Winter 2016/17 • n°16 expat time - ING Belgium...expat time • winter • 2016/17 3 Winter reflections I n a time of political upheaval, Expat Time called on ING Belgium’s chief

Winter 2016/17 • n°16

expat time

Essential lifestyle and business insights for foreign nationals in Belgium

INTERVIEW

“We can’t afford to create a further digital divide”

ELENA BONFIGLIOLISenior director, Health industry, Microsoft

IN ThIs IssuEInvestment: surviving uncertain times

Why Belgium is a top location for film directors

What’s on over the holiday season

expat time • winter • 2016/17 3

Winter reflections

In a time of political upheaval, Expat Time called on ING Belgium’s chief investment officer to cast his eye over the financial markets and hazard some predictions for 2017. Continuing the economic theme, our tax expert looks at the OECD’s new financial transparency

regulations, while Elena Bonfiglioli of Microsoft tells us about how the digital future of pharmaceuticals can save lives.

The country is proving to be a favourite location for movie makers, with TV and film crews from around the world zooming in on Belgium. They’re drawn by its culture, archi-tecture and landscape, as well as its regional tax incentives. Discover some of the famous productions filmed in Belgium, by local and international companies. We also take a trip to Lyon, the gateway to the south of France. It’s a fantastic destination for a weekend break or longer, especially if you head to the surrounding hills and their vineyards.

The Expat Time team wishes you a relaxing and fun holiday season. We’ll be back in 2017, ready to embrace another year.

Dave DeruytterHead of expatriates and non-residents ING [email protected]/expatING Expat is also on Facebook: facebook.com/ingexpats

Recharge from your 180° flat-bed seat from Delta One™ when you fly nonstop to New York JFK.

For further information please visit DELTA.COM, call our reservations number 02 620 01 83 or contact your local travel agent.

YOU REFUEL.WE FLY.

© 2016 Delta Air Lines, Inc.

DL00981 Belgium Expat Magazine 198x275mm AW V2.indd 1 06/09/2016 11:17


IN ThIs IssuE

6 PROFILEs

Meet four expats living in Belgium

8 INTERVIEW

Microsoft Health executive Elena Bonfiglioli on life-altering technology

14 FINaNcE

Bank secrecy: the common reporting standard explained

16 INVEsTMENT

ING chief investment officer Thierry Masset offers advice

20 ENTREPRENEuR

Clarisse Martin-Kernéis launches legal platform for expats

22 TRaVEL

Explore the French city of Lyon

24 LIFEsTYLE

On location: Belgium plays a starring role in many an international movie

28 TEchNOLOgY

Digital gadget gifts

29 agENDa

Cultural highlights in Brussels, Belgium and further afield

33 WhaT’s NEW

The latest scoop on retail and restaurants

34 LasT WORD

Derek Blyth muses on life in Belgium

Editor • Sarah Crew

Deputy editor • Sally Tipper

Art director • Patricia Brossel

Project coordinator • Thomas

Buytaert

Contributors • Nada Assi • Derek

Blyth • Paula Dear • Michele Matta •

Ronald Meeus • Ian Mundell • Linda A

Thompson • Georgio Valentino

Cover • Elena Bonfiglioli, by Bart

Dewaele

Sales executive • Helena

Vreedenburgh

Account executive • Evelyne

Fregonese

Expat Time is a publication of

ING BELGIUM SA/NV,

Marnixlaan 24,

1000 Brussel, RPR Brussel

VAT BE 403.200.393 and

Ackroyd Publications SA/NV

Editorial • Content Connections

(department of Ackroyd) and

ING BELGIUM

Publisher • Hans De Loore,

Gossetlaan 30

1702 Groot-Bijgaarden

Photo credits

P5 Top © Bart Dewaele; centre,

Tristan Deschamps © Lyon

Tourisme et Congrès, bottom ©

Eric Danhier

P8-12 Bart Dewaele

P14 Yogesh S More/Belga

P16 CSP Frenta/Belga

P18 David Ewing/Belga

P22 Tristan Deschamps © Lyon

Tourisme et Congrès

P23 Left and centre, Marie Perrin;

right, Tristan Deschamps ©

Lyon Tourisme et Congrès

P26 Black © Johan Voets

P29 The 10 Commandments for

the Guitarist According to

Captain Beefheart © Joris Van

de Moortel/Galerie Nathalie

Obadia

P30 Winter Wonders © Eric

Danhier; Spartacus © Altin

Kaftira

P31 Vive l’Armée © Superamas;

Anima © Le Parc Distribution

P32 Arthur Streeton, Golden

Summer, Eaglemont, 1889 ©

National Gallery of Australia,

Canberra

P33 Bozar cafe © Frederik

Vercruysse

22

29

8

22

29

6 expat time • winter • 2016/17

Alison Woodward“My husband convinced me that I could have a future here”“I’ve been in Belgium since 1985, and in Europe since 1971, but I originally hail from New York and Ohio. I’m a professor and senior associate fellow at the Institute of European Studies, where I carry out political and sociological research on gender and diversity in the European Union. My husband, who is a professor in general linguistics at the University of Antwerp, convinced me that I could have a future here. We live in Brussels in Schaerbeek, the fifth largest commune in Belgium; it reminds me of NYC. One of my main interests is music, with the International Chorale of Brussels and Schaerbeek Music Academy. I’m also involved in women’s activ-ism through local organisations such as RoSa, Sophia and Rhea. We are going to spend Christmas at home: dinner will be champagne, lobster and salmon with sweets and presents, and then we’ll go to London for New Year, enjoying music, theatre and shopping.”

