This article details events occurring in the year 2004 in Belgium. Major events include a gas explosion in Ghislenghien, which killed 24 people, and the restructuring of the Vlaams Blok political party.
Incumbents Monarch: Albert II Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt
Events 1 March – Marc Dutroux brought to trial. 22 March – Marc Dutroux sentenced to life imprisonment. 24 April – Sporting Anderlecht wins the Belgian First Division 30 July – Gas explosion in Ghislenghien, Hainaut, causes 24 deaths. 21 August – Justine Henin wins the Olympic final against French tennis player Amélie Mauresmo, earning the gold medal 29 August – Kimi Räikkönen wins the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. 25 October – Patrick Hoogmartens succeeds Paul Schruers as Bishop of Hasselt 14 November – Flemish political party Vlaams Blok dissolves and rebrands as Vlaams Belang. 26 December – 12 Belgians are among the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Publications Xavier Mabille, Histoire politique de la Belgique: Facteurs et acteurs de changement (Brussels, C.R.I.S.P.).
Art and architecture
Buildings Ethias Arena opens in Hasselt North Galaxy Towers in Brussels completed (begun 2002)
Births 6 January – Roméo Lavia, footballer 6 February – Princess Louise of Belgium 2 March – Evy Poppe, snowboarder 13 October – Ben Mertens, snooker player
Deaths
January 1 January – Jean-Pierre Hallet, anthropologist and human rights activist. 7 January – Leonce-Albert Van Peteghem, bishop 28 January – André Van Lysebeth, yoga instructor
February 2 February – Arthur Gilson, politician 7 February – Leopold Maertens 9 February – Mechtilde van Mechelen, actress 11 February – Ugo Prinsen, actor 13 February – Jan De Laender, psychologist and journalist 21 February – John Taylor, politician
March 13 March – Roger Nols, mayor 14 March – Petrus Weemaels, composer 17 March – Jan Van Der Auwera, soccer player
April 2 April – Guillaume Marie van Zuylen, bishop 4 April – Briek Schotte, cyclist 5 April – Fernand Goyvaerts, soccer player
May 3 May – Marc Mortier, entrepreneur 5 May – Marc Scheers, TV producer 16 May – Omer Grawet, journalist and news reporter 18 May – Rik Hamblok, abstract painter 26 May – Frans Buyens, film and TV-director
June 7 June – Karel Biddeloo comic book creator 15 June Maurits Sabbe, priest and theologian Denise Zimmerman, actress 20 June – Stive Vermaut, cyclist
July 3 July – Freddy de Vree, poet 8 July – Emile Brichard, cyclist 27 July – Léon Hurez, politician
August 2 August – François Craenhals, comic book writer 10 August – Remi Piryns 31 August — Jean-Marie Ghuysen, chemist
September 5 September – Cecil de Strycker, economist and banker 9 September – Hein Beniest, film director 16 September – Cyrillus-Camillus Barbary, First World War veteran 26 September – Tim Pauwels, cyclist 30 September – Fernand Terby conductor
See also 2004 in Belgian television
References