From éclair affairs to lucky lottery tickets and chalk championships, here's this week's round-up of positive news stories from Belgium to kickstart your weekend.
Today's positive pick
A family-run bakery in Antwerp has reproduced an Ostend-born artist's oil painting using an unusual medium: éclairs.
Patisserie Lints, run by Eddy Tittelboom and his family for over 30 years, initially wanted to spark interest ahead of the 5th edition of the annual 'Week of the Éclair' which is being held 17 to 25 June this year, a national campaign to highlight the profession and the industry's shortage of workers.
"We want to show people what a wonderful profession baking is," bakery owner Eddy Tittelboom told VRT, stressing the need for people to join the industry as it has been earmarked as a bottleneck profession. "We had thought of creating the longest éclair in the world, but then we set our hearts on Ensor!"
Credit: Naomi Banken
A flair for éclairs
Six bakeries from across Belgium, including Lints, decided to team up to reproduce 'The Intrigue' ('De Intrige'), an oil-on-canvas painting by Belgian expressionist James Ensor from 1890. Currently on display at Antwerp's Royal Museum of Fine Arts, it forms part of the official inventory of Flemish masterpieces.
19,000 éclairs later – weighing 1,000 kg in total and topped with 18 different colours of icing – the baking was brought to life, just outside the entrance of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. Both locals and visitors were invited to come for 'a taste of Ensor'.
The idea was a year in the making, Eddy Tittelboom's daughter Axelle told The Brussels Times. The pastries themselves took approximately nine hours to bake in total. They started dipping them in chocolate around 07:00 and laid the last one around midday on 3 June.
Credit: Naomi Banken
As well as raising money for charity, Axelle says her highlight was seeing everyone get involved – bakers, producers and suppliers alike – and having "so much love for the job".
Éclairs were sold for two for €5 and all proceeds went directly to Belgian charity Kick Cancer, which Lints has collaborated with for several years. The bakers managed to raise around €10,000 with their edible work of art.
Axelle is very much looking forward to taking over her parents' bakery when they retire. "It’s much more than selling bread and buns. You're giving people a moment of happiness," she said. "People take it home and have that bread for breakfast with their families – that's why we are doing this. It's hard work but it really pays off."
Happy bakers on the steps of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. Credit: Naomi Banken
Other stories from this week to make you smile:
1. Flemish town responds to neighbour's complaint with 'chalk championships'
A resident lodged a complaint after children drew pictures in front of his door using chalk. Meanwhile, the city responded to the petty grievance with an entire day dedicated to drawing in the streets. Read more here.
2. Coast guards resuscitate baby after premature birth on Belgian beach
"It is not self-evident for someone to suddenly resuscitate a premature baby. We learn how to do it during our training, but in practice, it is by no means obvious. I am proud of my team," the deputy chief coastguard said. Read more here.
3. Ukrainian refugee wins €500,000 on lottery scratch card
Identities of lottery winners are not usually disclosed but the National Lottery has confirmed that the young Ukrainian man, who has been in Brussels for over a year, bought the winning ticket for €5 at a service station. Read more here.
4. Belgium's business boom: One in three employers plan to increase workforce
More than a third of Belgian employers plan on increasing their total number of workers over the coming months, raising hopes that Belgium's economic predicament isn't quite as dire as previously suspected. Read more here.