Alison and her Belgian husband have two adult children who have triple nationality: Belgian, US and El Salvador

Anna Staffas “We are looking to buy an apartment here, so Brussels is now where I consider home”“I grew up in the Åland Islands in the Baltic Sea, an autonomous region that belongs to Finland but is Swedish-speaking. Before I came to Brussels six years ago, I lived in Gothenburg, Sweden for six years. My partner (hopefully soon to be husband!) and I are currently looking to buy an apartment, so Brussels is now where I consider home. I work in client liaison at The Fry Group’s Brussels branch, where I take care of day-to-day client-related matters as well as Belgian pension admin-istration for individuals and the self-employed. I also import raw food ice cream, which is sold in organic stores all over Belgium. I moved here because my partner had a job offer; shortly after arriving, I started working as well. We live near the upper end of Avenue Louise and really appreciate being close to the Bois de la Cambre and other green areas. Both of us enjoy running, which played a big role when we were choosing the location. When our daughter was born, we got a running stroller, which we have used a lot; this summer she finished her first race – with a little help from me. At Christmas we are going to Sweden to celebrate with my partner’s family, as usual. There will be lots of other children and as it is our daughter’s first real Christmas (she was only two weeks old last year), it will be fun.”

Anna holds dual Swedish and Finnish nationality. She and her Swedish husband have a one-year-old daughter

Profiles •

get connectedFour expats tell us about their lives in Belgium


Sandy and her husband are Irish and live in Uccle with their two daughters, aged nine and six

Sandy Dowling“having children has helped us get to know our

neighbours”

“We’ve been in Belgium since 2008. I worked in Germany for three summers while I was at university, but Brussels was my first real move from Ireland. I work as a materials planner in the health-care section of a German multinational. Most of my colleagues are Belgians, which is great for getting to know the issues that matter to locals. A lot of my expat friends have little or no contact with Belgians and they miss out on that part of their adopted country and culture. Having children has also helped us get to know our neighbours. The girls attend a French-speaking Belgian school. They know they are Irish, but to them Ireland is a place for fun holidays to see grandparents and cousins. My husband travels for work so I am very often single-parenting as well as work – that doesn’t leave a lot of time for other activities. But I find time to run twice a week and try to take part in various running events, including the Brussels 20km. I also really enjoy baking. Because of short holidays we are staying in Brussels for Christmas this year, but my sister is coming to visit for a few days from England with her husband and son. Brussels is really lovely at Christmas time. Every year the highlight is going to see the lights display in the Grand Place.”

Bakr Ahmed“I have a passion for medical research and believe in the importance of communicating it to the public”

“As soon as I was born, we moved to Saudi Arabia where my parents used to work, returning to Egypt when I was 12. In 2008, I went to the UK for six months on a research internship. Then I came to Belgium in 2009 for my doctorate at Ghent University and am still living in this lovely city. I have a PhD in medical sciences and work as a medical writing consultant. I help pharmaceutical companies communicate the features of their new products to the regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals and patients. I have a passion for medical research and believe in the importance of communicating it to the public. A significant

part of taxation goes into funding medical research, but limited efforts are made to update the public on the outcome. In addition, raising

public awareness of emerging diseases and socio-demographic health risks can improve public health. I regularly write for

online health magazines that communicate modern medical discoveries to the public. I also have a passion for music of all sorts of genres – pop, trans, flamenco and Arabic in particu-lar. I am planning to spend the Christmas holidays in Dahab, Egypt. It’s summer practically all year round there, and there are lots of water and camping activities.”

Bakr is Egyptian and lives in Ghent


Navigating the intersection at which economics and technology meet society has been a career-long passion for

Elena Bonfiglioli. Although the seeds were sown while she was studying at home in Italy, she found her calling after landing in Bruges 20 years ago and encountering people who inspired her to follow her belief that business should look beyond the bottom line. Headhunted by Microsoft 14 years ago, she now leads the software giant’s health industry division, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As senior director for the strategy and marketing team, her focus is to help keep the company at the forefront of technological advances that can improve and save lives, including remote diagnostics, artificial intelligence and cloud-based health data. Bonfiglioli spoke to ING’s head of expatriates, Dave Deruytter, about the healthcare revolution, trusting the cloud, and why a genuine work-life balance is essential for happiness and leadership.

Health in the cloudsMicrosoft’s Elena Bonfiglioli on how the digital revolution can transform how we treat the sick and elderly, improving care and saving lives

✶ By Paula Dear Photos by Bart Dewaele

Interview •



Interview •

how did you find the passion for what you do?

I think you discover who you are very early, and there’s always a common thread while you develop. If you can listen to yourself, you really understand where your passion is, and mine is clearly at the point where business meets society and can improve outcomes.

My first job was as a policy researcher for the Italian government while studying at Modena University. I was looking at how changes in personal income tax would be reflected in the socioeconomic distribution of the Italian population, particularly for disadvantaged families. After leaving Italy and coming to Bruges with a scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs I met a really interesting person, who was teaching corporate social responsibility.

And that’s where I made my big discovery. There were very few people doing this at that time. From studying economics and the theory of how companies evolve, to the idea that they embrace new types of responsibility beyond the bottom line, it was like ‘wow’! I said ok, this is going to be my job. But there were no such jobs… Luckily, I found CSR Europe (formerly the European Business Network for Social Cohesion). I interviewed the managing director for my thesis and I came out with an internship. I stayed for six years and networked with a lot of companies, among them Microsoft. I worked in corporate citizenship and education policy outreach for Microsoft before moving to health in 2011.

how does healthcare fit into a tech company’s business?

Healthcare is a sector that’s poised to transform, and fast. It’s lagging behind in the digital transformation because of legacy systems, because of the way it’s

structured and so on. But budgets are unsustainable because of the ageing population. People are not only living longer, they are living with more than one disease. They can’t be treated in hospital, they need to be treated every day at home. We worry a lot about the environment – that’s fine, but we have another sustainability issue, which is ourselves.

Health is an amazing sector of innovation, if you think about how much we’ve achieved. However, we could enhance people’s productivity. We have a shortage of supply of people who can deliver care, and a boom in demand. Technology can come in as an assistant. There’s a big hype about artificial intelligence and whether robots are going to replace us, but I think that’s wrong. We should embrace a vision in which the robots can assist us.

So the question is not when do you replace a doctor to do your diagnosis, it is how can I empower them to do their decision-making and their diagnosis better? How can I give them tools so they don’t have to spend time looking for information, or delineate a brain tumour manually when a machine trained to see the anatomy of an organ can do that a hundred times faster and more accurately?

