Belgians in Michigan

Belgians in Michigan Today

75 BelgiansinMichiganToday T he Belgians, who came to Michigan during the height of Belgian immigration between 1901 and 1913, unless they were infants at the time, are no longer with us. Their children and grandchildren, as well as the descendants of earlier arrivals, have assimilated successfully into American society and constitute a vital segment of Michigan society. Despite assimilation there has been an effort to preserve the memory of the country from which their ancestors came and the unique aspects of its culture. Most significantly the Gazette van Detroit is still being published. Its website states that the newspaper “is a bridge between Belgium and the United States of America. Its goal is to enhance the social, cultural and commercial ties that exist between the two countries. . . . The Gazette provides news from various Belgian social and cultural organizations across the USA, as well as organizations in Belgium that are interested in the historical link between the two countries. . . . American and Belgian traditions, cultural events and tourist attractions will be covered. Bilingual features are offered for the benefit of students of Flemish/Dutch or those readers who are trying to keep up their acquaintance with the language.”126 By 2006 the Gazette almost expired. It was being put out by three volunteers in their eighties and, though debt-free, it had no reserves. Its equipment was outdated and its readership has shrunk to one thousand. It was saved through the 76 B ernard A. Cook leadership of Ludwig Vandenbussche, the newspaper’s correspondent and agent in West Flanders, and Leen Cleymans–De Doncker. Vandenbussche solicited funds in Belgium to rescue the paper, and Cleymans–De Doncker, a Belgian living in Michigan, recruited young volunteers to re-invigorate what had become an eight-page bi-monthly newsletter. The 12,000 euro collected by Vandenbussche was matched by the Flemish Media Ministry. By July 2006 Cleymans–De Doncker and her volunteers were able to produce a sixteen-page tabloid with color.127 Another indication of the continuing vitality of the Belgian-American community in Michigan is the activity of the Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans with its headquarters and library at the Fr. Taillieu Residence in Roseville.In2007LawrenceT.VanDammeofBrightonandMargaretRoetsof St. Claire Shores were officers of the society. Its editorial board also included Fr. Denys, Michael Scheuer, Florence VanDenbrouck, and Caroline DeFauw. In addition to preserving records of the Belgian community in Michigan, the society has monthly meetings and publishes The Flemish American Heritage with articles of genealogical and cultural interest twice a year. In addition to the Cadieux Café in Detroit, where mussels and Belgian beer have traditionally been enjoyed, Belgian beer is becoming more and more popular with Americans, whether they boast of Belgian ancestry or not. In addition to the beers of Belgium, which can now be purchased at many groceries, there are home-grown efforts in Michigan to reproduce the tastes of Belgian ales. The Bastone in Royal Oak not only serves Belgian specialties such as waterzooi but produces its own Belgian style beers in its microbrewery . As a bumper sticker on the wall of the Cadieux Café proclaims, “It is beautiful to be Belgian.” ...