The Greek community in Belgium numbers around 25,000[1] to 35,000 people.[2]
History[edit]
Although Greeks were already living in Belgium before 1956, most migration from Greece to Belgium happened between 1956 and 1964. An estimated 20,000 Greeks were then attracted as guest workers for the mining industry. They ended up mainly in the city of Mons or the mining region in the province of Limburg. Gradually, they also migrated to Brussels, where, among other things, a Greek community settled around Brussels-North railway station.[3]
Since the Financial crisis of 2007–2008, which hit Greece hard on the socio-economic front, an increasing number of Greeks started migrating for work to Belgium.[4]
Notable people[edit]
- Iosif Poursanidis Composer-musician, Founder of the Hellenic Community Turnhout-Kempen
- fr:Jean Daskalidès, chocolatier
- fr:Christos Doulkeridis, politician
- Leonidas Kestekides, chocolatier, founder of the Brussels-based Leonidas chocolate company
- Viktor Klonaridis, football player
- Charly Konstantinidis, football player
- Thivaios brothers, DJ-s
- Katerine Avgoustakis, singer
- Daphne Patakia , actress
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Grieken in Limburg | FARO. Vlaams steunpunt voor cultureel erfgoed VZW".
- ^ Belgium: Homogeneity
- ^ Vandecandelaere, H. (2012). In Brussel - Een reis door de wereld (4): Sponsen, chocolade & smeervet bij de Griekse gemeenschap op BRUZZ
- ^ Smedts, S. (2011). Grieken zoeken zekerheid in België in De Morgen, 4 november 2011
External links[edit]
- eokb.eu- Hellenic Federation of Communities in Belgium
- Bilateral relations between Greece and Belgium
- Greek Orthodox Church in Belgium
- Greek embassy in Brussels
| Old Greek Diaspora | |
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| New Greek Diaspora |
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| Traditional areas of Greek settlement | |
| Europe | |
| Caucasus and Central Asia | |
| Middle East | |
| Africa | |
| Latin America | |
| Asia-Pacific | |