How do you make sure your health data can travel with you, or make it possible for doctors to look at the same medical image from different places? How can different specialists look at my case in a way that’s as easy as making a Skype call to a friend? I think of it as the journey towards more personalised, mobile, productive, connected, preventive and predictive healthcare. That is the revolution.

are people ready to have their health details stored in the cloud?

“I think you discover who you are very early, and there’s always a common thread while you develop”


We trust our financial details to it, so why not something that can diagnose my specific type of cancer quickly? There are more and more forms of authentication, like facial recognition, so I think we need to understand that if we keep holding back this sector because of fear – illegitimate fear, emotional fear – we are being irrational. This is why we have that policy conversation about what is a cloud that we can trust? A cloud that is inclusive, responsible and for global good – for example, what if I wanted to donate my data for research?

What interesting projects are you working on?

We have a project in the UK for patients who have had strokes, or are at high risk of having one. The NHS is introducing Skype for Business consultations with a stroke specialist for immediate diagnosis.

It can prevent long-term disabilities and save lives. And take mental health. In many countries in Europe, such as Finland, they have created digital villages for some pathologies and conditions, including mental health, because there is still a stigma around it. You don’t have to travel for a consultation, it’s less intrusive, you don’t have to wait so long, and they can serve more people.

Same for the elderly and for rehabilitation – you can do it from your home, and that means better outcomes. We have a case of an 80-year-old lady in an isolated village in Sweden who got a diagnosis of diabetes in a virtual care room and now she can manage her condition that way. The nearest hospital is more than 60km away. It’s expensive, and it’s not easy in deep snow.

We also have a project with the La Paz Institute in Madrid for children

who have Dravet syndrome, a very rare form of epilepsy. It takes years to understand which gene it is and to make a cure. You need very strong computing capabilities to reduce the time of diagnosis. From years it could be brought down to a month. So it’s a human impact, it’s a business opportunity, it’s cost-effective, and it has digital dividends in society.

how do you adapt to the range of countries you’re dealing with?

You need to start with the needs of your customer and with their reality. I can’t go and sell advanced analytics if there is no digital infrastructure, so sometimes creating that is the baseline.

The company’s mission is to empower people. Our CEO often talks about all the advances we’re making in technology,


Interview •

“People are not only living longer, they are living with more than one disease”

and how we can’t afford to create a further digital divide. We’ve been talking about that for a long time, but more and more we know there could be digital dividends in society if we invest in building the right skills, the right eco-system, the right new jobs.

how are you advancing opportunities for women in leadership?

That’s another passion of mine and it’s very important. I tell my daughter, you can be anything you want. The point is how to foster from very early on the environment in which there is no blue and pink, in which girls and women can do anything.

I was a founding member of the European Women in Leadership network. We needed to network for women in executive positions: not to moan about how difficult it is, but to exercise leadership from a female standpoint, to leverage those assets, and to create a better opportunity for new talent. We started a Talent Pool Programme in which we take people

can’t be a happy professional if you’re not a happy person. I think that’s really what keeps you balanced as a leader.

My family and my children make me happy, and having a supportive partner is crucial to making everything work. The idea of working from wherever allows you to combine professional development and family time, such as working from home so I can see the children a bit more in the morning. If you take time with your family, if you’re really present with them, then when you go back you are energised, your mind is clear. If you’re working, working, working, exhausting yourself, you have stress in your interactions, and no time for listening or reflecting.

I’ve been doing yoga meditation for 20 years and I love running and hiking. We also travel a lot as a family and go camping as well. I love nature. A fancy hotel is great, but 10 days in which you sleep on the ground, where you are in the forest and you make a fire, that’s very good for all of us.

from different organisations and they learn from each other. My experience has been very positive, but at a systemic level we are making slow progress. It’s a question of mindset and it starts in school.

You’ve studied, worked and travelled all over. Do you have any tips for settling in a new place?

Connect, connect, connect. Leverage your network, find local people who are inspirational. Having local friends is how you get to know the reality of where you live. It’s what I call getting glocal. Go to Belgian cooking classes, or wine-tasting or whatever it is, but get glocal. Show an interest in language. I took a couple of weeks training in Spa, where there’s a special Dutch language school where they don’t speak anything else – I think even if you’re dying they talk to you in Dutch!

how do you achieve a work-life balance?

For me the professional and the personal go together as one. You


share & share alikeMarc Cordier of ING explains how a global common reporting standard aims to combat tax evasion

Finance •


CRS IN pRaCtICe

For professional reasons, Mr Sanchez leaves Spain to settle in Belgium. He keeps shares in a securities account at a Spanish bank in Spain, but as he has become a taxpayer subject to personal income tax in Belgium, his fiscal address is now Belgium. Mr Sanchez will be subject to a yearly information exchange between the Spanish and Belgian fiscal authorities because of the securities account he maintains in Spain. This communication will mention the following financial information: the total value on 31 December each year of the shares in the account, the amount of dividends distributed by these shares and, if applicable, the amount of the sale of these shares.

In recent years, we’ve become used to seeing financial scandals on the newsstands. With Swiss Leaks, Lux Leaks, Offshore Leaks and the Panama Papers, the world

of finance has become front-page news.

These revelations have highlighted the need for urgency and efficiency in tackling fiscal fraud, tax evasion and aggressive fiscal planning – for example, by reinforcing the cooperation between fiscal authorities, or through fiscal transparency on a global level. This is the context in which to view the common reporting standard (CRS), a system for automatically exchanging financial information between fiscal authorities of OECD members and other countries.

The CRS has broadly taken inspiration from the Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act (Fatca), which came into force in the US in 2014. Under the act, countries have to communicate information related to “financial accounts” held outside the US by “US specified persons” to the American fiscal authorities. These specified persons can be US nationals living anywhere in the world, fiscal residents in the US of any nationality, and green card holders of any nationality living anywhere in the world. On the basis of the information received, the authorities will verify whether someone has correctly declared the assets and revenues they hold outside the US.

Since the beginning of 2016, more than 50 participating jurisdictions

have applied the CRS, according to the OECD. The first reporting between these participating jurisdictions will take place in 2017, relating to financial information from 2016. Other countries have already committed to applying the CRS from 1 January, 2017.

