into the post-war struggle of the Flemish movement, we look at the different groups and political parties emerging, as well as the rise and fall of the Volksunie party and much more.

    EP123 - The Flemish movement (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 40:15


    In EP123 of the Random history of Belgium, is part 2 on the history of the Flemish movement. We explore the 1914 tot 1946 timeframe. We examine collaboration, repression and the changing language and symbolism of the writers/politicians during that time.

    EP122 - The Flemish movement (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2020 45:35


    In EP122 of the Random history of Belgium podcast, is part 1 of 2 on the history of the Flemish movement. We'll look at their goals, the rhetoric, origins and explain the tipping point from cultural to political organization and much more.

    EP121 - Telenet

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 46:12


    In EP121 of the Random history of Belgium, we look at one of our biggest telecom providers and their origins. We'll look at the original cable network, the municipalities, funding and their growth into the modern internet, telephony and tv provider they are now.

    EP120 - Belgian TV - part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 42:38


    In part 3 on Belgian Television history we look at the commercial stations, the changing publisher landscape, VTM and DPG-media. #Belgium #historypods

    EP119 - Belgian TV - part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 39:56


    Episode 119 of the Random history of Belgium continues the history of TV and telecom in Belgium. We look at the 1958 to 1996 time period, with the new headquarters for the state television, TV programming, color Tv and the coax cable network.

    EP118 - Belgian TV - part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 39:19


    Episode 118 of the Random history of Belgium starts with the history of television. We look at the early days, experimental TV and the NIR-INR. We also explain the Eurovision phenomenon and more...

    EP117 - François Englert

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 18:47


    Episode 117 of the Random History of Belgium, is all about the life and work of the Belgian physicist François Englert, who won a Noble prize in 2013. We look at his life, work and theories. #RHOB #CERN

    EP116 - Leo Baekeland and the plastic revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 42:17


    EP116 Gives us an insight in the live, work and inventions of Leo #Baekeland. A chemist who started his career in #Belgium and moved to the USA to become one of the main inventors of synthetic plastic with his invention of Bakelite. #RHOB

    EP115 - Emilie Claeys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 31:07


    EP115 zooms in on an aspect of the late 19th century struggles of labourers during the industrial revolution. We look at the life and work of Emilie Claeys, who put women's voting rights on the agenda during the first wave of feminism.

    EP114 - Luxembourg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 45:30


    In EP114 of the #RHOB Random history of #Belgium podcast, we learn about Luxembourg: the county, duchy, their Burgundian rulers, the origins, the myth and the changing borders. We'll follow the history of one of our provinces, but mainly our neighbours: the country named the Grand Duchy Luxembourg.

    EP112 - The ugliest country in the world - R. Braem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 54:49


    EP112 of the Random history of Belgium podcast will look at the life, buildings, concepts of influential architect and urban planner Renaat Braem. We talk about modernism, brutalism, the linear city and many other concepts and his real-life projects and buildings.

    EP113 - Leopold II (re-recording of EP7)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 44:06


    EP113 of the Random history of Belgium is a re-recording and adaptation of a  4 year old episode out the controversial King of Belgium, Leopold II. We look at his life, the colony, how he got the "mandate" to colonise and his later life and death. This was rewritten en re-recorded in June 2020

    EP111 - The White March (part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 50:43


    EP111 - We'll look at the October 1996 tot 2020 timeframe about the White March protests, the #Dutroux case and we'll look at one of the most weird incidents in recent history, the commissions, the trial and much more.

    EP110 - The White March (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 45:02


    EP111 is the second part in a multi-part episode on the White March on Brussels (1996). We chronologically go over the crimes of Marc Dutroux, the ingestivation and we'll continue our journey into what caused the anger leading up to this massive demonstration.

    EP109 - The White March (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 36:44


    EP109 is the first part in a multi-part episode on the White March on Brussels held in 1996. We'll look into what it was, what caused it, and begin a journey through the chronological order of events leading up to this demonstration.

    EP108 - Adriaen Brouwer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 35:57


    EP108 - Tells the story of the master of emotions, the 'second Breughel"... the painter Adriaen Brouwer. Who lived in the early 17th century, shifting between Amsterdam and Antwerp. We look at his life and paintings, and his role in history.

    EP107 - Witloof - Belgian Endives

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2020 30:25


    EP107 of the Random history of #Belgium, deals with another food item important to our history, we'll talk about Brussels Chicory, #Witloof or Endives. We'll look at what it is, how it was discovered and how it's cultivated over time. #BelgianHistory

    EP106 - Origins: the Belgian election system - part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2020 54:40


    EP106 - The 3rd part of our Origins of the Belgian election system episide, and we go through the 1949 to more recent years, the regions gain importance, we see a few notable elections like the one of 1971 and 1991 and their impact, we also look at the evolution of the seat distribution.  

    EP105 - Origins: the Belgian election system - part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2020 39:29


    EP105, the 2nd part of the origins of the Belgian election system, we start with 1899 to 1949 and the adaptations made along the way for a more stable and math based seat distribution in parliamant, we go over the social struggles and women's suffrage.

