.
Northwest Washington is adorned by some beautiful institutions for higher learning. Among those are American University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University (GWU)—to name a few. Each institution provides opportunity to advance our appreciation for the arts, understand history, and obtain scientific knowledge.
Tucked away in the scenic woods on Foxhall Road and about a block away from GWU’s medical research center is another institution with majestic beauty and bountiful creativity. It is a hidden treasure—otherwise known as the official residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium.
The elegant diplomatic residences in Washington, like any other world-class capital, are great venues for social events and for facilitating trade and security coordination between sovereign nations. The Belgian Ambassador’s residence is among the few locations consistently aiming to further understanding of economy and trade, history, and science.
A century has passed after the sunset of the lives of millions who faced the calamity called World War I and it has been “all quiet on the Western Front.” But on a clear day before the sun was to set for that gorgeous spring day in Washington, a senior Belgian diplomat noted that “more than three generations have experienced peace” – perhaps the longest period than in any time in history.
Speaking about the life of Gabrielle Petit – a Belgian Heroine – Dr. Sophie De Schaepdrijver, Associate Professor of History at Penn State University, took the audience at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence through a virtual tour of the battle fields and occupied territories in Western Europe. She described the troubled circumstances and orphanage in which Petit grew. Her vivid explanations made the audience feel as if they accompanied Petit on the momentous voyage that ended in the legendary Belgian enlisting as a British intelligence agent. The description of the contested terrain and the dense network of railways made one feel as if they saw Petit collect the data that helped the allies. The account of the discovery and the dismantling of the network of spies by the Germans leading to trial was so effective that Dr. Schaepdrijver made you feel being present under German occupation during that torturous era. The presentation was so powerful that even the leaves on the trees were motionless as if wanting to listen in.
“The party is over!” a lot of naysayers beholden to declinist ideology proclaim about the U.S. and perhaps Europe. That view is not shared however, by Professor Johan Van Overtveldt, Belgium’s Minister of Finance. With lucid arguments and incisive knowledge he made the case about why the United States will dominate the 21st century. Professor Van Overtveldt fascinating lecture – as part of the launch of his latest book “A Giant is Reborn – Why the US will dominate the 21st century” – was delivered at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence during his visit to Washington for the spring 2015 IMF-World Bank meetings.
Minister Van Overtveldt’s views are firmly grounded based on his experience as a Professor of Economics at the University of Hasselt in Belgium and also as the editor-in-chief of the economic and political weekly magazines “Trends” and “Knack."
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), Professor Geert Vanpaemel Historian of Science at the Catholic University of Leuven and Curator of the Exhibit “Vesalius, Imagining the Body” delivered a memorable presentation about the life and work of Vesalius – who was the first anatomist in history to produce an accurate description of the human body.
To introduce Vesalius to the invitees, the Ambassador said: “Relying only on the empirical knowledge gained from the dissection of human cadavers, he overturned all medical knowledge about the body.” Vesalius’ epoch making book De Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543) was published when he was only 28 years old and it revolutionized the world of medicine. “But Vesalius was much more than a gifted anatomist. Well educated in the humanist circles of Leuven and Paris, he created a new image of the human body. To Vesalius the human body was an ingenious structure that inspired awe and admiration.”
An unmistakable impression one gets from attending these lectures is that the attendees are curious students of history and science that in their own right are highly accomplished bankers, diplomats, professors, and professionals at the pinnacle of success in their lives. From their questions, one notices an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
Like an empathetic dean of a law school, Ambassador Johan Verbeke takes pain in discussing the importance of the topics of discussion and proper introductions of gifted speakers. As gracious hosts, his wife and the embassy staff engage the guests in lively conversations before and after the event.
Not far from the Ambassador’s residence is a large body of water called the “Reservoir” that serves the beautiful city of Washington. And, from the cross roads of history that Belgium and the United States have gone through, one learns that there is a vast reservoir of both knowledge and friendship between two longstanding allies and so it is not surprising that the residence on Foxhall Road is also a Diplomatic University of sorts.
