Events from the year 2003 in Belgium
Incumbents Monarch: Albert II Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt
Events February 1 February – Lucas Van Looy consecrated as bishop of Ghent 15 February – 70,000 people march through the streets of Brussels as part of the global anti-war protest. 15–16 February - Antwerp Diamond Heist (largest diamond robbery and one of the largest robberies in history)
April 12 April – Wedding of Prince Laurent and Claire Coombs
May 15 May – Art deco cinema De Roma in Borgerhout reopens as a cultural centre and performance venue 18 May – Belgian federal election, 2003
June 1 June – Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Belgium
July 12 July – Verhofstadt II Government sworn in
August
September 7 September – Guy Harpigny consecrated as bishop of Tournai
October 1 October – Merger between 3 universities leads to the establishment of the University of Antwerp.
Births
23 April – Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, fifth child of Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este and Princess Astrid of Belgium 20 August – Prince Gabriel of Belgium, second child of Philippe of Belgium (then Duke of Brabant) and Mathilde of Belgium
Deaths
January 8 January - Franz Drappier comic book writer 11 January - Bob Maertens soccer player 22 January - Georges Mommerency politician 29 January - Louis Baret singer and comedian
February 4 February Pierre Carteus soccer player André Noyelle cyclist 6 February - Mark Braet poet and politician 9 February - René Uyttendaele mayor 26 February Christian Goethals race-car driver Michel Van Maele mayor
March 11 March - Jacques Yerna politician 31 March - Theo Mertens trumpet player
April 3 April - Karel Boumans comic book writer 17 April - Jeff Schell molecular biologist 20 April - Henri Lemaître papal diplomat
May 15 May Rik Van Steenbergen cyclist Marcel Thielemans singer and trombone player 22 May - Albert Mettens soccer player
June 1 June - André Lootens mayor 26 June - Gerard Gaudaen wood carver
July 18 July - Daniël Van Avermaet TV presenter
August 1 August - Guy Thys soccer manager 5 August - Maurice Mollin cyclist
September 4 September - Lola Bobesco violinist 8 September - August Vanistendael union leader and politician 22 September Maxime Brunfaut architect Armand Pien weather man and TV presenter
October 29 October - Albert Cool mayor 30 October - Antoon Roosens philosopher
November 11 November - Paul Janssen, founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica
December 8 December - Charly Talbot politician 11 December - Ann Petersen actress
See also 2003 in Belgian television
References