Flanders in the USA

🍺 A few days after our Flanders Day celebration, we’re still raising a glass to an unforgettable evening!

In yet another reimagined celebration of the Flemish July 11th holiday, the Delegation of Flanders to the USA, together with Belgian Brewers and Belgian Beer World Experience, brought creatives, beer lovers, and industry professionals together for a vibrant night of beer, culture, and exchange.

This year’s edition celebrated the rich heritage of Flemish beer, including the 10th anniversary of Belgian beer being recognised as intangible cultural heritage of mankind by

A highlight of the evening was an inspiring beer panel featuring esteemed beer knights Charles Cook, Garrett Oliver, and Greg Engert, who shared their passion and expertise with guests.

A big thank you to our partners
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Thanks to and and to everyone who joined us in making this State-of-the-Art celebration a truly delicious success. ✨

🌎 Last week, our Policy Advisor Flore De Pauw represented the Delegation of Flanders to the USA at the NAFSA 2026 Conference and Education Fair, held from 26-29 May in Orlando (Florida) under the theme “Global by Design”.

This year’s theme highlighted the importance of thoughtful internationalization, bold innovation, meaningful storytelling, and sustainable practices in higher education worldwide.

Throughout the week, Flemish institutions, including KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp, HOWEST and HOGENT, engaged with a wide range of American universities to strengthen partnerships and explore new collaboration opportunities.

We were also proud to co-host a Belgian Networking Reception, together with the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta, the Flemish Higher Education Council (VLUHR), Wallonia-Bruxelles International and Fulbright Belgium.

The reception provided a great opportunity to bring together Belgian and international partners from across the higher education community and to further strengthen our global academic connections.

NAFSA once again proved to be a valuable platform to foster transatlantic cooperation in higher education and innovation.

🌎 Last week, our General Representative to the United States, Paul Hegge, continued to deepen transatlantic connections during his visit to Canada.



Across a series of high-level meetings, the visit highlighted strong complementarities and shared ambitions between Flanders and Canada in key sectors:



⚡ Energy & climate innovation
Engaging with Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) and The Electric Circuit, discussions focused on electrification, energy systems, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.



🧬 Life sciences & genomics
At Génome Québec, exchanges explored opportunities in cutting-edge research, including AI-driven genomics and international collaboration.



🏙️ Urban development & design
A meeting with the City of Montréal showcased how design, sustainability, and innovation are shaping the cities of tomorrow, an area with clear connections to Flemish expertise.



🌱 Climate adaptation & research
At Ouranos, conversations focused on climate science, resilience, and translating research into actionable policy, an increasingly shared priority on both sides of the Atlantic.

This visit reaffirmed the strong foundation for collaboration between Flanders and Canada and opened doors for future partnerships in innovation, sustainability and knowledge exchange.

🎹✨ This past Tuesday, our Representative Paul Hegge attended a joyful evening as part of the Belgian Days, organized by the Consulate General of Belgium in Montréal.



Renowned Belgian pianist Jef Neve, often called a true “piano wizard”, captivated the audience with his virtuosity, while Belgian sound studio Demute elevated the experience through an immersive audio journey blending music, technology and sensory storytelling.



It was a memorable showcase of the creativity and cultural dynamism of Flanders and Belgium on the international stage.

🎭 National Theatre Live Screening: All My Sons
📍 NYU Skirball Center | 🗓 31 May

Arthur Miller’s powerful post‑WWII drama comes to the big screen in a filmed stage production directed by Flemish director Ivo van Hove.

Starring Bryan Cranston, All My Sons confronts themes of responsibility, guilt, and moral compromise in the aftermath of war—questions that resonate far beyond the American context and deeply connect to European and Flemish perspectives on rebuilding after WWII.
A unique chance to experience world‑class theatre, on screen, in New York.

👉 More info & tickets in bio!

📍 🏛️ In the heart of Washington, D.C., Pershing Park became a place of remembrance as the Delegation of Flanders marked Memorial Day with a ceremony honoring those who lost their lives in Flanders Fields during the First World War.

The program opened with the sounding of Taps, setting a reflective tone for an evening that brought together leaders in diplomacy, veterans’ affairs, and historical remembrance. Remarks from Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Bernard, Paul Hegge, general delegate of FLanders to the US, and Clair Sassin of the Doughboy Foundation underscored the enduring ties between the United States, Belgium, and Flanders.

A powerful reading of In Flanders Fields by Rob Couture invited attendees to pause and reflect, before a wreath-laying ceremony and a moment of silence honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The closing notes of the Last Post by Kevin Paul served as a poignant reminder of lives lost and legacies carried forward.

The evening continued with a reception and exchange of perspectives at the Willard, where speakers, including Thomas Baum (Kazerne Dossin) on ‘How Societies Carry the Weight of the Past’, Catherine Bourgin granddaugher of a Hello Girl and Paul Hegge exploring how memory is preserved, shared, and passed on across generations.

More than a commemoration, the gathering reaffirmed a shared commitment: to keep the stories of the past alive, and to ensure their meaning endures in today’s world.

Lest we forget.