In the news1958
Brussels hosts World Fair Expo 58
The World Fair in Brussels, Expo 58, modernized the country and introduced citizens to a new era of global possibilities.
Born Belœil, 11 Aug 1955
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11 Aug 1955
Born in Belœil
She has lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Belœil.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1958
The World Fair in Brussels, Expo 58, modernized the country and introduced citizens to a new era of global possibilities.
What people wore
Women's fashion and daily wear evolution
Women in the 1950s often wore wide skirts supported by stiff petticoats to create a floral-like silhouette, while housewives commonly wore practical cotton aprons with pockets for daily tasks. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, trends shifted toward narrower, more geometric styles influenced by designers like Courrèges.
Daily life
Classroom life and strict discipline
Children often used a slate and stylus to write in school, and teachers sometimes tied the left hands of left-handed students to their desks to force them to write with their right hands. Class sizes were large, often reaching 30 students, and the school week included Saturday mornings.
In the news1956
Belgium successfully achieved its first controlled nuclear chain reaction at the BR 1 research reactor in Mol.
Music
Traditional Flemish Instruments and Community Music
Traditional Flemish folk music featured instruments such as the doedelzak (bagpipe), the hommel (stringed zither), and the diatonic accordion. These instruments were often hand-crafted and played at local community gatherings and festivals.
In Europe1957
Six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, the start of what became the European Union.
Getting around
Car travel changes perception of distance
By the 1950s, affluent citizens began shifting their perception of distance, measuring travel not by kilometers, but by the duration of the journey in their private cars.