A selection of my articles published in Belgian newspapers and magazines.
SCHOOL SHOOTING AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Alexandria, Arielle and Brian, young people with dreams and ambitions. They were killed in a mass shooting at their university. My heart breaks when I think of their families and friends. The impact of such a tragedy on communities in Michigan is immense. I wrote about it for @knack.be (February 17, 2023, article in Dutch).
Het New york van sofia vandaele
In the series “Ask an Expat” in Style Trends (published in October 2022) Sofia Vandaele, General Manager of Hotel Intercontinental New York Barclay, takes you on a tour of Manhattan and shares her favorite addresses. (article in Dutch).
Furniture & Flipflops
Extremis is a Belgian outdoor furniture company. A couple of years ago they opened their American headquarters in Rockford, Michigan. I visited Thomas Wynants, second generation Extremis, and Ashlee Anvik, the husband and wife team running Extremis USA. Published in Style Trends, July 7, 2022 (article in Dutch).
Travel: into the dollyverse
The compelling podcast ‘Dolly Parton’s America’ lured me to the state of Tennessee. To the Dollywood theme park and the Great Smoky Mountains, the region where Tennessee's most famous daughter grew up. In Dollywood, I met with Dolly Parton's hologram, and almost cried in her museum watching the video where she tells the story of 'I will always love you.’ Published in Knack Weekend, December 8, 2021 (article in Dutch)
Travel: southeast Alaska
In early September, I boarded the Nieuw Amsterdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, in Seattle for a trip to southeast Alaska. Breathtaking landscapes, whales, bears, eagles, and an introduction to the traditions and culture of Alaska Natives: my travel story was published in Knack Weekend, November 3, 2021 (article in Dutch)
Minoru Yamasaki in Detroit
The US commemorated the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The Twin Towers were world-famous, but the architect was later largely forgotten. I wrote an article on Minoru Yamasaki, a man who sought serenity but built a megaproject in New York. In his hometown Detroit you can still admire his work. Published in De Standaard Weekblad, August 28, 2021(article in Dutch).
Happy birthday margaret
Margaret Roets-Pattyn turned 100 on May 9th. Her whole life, Margaret has played an important role in the Belgian community in the Detroit area. Portrait of an extraordinary woman. Published in De Standaard on May 27, 2021. (article in Dutch)
The iconic adirondack chair
The legendary Adirondack Chair has become the symbol of American Summers. I wrote about the history of this iconic chair for Knack Weekend (article in Dutch, published May 26, 2021).
between two worlds
Living abroad sometimes means missing out on food items you can’t find here. But should I move back to Belgium, I would miss things from here (definitely Sister Pie’s Salted Maple Pie). Published in De Standaard on May 20, 2021 (article in Dutch).
A police dog with an opinion
Cannabis is legal in Michigan. On the federal level, it is not, which creates a legal gray area, even for police dogs. My second contribution for De Standaard (article in Dutch)
studying dutch
This month (May 2021), I write a weekly contribution for De Standaard about daily life in Michigan. Our kids just started Dutch language classes. (article in Dutch)
Zillow surfing
In these pandemic times, we all deserve some escapism. Enter Zillow surfing, scrolling through realtor websites, and looking at dream houses. As a bonus, you’ll learn a lot about America. Yes, your kitchen should definitely have granite countertops. Published in Knack Weekend, April 14, 2021 (article in Dutch).
Meet Laura De Becker
Belgian Laura De Becker is the curator at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. I interviewed and photographed her for Knack Weekend (article in Dutch, published on January 27, 2021)
Sitting on the porch
My article about the front porch, this great American architectural classic. Nowadays, a front porch is high on the wish list of millennials looking for their dream house and in corona times, the front porch is great to safely meet with neighbors. I interviewed and photographed front porch enthusiasts for Knack Weekend (article in Dutch, published December 2, 2020)
A political travel story
A walk around Detroit with historian and tour guide Jamon Jordan will teach you a lot about systemic racism. Mr. Jordan takes us to five historic places (article in Dutch). Published in Knack Weekend, October 29, 2020.
A Political travel story(French version)
A walk around Detroit with historian and tour guide Jamon Jordan will teach you a lot about systemic racism. Mr. Jordan takes us to five historic places (article in French). Published in Le Vif Weekend, October 29, 2020.
World class architecture in Detroit
This is my article published in the Belgian newspaper De Morgen on Feb. 9, 2019. It highlights the amazing architecture in Detroit (article in Dutch).
Citytrip to Detroit
What to do and see in Detroit, where to eat and where to sleep: my travel story in Knack Weekend, Jan. 2019 (article in Dutch).
Edsel and eleanor Ford House
I visited the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House for the Belgian Plus Magazine (article in Dutch).
Palmer house in Ann Arbor
Staying the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright house? Yes, you can! I visited Palmer House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Belgian Plus Magazine.
A farewell to the gazette van detroit
At the end of 2018, The Gazette van Detroit ceased publication after 104 years. It was the only immigrant newspaper left in the US. My article was published in Knack magazine on Jan. 15, 2019 (article in Dutch).
The 20th anniversary of the Columbine Shooting
My article about the impact of mass shootings on schools, students and communities in the US. Published in Knack magazine, April 23, 2019 (article in Dutch).
A Dutch take on the history of Detroit
Pieter Uittenbogaard is a Dutch economics professor and America expert. When Detroit went bankrupt in 2013, he couldn't believe the lack of coverage and interest in the newspapers of his home country. He decided to write a book (800 pages) on the history of Detroit. I interviewed Pieter for The Gazette van Detroit. Published, October 18, 2018.
Moving to the US
In the Summer of 2016 my family relocated to Michigan, from Belgium. I shared that experience with ‘Vlamingen in de Wereld’, a Belgian expat magazine (article in Dutch).