All the EU member states are among those applying the CRS from 1 January, 2016. The CRS has replaced the former savings directive, and its scope of application is much wider than that of the savings directive. Not only are there many more countries involved, in principle all financial revenues and assets come under its scope.

The principle is simple: anyone who holds a “financial account” – be it securities, current or checking account or insurance contract – with a “reporting financial institution” in a participating jurisdiction other than the participating jurisdiction where the person is a fiscal resident will be subject to a communication of information related to the value of the “assets” in their account, or to the income (dividends or interests, etc) produced by those assets, as well as “proceeds” received as a result of selling those assets.

A private individual’s place of fiscal residence is the state in which that person is subject to taxation as a resident according to the fiscal laws and regulations of that state.

oecd.org/tax/transparency/AEOI-commitments.pdf


It’s all about the moneyHow to save for the future amid political and economic turmoil? ING’s chief investment officer offers some advice for uncertain times

✶ By Linda A Thompson

Investment •

For a while, the dismally low interest rates on savings instruments have pushed many a consumer in search of higher returns toward

stock market and investment funds. But the days when financial markets offered hefty double-digit yields are long gone, and events like Brexit and Donald Trump’s election as US presi-dent are a reminder of how vulner-able stock markets are to geopolitical turmoil.

Against a background of increasing doubts about the sustainability of the monetary stimulus policies pursued by both the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, ING’s chief in-vestment officer Thierry Masset advises customers to be cautious and “un-

derweight” when it comes to bonds. “Given the very low interest rates and the risk of interest rates progressively rising in the future, we advise people not to invest in too long maturities in bonds, because that makes you much more sensitive to the rise in interest rates,” he says. As for equities, he advises investing in emerging markets equities, energy stocks – particularly oil – and US financials.

The success of US tech companies like Uber and Facebook on the US stock market has fuelled concerns about the likelihood of a new bubble, similar to the dot-com bubble at the turn of the century that caused both a stock crash and huge investor losses. Over the past three years, the company value of both Microsoft and Alphabet (Google’s


“The golden age of listed real estate may be behind us”

parent company) has doubled, for instance, while that of Facebook has tripled. But, Masset says, fears of a new internet bubble are unfounded. Most internet companies in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he says, were “completely overvalued”: their shares sold at sky-high prices, while the companies were reporting low earn-ings, losses even. This is simply not the case today, he says. “Today, in 2016, Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Oracle are really delivering strong earnings. The big difference between now and 2000 is clearly a question of valuation.”

Many eurozone countries are still reel-ing from the 2008 financial crisis, with stagnant economic growth the new normal, and low and even negative interest rates undermining profitability. Experts have suggested many of these problems might be resolved or at least alleviated by adoption of a common banking union, similar to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the US. Such a union would give eurozone countries shared responsibility for over-seeing financial institutions, salvaging unhealthy banks and insuring deposi-tors. But Masset says this project is like-ly to remain a distant, utopian dream. “A banking union tends to evolve into a type of fiscal union in which one country’s taxpayers are called upon to help another’s,” he says. “That’s un-popular and pretty much impossible to sell to voters in the wealthier eurozone countries.”


Investment •

The financial system, in any case, is much stronger today than it was before the 2008 crisis, with much tougher capital requirement rules now in place about the amount in capital a bank must hold as required by its regu-lator. “Most banks have nearly doubled their capital structure compared to 2008, so we are certainly in a better situation than then,” Masset says.

Confronted with the sharp decline in interest rates that followed the finan-cial crisis, many investors turned to real estate investment funds, which allow consumers to buy shares of a company that invests in property. Such assets have performed very well in recent years but, Masset notes, “the golden age of listed real estate may be behind us”. The performance of this asset class was after all always compared to the low yields on savings instruments and stock-quality bonds, and the yields of these two types of products may rise in the next year or two. “There is no more extra support provided by further falling yields,” he says.

Short-term interest rates in Europe are unlikely to go up and will remain where they are for the foreseeable future, Masset says. “It’s sure that in Europe the European Central Bank will keep interest rates low, even negative, for a long time.” But he sees a silver lining: rates are unlikely to drop any further. “We have touched the bottom in terms of short-term rates in the course of 2016. Will the rates go up sharply? No, because there is no reason to, but the

downside trend we have had for years is nearly finished,” he says.

Long-term rates, which determine for instance the interest rate paid on mortgages and bank loans to busi-nesses, have also been at a record low for a number of years. But here too, the downward tendency is coming to an end, Masset says. “We expect those long-term rates to rise, albeit very modestly in the coming quarters.”


Still, political events also influence stock markets’ performance and thus investment returns. When the UK voted to leave the European Union in the June referendum, the UK stock market sharply fell and the pound has remained low ever since. It’s impossible to say whether this is just the tip of the iceberg. ING economists estimate that leaving the EU could depress UK growth by approximately 1.2% and eurozone growth by 0.3% by the end of 2017 but, says Masset, the precise economic impact of Brexit is impossible to estimate at this stage.

“The eventual outcome and spillover effects depend on the unknowable me-chanics of the separation process and potential renegotiation of trade agree-ments,” he says. The fallout, in any case, may extend beyond the UK. “The UK’s voluntary withdrawal from the EU increases the odds that one of the euro area’s struggling economies eventu-ally decides to abandon the common currency,” he says. “Uncertainty after Brexit could create pressure on all the less-liquid currencies – like the Swedish and Norwegian krone and the eastern European currencies – and increase risk premiums in global risk assets, and es-pecially in pound and euro risk assets.”

Investors had only just digested Brexit when another hugely unexpected major political event occurred across the At-lantic. Immediately after Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president of the United States, US stock markets fell, as experts had predicted all along. But just

a day after his surprise victory, stocks rebounded, with investors apparently confident that a Trump presidency will be good for business – he has promised to slash the country’s 35% corporate income tax to 15% and decrease taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

The US economy has traditionally fared better under Democratic presidents, even if the Republican party has always been the more pro-business of the two major parties, due to its demands for lower taxes and less regulatory over-sight. “Since 1929, Democrat presi-dencies have delivered an annualised stock market return of 14.7% versus 5.4% for Republican presidencies,” Masset says, adding that US equity returns during every Democratic presi-dency since 1929 have been positive.

