Keerbergen Culture Awards 2026: Local Pioneers Honored

Four Keerbergen cultural figures are recognized for their decades of dedication and contribution to local heritage and cultural life.

Generic image of a concert stage in a historic Flemish church, featuring a cello and sheet music, bathed in soft, golden light.
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Generic image of a concert stage in a historic Flemish church, featuring a cello and sheet music, bathed in soft, golden light.

The Municipality of Keerbergen honors four notable cultural personalities who have dedicated themselves for decades to the local heritage and cultural life.

The Municipality of Keerbergen has nominated four local cultural figures for recognition due to their long-standing and meritorious contributions to the municipality's cultural and historical heritage. These individuals have actively worked for many years to keep Keerbergen's culture and history alive and to promote them.
Among those honored is Luc Tooten, a top cellist and former principal cellist with Brussels Philharmonic, who organizes monthly classical music concerts in the Sint-Michielskerk. He invites internationally acclaimed musicians to make classical music accessible to the public in Keerbergen.
The young piano virtuoso Tom Eylenbosch, winner of the Belgian Blues Award 2025, is also recognized for his innovative contribution to the Belgian blues scene, with his roots in Keerbergen. Furthermore, Florent Vaes is honored for his over 40 years of theater work in the Keerbergen dialect, his professional CD with songs about the municipality, and his role in establishing the Heemkring De Botermolen.
Annemie Heylen, a board member of the Culture and Heritage Council and its current chair, receives recognition for her over twenty years of commitment to Keerbergen's cultural life and her advisory role to the municipal government. Cyriel Hendrickx is remembered as a prominent cultural and village figure who dedicated himself for decades to Keerbergen's cultural and historical heritage. Finally, Ronald De Belser, chairman of the Koninklijke Fanfare De Eendracht, is honored for his 32 years of involvement with the association and local music life.
Based on information from the official source: Gemeente Keerbergen (26/10/2026)