    EP104 - Origins: the Belgian election system - part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 46:24


    In this episode in our origins series, we'll look at the origins of the Belgian election system, its evolution and we'll look at the first provisional governement for Belgium. We'll recap some early history and look at the 19th century evoltion of our elections in this first part.

    EP103 - Lotus Bakeries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 30:51


    In EP103 we take a look at speculaas and speculoos, but also one of the biggest brands of biscuits in Belgium: Lotus. We look at the pastries and company history.

    EP102 - The dioxin crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2020 30:27


    With EP102 we visit the 1990s politics during a food scandal, leading to some key moments in political history. We look at what this crisis was all about, how it physically came to be and take a look at the repercussions, political fallout and the key figures playing a role in it.

    EP101 - Amikejo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2019 37:04


    EP101 - We look at the mini-state or territory that existed for 100 years within the current Belgian borders: Neutral-Moresnet. We look at its strange start, the economy, the Mosselman family and the many aspects that made this a special place in between their neighbors like Germany and The Netherlands.

    EP100 - 100th episode - JCVD and more...

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 53:55


    This is the 100th episode of the Random history of Belgium. "I'm still kicking."

    EP99 - Fort Breendonk - Belgium in WWII (part 12)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 45:07


    In Episode 99 of the Random history of Belgium we look at one of the subjects I've very briefly talked about during the Battle for Belgium episodes. Fort Breendonk. A SS-run concentration camp during WWII. We look at the stories, the victims and a history of the Fort.

    EP98 - About mystic lambs and Just judges

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 45:51


    Episode 98 of the Random history of #Belgium podcast: It's one of the most famous and important paintings in the world, commonly known as “the Ghent Altarpiece”. We'll learn more about who made it, what it depicts and what happened to it over the last 5 centuries. #vaneyck2020 #justjudges links: http://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/ https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-ghent-altarpiece-closed-after-restauration/HQHr1poJoZ8F_A https://vaneyck2020.be/  

    EP97 - Saint Damien

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2019 43:08


    In Episode 97, the life, death, and travels of Father Damien are the central theme. We'll look at his history, faith, travels to Hawaii and the aftermath of his death, as well as his sainthood. Virtual tour: https://www.visitleuven.be/en/saint-anthonys-chapel

    hawaii virtual belgium molokai father damien saint damien
    EP96 - Manneken Pis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 31:15


    EP96 of the Random #history of #Belgium finally talks about our main man Manneken Pis, aka Petit Julien. We look at his personality, origins, stories, adventures and the content of his pee, as well as his extended family. #Brussels #MannekenPis

    EP95 - The "SuperClub" debacle

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 47:09


    Episode 95 of the Random history of #Belgium dives into the history of a video-shop company "SuperClub". We'll look at the people behind it, the funds, the failure and the many backroom deals that ended up costing many people their live savings. 

    EP94 - Antwerp's golden century (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2019 47:58


    EP94 will continue the story of the golden century of #Antwerp, we look at more buildings, art, a mayor of the city, the Spanish and French fury, and the eventual siege on the city. The episode will end in 1585 when the Spanish took control of Antwerp.  

    EP93 - Antwerp's golden century (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 32:37


    EP93 is a two-part episode on the very prosperous and important golden century of the city of Antwerp. We'll talk about early history shortly, the role it played after the decline of Bruges, the many buildings, art and persons that mark this exceptional timeframe.    

    EP92 - The Agusta and Dassault schandals

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019 53:55


    The Random history of Belgium EP.92 continues the path with a deeper dive into the scandals that were uncovered during the A.Cools murder investigation. We'll look at the who, what and how of these scandals. We take a look at an embarrassing moment in socialist party history as well, and at the implications of these cases for Belgian politics in general.

    EP91 - The assassination of André Cools

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 40:00


    EP91 - We dive into a political assasination that happened in the beginning of the 1990s and would leave its mark on the political landscape. We follow the career of André Cools, the murder, the trial and the events that followed, as well as the fall out of the murder trial.

    EP90 - Resistance - Belgium in WWII (part 11)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 58:12


    EP90 of the Random history of Belgium dives back in the WWII series. In this one episode (part 11) we'll take an overview of the resistance groups that sprung up during the war. We explore a few of their specific actions as well as explain the political backgrounds and the causes for some of their actions as well as their motives.  

    EP89 - BESIX - Belgian concrete

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2019 34:54


    The Random history of #Belgium explores one of the main building companies: #besix They're active around the world with a specialization in reinforced concrete. The construction company that built one of the biggest building in the world and most people never heard of is the subject of this episode.

    EP88 - Belgians and Mobutu (final part)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2019 53:54


    EP88 of the Random history of Belgium we'll look into the late 80s of the Mobutu regime until the 1997 end. We'll see the widespread corruption, increased economic aid, diplomatic failings and the poverty, as well as the reactions in Belgium. The rebellion and battle of Kolwezi, and the eventual experiments with democratization and the downfall of the regime.  

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