All in all, Masset advises consumers to remain aware of the economic realities when turning to the stock market. Expected returns will remain quite low for the foreseeable future because the economy is simply growing too slowly to produce an uptick on the stock mar-ket. “You have to be conscious that the expected returns will be in the low single digits, but this is compared to other alternatives like savings, where the yield is nearly zero,” he says. “We will live in this world of limited growth, limited inflation and therefore limited expected returns for financial assets. So investors have to be very clear about their financial goals and in their investment profile in order to avoid any negative surprises.”

“Investors have to be very clear about their financial goals and in their investment profile”

Entrepreneur •

I’ve always appreciated EU law, especially where it relates to people. My professional experience consists of leading a

multicultural team of legal professionals in a European institution and being secretary general of a European federation for many years. Now I’m setting up a consultancy on international family and succession law, as well as other legal matters with a cross-border element. It’s both a challenge and a passion.

Scribea is a platform of legal profes-sionals of around 30 nationalities from the EU as well as the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the US and elsewhere. It of-fers privileged access to foreign law, allowing for verification of specific points of law via our correspondents in these countries. We can offer inter-national customers a one-stop shop, and in some cases a legal opinion supplemented by tax advice. This is an added value compared to consulting a local lawyer or certain big firms. For example, to draw up a marriage contract between an Estonian and

Spaniard living in Belgium, we would check which laws apply or can be cho-sen to apply to patrimonial aspects of their relationship. We can also inform them about the efficiency of their contracts in each country where they have assets.

I am also involved in training courses for legal professionals, with a law professor who already teaches the practical aspects of private interna-tional law. And I work with a Belgian lawyer who will soon be launching an app, VideoTestaments, to help people avoid costly legal battles over wills.

As it’s a new activity, Scribea is cur-rently based in a co-working office with a nice interior and a professional welcome to make clients feel at home. I like being surrounded by other self-employed people who share the same concerns, and benefit from the dyna-mism of a network of professionals.

Setting up the company was rela-tively easy and the administrative procedure was quick. Managing the overall process was more difficult, even though we were familiar with the legal environment. We consulted a Belgian fiscal adviser with an international clientele – a valuable intermediary who helped us avoid mistakes. I welcome the freedom of being an independent worker, as I have two teenage sons and an international lobbyist husband who travels a lot.

scribea.eu

start me upAfter working for more than 25 years in European private law in Belgium, French lawyer Clarisse Martin-Kernéis is now involved in the launch of Scribea, a platform providing legal advice to expat families

It means we can offer international customers a real one-stop shop



Travel •

Escape to…

LYONFrance’s second metropolis is a gastronomic capital and a more welcoming city than Paris. It’s also one of Europe’s leading city-break destinations and can serve as a pit-stop for travellers driving south to warmer climes or en route to the Alps. The ancient capital of Gaul is a former industrial powerhouse and a major cultural hub, with an impressive and diverse architectural heritage, and in recent years it has been graced by contemporary designs by worldwide names. The convivial city is one of contrasts: the narrow streets and covered passageways of the medieval centre and the abundance of Roman ruins are all testament to Lyon’s long and illustrious past. The TGV from Brussels takes between three-and-a-half and five hours, with some direct trains. Tickets cost €50-€200 one way. Alternatively, Brussels Airlines flies regularly from Zaventem. lyon-france.com

cuLTuRE

The city is full of muse-ums; highlights include the Musée des Beaux Arts (a mini Louvre), the Musée des Arts Contemporains, Musée Lumière and the futuristic Musée des Confluences. One lovely institution is the Musée Gadagne in a Renais-sance building in the old town (Vieux Lyon), which has two museums: one devoted to the history of the city, the other to puppets from around the world. Consider catching a concert at the Auditorium Maurice Ravel by Lyon’s national orchestra. Alternatively, the Opéra de Lyon stages classical and modern interpreta-tions, while the Théatre des Celestins has a dreamy set-ting and is a city landmark. Festivals are scheduled all year round as part of an innovative city agenda. Take advantage of the Lyon City Card (from €21.90) to access 22 mu-seums, including temporary exhibitions.

EaT & sLEEP

A typical Lyonnais restaurant is known as a bouchon, a label that denotes authentic top-quality cuisine. They’re ideal for sampling regional specialities such as quenel-les, offal, charcuterie, salade lyonnaise, Saint-Marcelin cheese, tarte aux pralines and bugnes (wing-shaped doughnuts). The Halles Paul Bocuse is where locals come to shop and eat. Le Canut et les Gones (pictured below) is a bouchon with a modern twist; Le Musée is more traditional (reservation recommended). For pastries, chocolates or macarons visit any one of Sebastien Bouil-let’s shops. Chateauneuf du Peuple is an artisan wine bar, taking advantage of Lyon’s location at the centre of a fine wine region. If you’re on a budget, consider Slo Living hostel; the boutique Hotel Silky offers something more bijou in the old town.slo-hostel.comhotel-silky.com

sEE & DO

The old town is a well-pre-served Renaissance quarter and a Unesco world heritage site. La Croix-Rousse is a hilly area, home to traditional weavers and silk workers who were the main workforce in the 18th and 19th century. It was built around three main cathedrals, Saint George, Saint Jean (its famous astronomical clock is pictured above) and Saint Paul. The passageway at 8 Rue Juiverie is a tourist favourite, with its Italian-influ-enced gallery, while number 7 opposite has outstanding sculpture and vaults. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a late 19th-century place of pilgrimage, offers a magnificent view of the city; stroll through the rosary garden to join the old town. The Parc de la Tete d’Or is the city’s green lung.


Business • Lifestyle •

Belgium is becoming a film star, appearing as itself and in countless disguises in an increasing number of movies. Local directors are

devising new ways of portraying life in Belgium, while international produc-tions are drawn here by incentives from the regional film funds and the Tax Shelter, which encourages private investment in movie making. Then there are the great locations, which mean that Belgium can be almost anywhere you want it to be.

