[Archive 2005-12-02] Joseph De Veuster voted greatest Belgian
Historical Wikinews report from 2005-12-02. Yesterday, December 1, 2005, the election for the "Greatest Belgian" ("De Grootste Belg") was won by Father Damien (Joseph De
Historical archive — originally published 2005-12-02. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.
Yesterday, December 1, 2005, the election for the "Greatest Belgian" ("De Grootste Belg") was won by Father Damien (Joseph De Veuster). Runners up were Dr. Paul Janssen, founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica, and Eddy Merkx, a cyclist.
Father Damien is famous for working and living with lepers on Molokai, where he persisted in caring for the outcasts, against directions of church hierarchy. Eventually, Father Damien died from leprosy himself.
The Belgian "Greatest National" poll is organized separately by the Flemish and the Walloon regional television stations. Father Damien was elected "Greatest Belgian" ("De Grootste Belg") in the poll organized by the Flemish television. Next week, the Walloon poll will conclude, so Belgium will have two "Greatest Belgians".
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Text adapted from Joseph De Veuster voted greatest Belgian by Wikinews contributors under CC BY 2.5. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. Contributor history.
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