January

A surgical first
Surgeons at the University Hospital in Ghent carried out Flanders’ first face transplant in an operation that took three years and 65 members of hospital staff to prepare. Using 3D scans of the patient and the prosthetic to ensure a perfect fit, it was said to be the most complex of the 19 face transplants carried out so far around the world. “We look on this not as a prestige project but as a breakthrough in giving people back their lives,” said Dr Philip Blondeel, head of the surgical team. The patient was apparently a man but his identity was never released. Alan Hope

February

Oscar nomination
Although it was no surprise that the darkly tragic and smartly written Rundskop (Bullhead) won a wealth of awards at film festivals big and small, Flanders was still pleasantly surprised when Hollywood gave the directorial debut of Michäel R Roskam (pictured) a nod by nominating it for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It didn’t win, but the publicity was enough to propel its star Matthias Schoenaerts into talks for a major role in an American production and for Roskam to be handed both an HBO project and the role of director for Fox Searchlight’s Animal Rescue. Lisa Bradshaw

March

Tragedy in Switzerland
For 22 families in Flanders, the unthinkable happened. Two classes of sixth-year students from schools in Lommel and Heverlee were returning from a week of skiing in Switzerland when their coach crashed in a tunnel near Sierre in the Valais region. Four members of staff, both coach drivers and 22 children aged 11 and 12 were killed. A further 24 children were injured. A national day of mourning was declared. The Swiss displayed efficiency and compassion in equal measure in dealing with the situation, but the exact cause of the crash has never been discovered. Both schools have now cancelled future ski trips. AH

April

Transport worker killed
Public transport in Brussels came to a standstill for six days when MIVB staff walked out after a supervisor, 56-year-old Iliaz Tahiraj, was assaulted and killed by a friend of the driver of a car involved in a collision with a bus. The federal government promised extra security, with 400 police drafted in to patrol transport routes. But MIVB staff came close to a strike in November, claiming promises of more police security had not been met. Meanwhile the 28-year-old accused, who admits the assault but denies any intent to kill, is free awaiting trial. AH

May

Nuclear closures
The closure of two nuclear reactors – at Doel in East Flanders and Tihange in Wallonia – threatened to force electricity prices up this winter as other suppliers struggled to meet demand. The reactor at Doel power station was closed down after routine inspections revealed microscopic cracks in the concrete reactor housing, and it was feared at one point that it might never reopen. The situation was found to be less serious than it first appeared, but it is not expected to open until February. AH

June

Shopping centre controversies
After months of speculation, the leisure and shopping centre Uplace in Machelen received approval from the Flemish environment ministry. The province of Flemish Brabant opposes the project, claiming it would create congestion on the Brussels Ring, increase pollution and take customers from town centres like Vilvoorde and Leuven. Two more new shopping centres, Neo at Heizel and Just Under the Sky by the Van Praet bridge, were also approved, making those problems worse, according to critics. There are proceedings pending to stop Uplace filed by the Brussels- Capital Region and Unizo, among others. Uplace hopes to begin construction next year for a 2016 opening. AH

July

Olympic challenges
Although London’s Olympic Games extravaganza offered myriad delights, it was a barren occasion for Flanders, with just one medal – won by Ghent’s Evi Van Acker, who took bronze in Laser Redial sailing. But there were other memorable Flemish performances along the way: Tia Hellebaut (fifth in the high jump), Kim Clijsters (made it to the tennis quarter-finals), Hans Van Alphen (fourth in the decathlon) and the men’s field hockey team (fifth place). There was redemption a few weeks later at the Paralympics, where Flanders brought home seven medals, including two golds for horsewoman Michéle George and one for Marieke Vervoort for the 100m wheelchair sprint. Leo Cendrowicz

August

Woman of the street
We have heard from women in the expat community complain for years about harassment on the streets of Brussels. But this year Flemish film student Sofie Peeters decided to go a step further and record the experience. The Leuven-born filmmaker made headlines with her Rits school graduation project Femme de la rue, which documented just how bad verbal harassment from men of ethnic origin is in the capital. The film called up questions of identity, sexism and machismo and convinced the city to make verbal harassment illegal. LB

September

Rail reform
Plans from federal minister Paul Magnette for the reform of the rail authority NMBS ran up against opposition from unions, with a series of all-out strikes and local industrial actions hitting commuters in the autumn. At issue is the tripartite structure of the NMBS, which all sides agree has to change. Magnette proposes two divisions: rolling stock and infrastructure. The unions argue that only a return to the old unitary authority will allow them to provide the service customers expect. For stranded passengers, particularly those hoping to get to the airport, the dispute seemed arcane and beside the point. AH

October

Enter mayor De Wever
Each of the 308 communes in Flanders had different stakes and results in the municipal elections of 14 October. Still, a regional trend was clear: The victory of the nationalist N-VA was unprecedented in decades. With 37% of the vote in Antwerp, De Wever took town hall. After more than 90 years in power, socialists no longer govern Antwerp. Ghent, too, had a historic result, going against the trend and living up to its nonconformist image. A joint list by socialists and greens, headed by the folksy mayor Daniel Termont, gained an absolute majority. Anja Otte

November

Ford Genk closes
Ford Europe announced that the factory in Genk, which employs 4,500 and provides work for about 5,000 more in Limburg, would close in 2014. The city, the province and the Flemish government rallied around to set up a task force, headed by BNP Paribas Fortis chairman Herman Daems, to hammer out a strategy for Limburg’s future, while minister-president Kris Peeters demanded European aid. Four suppliers who depend on the factory have now said they will also close, and the snowball is expected to keep rolling as the winter goes on. AH

December

Electrabel cuts prices
The country’s largest gas and electricity supplier, the French-owned Electrabel, finally bowed to consumer and government pressure and announced it would cut its prices from January, worth about €200 a year to the average household. During the year, Electrabel saw 300,000 people desert it for cheaper prices elsewhere. Federal economy minister Johan Vande Lanotte, who had imposed a price freeze on all suppliers until the end of the year, said he was “cautiously positive”. AH