Close-upBelgium has stood in for a variety of locations on film, from peculiar children’s homes to bohemian Paris – and it sometimes takes on a starring role as itself

✶ By Ian Mundell


sum of histories Lukas Bossuyt, 2015, Belgium

Tourists head to Leuven for its ancient buildings and market squares, but this Flemish sci-fi thriller suggests another city, combining sleek high-tech offices and apartments with eco-friendly living. This future Leuven is extrapolated from the university’s campuses (particularly the engineering faculty at Arenberg Park) and other locations around town, from the Province House and the cemetery to cafes such as Zoff and De Blauwe Kater.

Sum of Histories Diamant Noir

The Brand New Testament


Diamant Noir Arthur Harari, 2015, France

A family feud in Antwerp’s diamond trade provides the backdrop for this tense mixture of heist film and psycho-logical drama. The best scenes unfold in the diamond workshops, but there are also encounters on the streets, on the banks of the river Scheldt, and in the city’s distinctive Central Station. Even the statue of Silvius Brabo throwing a giant’s hand into the river becomes part of the plot.

The Brand New Testament Jaco Van Dormael, 2015, Belgium

“God exists. He lives in Brussels...” So begins the irresistible tag line of this irreverent comedy, in which God’s daughter causes chaos by re-vealing to the people of Earth exactly when they will die. Brussels makes its first appearance as a model, swept with rain as God (Benoît Poelvoorde) douses it with a watering can. But the action soon switches to the

streets and parks of the real city, as the angry deity goes in search of his wayward child. And for the final act, there is a trip to the seaside at Blankenberge.

The Fifth Estate Bill Condon, 2013, UK-Belgium

The story of Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) is a thriller that switches rapidly between Berlin, London and Reykjavik, with stops in Nairobi, Tripoli and Washington DC. Yet the route between them often passes through Belgium. There is a tense meeting with a source in the futuristic Liège-Guillemins station, a new media convention in Antwerp’s Museum aan de Stroom, and negotiations in the cafe on top of Brussels’ Musical Instrument Museum. Brussels streets also double for foreign locations, while interiors at the Hélécine castle in Walloon Brabant stand in for the White House.Diamant Noir The Fifth Estate

Lifestyle •


Black Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, 2015, Belgium

This Romeo-and-Juliet tale of love between members of rival Brussels gangs unfolds in familiar locations across the city, yet it casts them in a dark and disturbing light. There are thefts among the luxury shops of Avenue Louise and running battles on the metro, while scenes in the gangs’ respective heartlands – the Marolles and the Congolese Matonge neigh-bourhood – underline the city’s racial divisions.

Miss Peregrine’s home for Peculiar children Tim Burton, 2016, US

People assume that modern fantasy films are built inside computers, but Miss Peregrine’s home is real, though you will find it in Belgium rather than on the Welsh island of the film’s story. Castle Torenhof in Brasschaat, near

Antwerp, was built towards the end of the 19th century by biscuit mogul Eduard De Beukelaar as a summer residence. Its eclectic style, with neo-renaissance elements, makes it seem both authentic and eccentric, just right for Tim Burton’s unique visual universe.

The Danish girl Tom Hooper, 2015, UK

The life of transgender artist Lili Elbe (played by Eddie Redmayne) unfolds between straight-laced Copenhagen and bohemian Paris in the early 20th century. But the Parisian interiors come largely from Brussels, particular-ly the magnificent Art Nouveau of the Horta House Museum, the Hôtel Max Hallet and the Hôtel Hannon. There are also scenes in the brasserie A La Mort Subite and the Falstaff restau-rant, a walk-through for the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and a violent pursuit in Park Royale, ending in blood on the bandstand.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Black

The Danish Girl


The Expatriate Philipp Stölzl, 2012, US

Security consultant Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) is baffled when the company he works for in Antwerp disappears overnight, its offices closed and his col-leagues killed. The trail leads to Brussels, but following it puts his teenage daugh-

ter in the firing line. This cross between Taken and the Bourne films plays fast and loose with its Brussels locations, passing off streets from the capital as part of Antwerp. But there are tense action sequences at Bourse metro, the Hotel Metropole and the Justice Palace, while the real Central Station in Antwerp is used to stunning effect.

La Fille inconnue Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, 2016, Belgium

The socially aware films of the Dardenne brothers are strongly rooted in Belgium’s industrial south-east, a landscape of present desolation and past industrial grandeur that often constrains their characters’ lives. In their latest, a young doctor (Adèle Haenel) tries to discover the name of a girl who dies violently after visiting her surgery in Seraing late one night. This quest leads her from the banks of the river Meuse, where her body is found, via lost urban spaces such as underpasses and abandoned factories, into the backstreets of Liège.

The Expatriate

La Fille inconnue

Technology •

Digital world New high-tech gadgets and accessories


Pebble Time steel

While the smartwatch craze is waning and Apple and Samsung’s offerings suffer falling sales, the manufacturer that kickstarted it all has released its best product to date. If you feel the need for a wristwatch that communicates with the rest of your gadgets, look into Pebble’s Time Steel. It connects to Android and iOS devices and claims to last for up to 10 days without its battery needing a recharge. The benefits of a Pebble watch, like its energy-saving e-ink display and its operating system based on a timeline design, are well-known, but users had been waiting for a more luxurious edition. The Time Steel, with its colour display and steel frame, fits that bill perfectly. And it’s still cheaper than the most standard version of the Apple Watch. €300pebble.com

sony Playstation VR

If you want to get in early on the virtual reality hype, then Sony’s PlayStation VR is the headset to go for. It’s not as prohibitively expensive as the Oculus Rift headset (€700) or HTC’s Vive (€900), and doesn’t need a powerful PC to run its apps: instead, a €300 PlayStation 4 console sets you

up for great VR gaming experiences such as Batman: Arkham VR, Rez and Battlezone VR. Of course, if you don’t like video games, you should probably wait a little longer:

before they come up with the really interesting applications, VR companies are trying to build an audience first, and the most efficient way to do

that is through video game experiences. But Sony has said it will definitely offer non-gaming applications for its VR

headset in the future, and there are some exciting game titles still ahead: next year, for instance,

you’ll be blasting away life-size demons in a VR version of classic shooter Doom. €400

playstation.com

Fitbit charge 2

The fitness tracker is the one piece of wearable technology that has really found an audience. San Francisco’s Fitbit established itself as a power brand in this space, and recently confirmed its status with the Fitbit Charge 2. It combines a fitness tracker and a heart-rate meter, just like its earlier products, but it also improves on almost every aspect of the device. Its screen displays multiple lines of fitness data, its companion app for Android and iOS allows you to see trends in your fitness activities, and it has swappable bands. Its battery lasts up to five days on one charge. It also keeps track of your sleep patterns, which is just as important for your health as physical activity. And it even tells the time, so who needs smartwatches anyway? Don’t go swimming with it, though: it’s sweat-resistant, but not waterproof. From €160fitbit.com


