The week in brief: 21 March

Flemish photographer and journalist Lieve Blancquaert has received the biennial Van Acker Prize 2016 for a combination of high artistic quality and social engagement in photo books covering subjects such as women in Afghanistan, Aids victims in Africa and birth cultures around the world, as well as campaigns for Oxfam.

Luxury cruise liner The World (pictured), the only cruise ship where passengers own their cabins, is to dock at Antwerp’s Scheldekaaien in the centre from 19 to 21 May, the port authority has announced. The port will also welcome the Tall Ships Race from 7 to 10 June.

New maximum noise levels for music performances introduced three years ago to much protest from musicians and venues are now regarded positively, according to a survey of the sector by VRT radio. Artists and technicians agree that reaching the norms is less disruptive in practice than was first thought, although some uncertainties remain about inspections and applications of some of the rules. “It’s all worked out remarkably well,” admitted journalist and musician Stijn Meuris, initially a strong opponent of the new rules.

Marc Van Peel, Antwerp alderman for port affairs, has signed two agreements with the IPC Corporate University, a subsidiary of the Indonesian Port Corporation (IPC), for consulting on the expansion of ports in the archipelago. The signing took place during the latest trade mission to the country, attended by Flemish economy minister Philippe Muyters. The contracts open the door for Flemish companies to compete for the construction of 5,000km of railways, more than 100 airports and dozens of ports.

King Filip has become godfather to a seventh son, as tradition in Belgium demands. The boy, Haroun Mounadi, was born as a twin in January last year in Anderlecht. His twin brother, as an eighth son, does not qualify. The tradition also applies to seventh daughters.

Leuven’s central prison is a thriving marketplace for testosterone supplements, according to one inmate found with two vials containing about 20g of the powder, which is used to stimulate muscle growth. The man confessed to regular use of the hormone, which he claimed is easily available in the prison. The judge in the case warned that testosterone can also cause aggressive behaviour, which is why its use in prison cannot be tolerated. The prisoner was given an additional six months on his sentence.

Dutch brewery giant Heineken has signed on to the code of conduct approved by federal consumer affairs minister Kris Peeters and the Belgian brewing industry, and the two governments are to harmonise their respective codes, Peeters said. The code of conduct reduces the restrictions breweries place on their pub landlords, increasing choice for customers. Heineken, now the second-largest brewing group in the world, owns Alken-Maes in Belgium, brewer of several brands, including Maes, Grimbergen and Ciney.

Women working in Flemish schools will be allowed to take breastfeeding breaks from September. The breaks have existed in practice under local agreements, but now the right is an official part of education law.

The city council of Schaarbeek in Brussels has said it is interested in buying the 18th-century building that houses the oldest bar in the area, Café aux Trois Rois. The future of the historic building was in doubt after the death of the owner, Jules Van Geel, an aficionado of local folklore known to all as Julo. The council intends to continue the folkloric tradition by renovating the building and introducing a puppet theatre and guest house.

Flemish actor and theatre director Reinhilde Decleir has been awarded this year’s Ark Prize for the Free Word, given out each year for an outstanding record of freedom of expression in Dutch-language culture. Decleir, aged 68, created and runs the social arts co-operative Tutti Fratelli.

A three-year-old girl from Mechelen has died in hospital from diphtheria, an infectious disease common at the turn of the 20th century, but now virtually non-existent because of widespread vaccination. It is not known how the child was infected. Hospital workers and classmates are being investigated to see if anyone else has been infected. Initial symptoms include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever and nausea.

Earplugs intended to protect people’s hearing at concerts and music festivals do not provide sufficient protection, according to research carried out at Ghent University. Venues and festival organisers have been obliged to hand out free earplugs since 2013, but research shows they fail to block low notes enough while flattening out higher tones, which affects the sound of the music. Some concert-goers opt for earplugs made for musicians, which do not distort the sound, but these still offer insufficient protection, said lead researcher Annelies Bockstael.

Photo courtesy The World