In the news1956
First nuclear chain reaction achieved in Belgium
Belgium successfully achieved its first controlled nuclear chain reaction at the BR 1 research reactor in Mol.
Born Château de Belœil, 17 Nov 1950
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17 Nov 1950
Born in Château de Belœil
He has lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Château de Belœil.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1956
Belgium successfully achieved its first controlled nuclear chain reaction at the BR 1 research reactor in Mol.
What people wore
Belgian boys' clothing in the 1950s-1960s
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Belgian boys frequently wore short pants until they were 12 or 13 years old, sometimes even until age 16 for school uniforms. By the 1960s, American-style casual wear like T-shirts began to gain popularity among the youth.
Daily life
Heating, water, and cooking in the 1950s
In the 1950s, many homes relied on a coal stove (Leuvense stoof) in the kitchen for heating and cooking, as other rooms were often unheated. Running water was not common in more than half of all Belgian households until late in the decade.
In the news1958
The World Fair in Brussels, Expo 58, modernized the country and introduced citizens to a new era of global possibilities.
Music
Traditional Social Dances and Community Events
Common social dances in Belgium during this period included the polka, wals (waltz), schottische, and the linear branle. These dances were staples at local village celebrations and community events.
In Europe1957
Six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, the start of what became the European Union.
Getting around
Average train journey distance in Belgium
Between 1950 and 1967, the average distance traveled by a train passenger remained stable at approximately 32.5 kilometers.