What’shappening

REBEL REBEL A photographic exhibition exploring the symbiotic relationship between contemporary art and rock’n’roll. They evolved roughly contemporaneously during the decades following World War Two and both sought to speak to the everyday experience of 20th-century society. And, though art and rock have moved further apart with the institutionalisation of the former and the commercial dilution of the latter, they still inform each other. The exhibition spans the folk rock of the 1960s, the glam rock of the 1970s and the punk rebellion of the 1980s.Until 22 January MAC’s, Grand-Hornu mac-s.be

agenda •


WINTER WONDERs

Brussels’ annual holiday market stretches from the Grand Place past the Bourse and Opera, across Boulevard Anspach and Place Saint-Catherine, all the way to the towering 55m Ferris wheel at the far end of the Marché aux Poissons. In between you’ll find some 260 vendor chalets overflowing with souvenirs, art, food and drink. There are carousels and an ice rink, while the Grand Place hosts a giant Christmas tree and nightly light show. Another evening luminous spectacle, this one at the Eglise Sainte-Catherine, celebrates 150 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan.Until 1 January winterwonders.be

DIsNEY ON IcE

Everyone’s favourite Disney characters jump off the screen and on to the ice in Disney on Ice: Frozen. This live-action extravaganza stars all the lovable scamps from the Academy Award-winning animated film – Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven – in an appropriately glacial setting. There’s special effects. There’s virtuoso ice skating. There are musical numbers, including the Frozen soundtrack’s chart single Let It Go. In short, it’s fun for the whole family. This production is in French. Dutch-speakers can catch the Flemish version at Lotto Arena in Antwerp.22-26 February Forest National, Brussels forest-national.be

FEsTIVaL DE LIÈgE

Every two years, this exciting international theatre, dance and music festival opens its doors to productions from home and abroad performed in their original version (with surtitles). Its aim is to interrogate contemporary society as well as showcase the work of emerging artists in Belgium’s French-speaking community. The festival attracts more than 20,000 spectators for each biennial. The 2017 edition will feature Ha Tahfénéwais!, a Belgian play that questions current psychiatric practices with humour, poetry and pertinence.January 27-February 18Manège and other venues, Liège festivaldeliege.be

sPaRTacus

On the occasion of Yuri Grigorovich’s 90th birthday, Royal Ballet Flanders stages the Russian choreographer’s seminal 1968 adaptation of Spartacus. Grigorovich’s reimagining of the Roman legend, in which the defiant slave Spartacus challenges Emperor Crassus himself, was an allegory of the class struggle as conceived by the philosopher-technocrats of the USSR. Indeed, the production was conceived to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution that founded the Soviet Union. The themes of freedom and equality remain as relevant as ever, and thus Grigorovich’s masterpiece retains its majesty long after the system it glorified came to an end. 27 January-5 February Stadsschouwburg Antwerp operaballet.be

eVeNtS WItH ING

•Guggenheim: Full Abstraction Art exhibition, Until 12 February, ING Art Center, Brussels (reduced price entrance with ING bank card; free for under-30s), ing.be/art

•Take the Lead - Vlerick Disruption Sprint Start Innovation academic programme, 16 February, Vlerick Campus Brussels, tijd.be/takethelead, echo.be/takethelead

•Belgium vs Greece Football match, 25 March, Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels, belgianfootball.be

VIVE L’aRMÉE!

Militarism has been one of the art world’s bêtes noires ever since the epic disillusionment of an entire generation of European and American artists in the trenches of World War One. French-Austrian theatre company Superamas continues the tradition with the provocative Vive l’Armée! Superamas is celebrated for its hyperactive, absurdist style and this latest work is no different. The immediate inspirations are the recent attacks in Paris and the French government’s response. Set in the present, the production’s twin story lines follow a film crew staging a period battle in the French countryside and a terrorist kidnapping in Paris. In English and French with English surtitles.19 & 20 January Kaaitheater, Brussels kaaitheater.be

aNIMa

The Brussels Animation Film Festival Anima returns for another week-long showcase of family-friendly films. Between the competition and themed programmes, the number of screenings runs into the dozens. Among this year’s highlights is Bafta Children’s nominee Stick Man, a whimsical short film animated by Belgian artist Jeroen Jaspaert. The festival also features exhibitions, masterclasses, concerts, DJ sets and plenty of opportunities to meet the filmmakers. Last year some 50 animators and directors were on hand to share their insights.24 February-5 March Flagey, Brussels animafestival.be


hIsTORIuM

The multimedia Historium transports you to medieval Bruges all year round but winter is an especially good time to visit, not least because of its extended hours. The building’s lobby and heated terrace are literally decked out in boughs of holly, and the historians recreate the atmosphere of a 15th-century Flemish Christmas with authentic decorations and mulled wine. The party continues just outside on the Grote Markt, where you’ll find one of Bruges’ famous Christmas markets. The other is a short walk away on Simon Stevinplein, in the city’s shopping district.Until 8 January historium.be

chRIsTMas IN LIÈgE

The Christmas Village in Liège is well worth the visit – and last year two million guests agreed. The secret of its success is the traditional flavour. Among the many nods to Walloon folklore are the glass baubles blown by artisans to represent figures like the marionette Tchantchès and the carnival clowns of Binche. This year’s guest of honour is the alpine ski resort Châtel, whose representatives are pitching a sled ride and serving up authentic Savoyard cuisine. One lucky family will even win a ski holiday.Until 30 Decembervillagedenoel.be

CommuNIty eVeNtS

•Listen Very Carefully, I Will Say This Only Once Workshop by Greet Selderslaghs, 14 December, imaginationclub.org