All photos courtesy of the author. All rights reserved.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
a global affairs media network
A Diplomatic University
May 5, 2015
Northwest Washington is adorned by some beautiful institutions for higher learning. Among those are American University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University (GWU)—to name a few. Each institution provides opportunity to advance our appreciation for the arts, understand history, and obtain scientific knowledge.
Tucked away in the scenic woods on Foxhall Road and about a block away from GWU’s medical research center is another institution with majestic beauty and bountiful creativity. It is a hidden treasure—otherwise known as the official residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium.
The elegant diplomatic residences in Washington, like any other world-class capital, are great venues for social events and for facilitating trade and security coordination between sovereign nations. The Belgian Ambassador’s residence is among the few locations consistently aiming to further understanding of economy and trade, history, and science.
A century has passed after the sunset of the lives of millions who faced the calamity called World War I and it has been “all quiet on the Western Front.” But on a clear day before the sun was to set for that gorgeous spring day in Washington, a senior Belgian diplomat noted that “more than three generations have experienced peace” – perhaps the longest period than in any time in history.
Speaking about the life of Gabrielle Petit – a Belgian Heroine – Dr. Sophie De Schaepdrijver, Associate Professor of History at Penn State University, took the audience at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence through a virtual tour of the battle fields and occupied territories in Western Europe. She described the troubled circumstances and orphanage in which Petit grew. Her vivid explanations made the audience feel as if they accompanied Petit on the momentous voyage that ended in the legendary Belgian enlisting as a British intelligence agent. The description of the contested terrain and the dense network of railways made one feel as if they saw Petit collect the data that helped the allies. The account of the discovery and the dismantling of the network of spies by the Germans leading to trial was so effective that Dr. Schaepdrijver made you feel being present under German occupation during that torturous era. The presentation was so powerful that even the leaves on the trees were motionless as if wanting to listen in.
“The party is over!” a lot of naysayers beholden to declinist ideology proclaim about the U.S. and perhaps Europe. That view is not shared however, by Professor Johan Van Overtveldt, Belgium’s Minister of Finance. With lucid arguments and incisive knowledge he made the case about why the United States will dominate the 21st century. Professor Van Overtveldt fascinating lecture – as part of the launch of his latest book “A Giant is Reborn – Why the US will dominate the 21st century” – was delivered at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence during his visit to Washington for the spring 2015 IMF-World Bank meetings.
Minister Van Overtveldt’s views are firmly grounded based on his experience as a Professor of Economics at the University of Hasselt in Belgium and also as the editor-in-chief of the economic and political weekly magazines “Trends” and “Knack."
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), Professor Geert Vanpaemel Historian of Science at the Catholic University of Leuven and Curator of the Exhibit “Vesalius, Imagining the Body” delivered a memorable presentation about the life and work of Vesalius – who was the first anatomist in history to produce an accurate description of the human body.
To introduce Vesalius to the invitees, the Ambassador said: “Relying only on the empirical knowledge gained from the dissection of human cadavers, he overturned all medical knowledge about the body.” Vesalius’ epoch making book De Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543) was published when he was only 28 years old and it revolutionized the world of medicine. “But Vesalius was much more than a gifted anatomist. Well educated in the humanist circles of Leuven and Paris, he created a new image of the human body. To Vesalius the human body was an ingenious structure that inspired awe and admiration.”
An unmistakable impression one gets from attending these lectures is that the attendees are curious students of history and science that in their own right are highly accomplished bankers, diplomats, professors, and professionals at the pinnacle of success in their lives. From their questions, one notices an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
Like an empathetic dean of a law school, Ambassador Johan Verbeke takes pain in discussing the importance of the topics of discussion and proper introductions of gifted speakers. As gracious hosts, his wife and the embassy staff engage the guests in lively conversations before and after the event.
Not far from the Ambassador’s residence is a large body of water called the “Reservoir” that serves the beautiful city of Washington. And, from the cross roads of history that Belgium and the United States have gone through, one learns that there is a vast reservoir of both knowledge and friendship between two longstanding allies and so it is not surprising that the residence on Foxhall Road is also a Diplomatic University of sorts.
All photos courtesy of the author. All rights reserved.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