•The Brussels Carol Concert 18 December, Chant d’Oiseau church hall, brusselscarolconcert.com

•Swedish church Christmas market 18 December, xpats.com/swedish-christmas-fair-0

•An Introduction to Whole Body Focusing Workshop by Ruth Friedman and Lara Peumans, 20 December, imaginationclub.org

•Christmas in Lille 24 December, expatclub.org

•Internations New Year Gala Dinner 31 December Callens Café, internations.org

•English Comedy Club: Cinderella 13-15 January, Auderghem Cultural Centre, ecctheatreinbrussels.com

•Australia Day BBQ lunch 22 January, [email protected]

•Alzheimer Research Foundation Fundraising Event 29 January, Music Village jazz club, themusicvillage.com

•Irish Theatre Group: The Cripple of Inishmaan 7-11 February, The Warehouse Studio Theatre, theatreinbrussels.com

agenda •


chRIsTMas IN DuRBuY

Durbuy’s annual Christmas market offers something the big-city events can’t. Here, in this picturesque mediaeval village at the threshold of Luxembourg province, you can escape the crowd and get lost in the magical world of Christmas past. The artisan market winds through narrow streets and around ancient churches and guildhouses. Practically the entire village takes part in the festivities, which isn’t difficult – the population of Durbuy is just 11,000. Until 8 January Durbuy durbuyinfo.be

ausTRaLIa’s IMPREssIONIsTs

Australia boasts an intense bright southern hemisphere light. Not surprisingly, its unique landscape and colours inspired a group of artists in the 1880s and 90s to pioneer their own Impressionist art movement. For the first time in the UK, this exhibition shines a light on four innovative artists: Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Charles Conder and John Russell. The quartet produced a body of work that was related yet distinct from their European counterparts. Discover Australian life during this period, from the developing cities of Melbourne and Sydney to scorching landscapes and luscious coastlines. It’s a welcome break from the dark days of winter.Until 26 MarchThe National Gallery Londonnationalgallery.org

asPEN BOcaDERO

There’s more to winter than just the holidays. There’s also that special comfort born of a warm fire and convivial atmosphere while the temperature outside drops to a deep freeze. Aspen Bocadero recreates the charm of a Rocky Mountain log cabin or Swiss chalet in Antwerp’s port district. The cosy complex of wood-panelled and fur-trimmed rooms serves food and drink daily and boasts a programme of concerts, parties and other special events throughout December and January. Winter sports enthusiasts will be tickled to discover an in-house ice skating and curling rink too. Until 21 January Waagnatie, Antwerp aspenbocadero.be

caFEcafe Victor

Bozar has opened an Art Deco streetside cafe, part of an ongoing smartening-up project that includes a new box office and bookshop. It’s named in homage to Horta, the architect who designed the Fine Arts Centre back in the 1920s. Open six days a week for coffee and light meals.victor23.be

accEssORYcashmere scarf

Keep warm in style this winter with a scarf by cashmere specialist Eric Bompard, a French

brand available in Brussels, Knokke and Antwerp. From €100, in multiple

colours and designs, for men and women.

eric-bompard.com

What’s newThe latest openings, launches and gift ideas


DRINKBelmouth

The first vermouth made from a Belgian wine has been launched by Delhaize in collaboration with Hainaut distillery Biercée and Namur vineyard Domaine du Ry d’Argent. A limited edition of 5,000 bottles of the rosé wine aperitif is available in selected stores. Taste the retro alcohol dry or in an original cocktail, such as the Sbagliato pictured (Belmouth, Biercée Bitter, Monin elderflower syrup and Ry d’Argent sparkling rosé). €14.99

No, I told myself. It’s not possible. But then I reminded myself that this is Belgium, where anything is possible.

I should know. I’ve visited the Underpants Museum, and I’ve happily gone into the butcher’s shop to ask for six birds without heads. I’ve sat in a bar selling dog beer, and I’ve hailed a taxi with a sign on the side saying Ceci n’est pas un taxi clandestin – This is not a secret taxi.

So, no, I shouldn’t really have been surprised to see an aeroplane sitting on top of a textile factory near the town of Wetteren. Everyone else was calmly cycling along the towpath as if it was the most normal thing in the world. But I almost rode into the river.

How could a Boeing 707 end up on the roof of a factory? It was a seriously odd thing to come across, even in Belgium.

The main wheels are resting on the flat roof while the nose cone stands on an upturned shipping container.

So how on earth did it get there? I asked the internet. And of course it turned out to be a long and complicated story involving a religious sect, an African president, an unpaid parking ticket and an overzealous town planning officer.

The aircraft, which was built in 1957, once belonged to the Moonie cult leader Sun Myung Moon, who personalised the interior with a mahogany bed, luxury bathtub with gold taps, and a private cinema. The palatial plane was acquired in 1985 by the president of Benin as his personal aircraft, but was grounded at Ostend airport in 1990 due to safety concerns. It stayed there for five years, leaving Benin with an enormous bill for unpaid parking charges.

The abandoned and rusting plane finally ended up in the hands of a Belgian politician and businessman, who moved it to an abandoned car park near Wetteren. For a time, it was used as a training centre for aircraft cleaners and later became a useful landmark next to a local nightclub.

Eventually, the businessman was told by Wetteren town council that he didn’t have planning permission to park his aircraft on the site. He called the decision “childish and petty”, and then hired two cranes to lift the plane on to the factory roof.

The council complained again because the nose cone was hanging over the car park, and so technically it still violated local planning laws. But the politician didn’t give up. He just brought back the cranes and moved the plane back four metres.

I find this story hard to believe, yet you can clearly see the plane as you cycle along the Scheldt near Wetteren. And while you’re in the neighbourhood, you might want to check out the German glider suspended in the entrance hall of an abandoned lingerie factory, or the replica Atomium made from nine beer kegs.

Or you might think about moving to a more normal country.

✶ By Derek Blyth

Plane sailing


Last word •

Documents

Winter 2016/17 • n°16 expat time - ING Belgium...expat time • winter • 2016/17 3 Winter reflections I n a time of political upheaval, Expat Time called on ING Belgium’s chief