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The Horseshoe Maker
Sigi Struck

“Time doesn’t matter when I am with the horses.”

Sigi Struck was a locksmith who specialised in sawmill machines, a role he carried out for 40 years. His father and uncle had been blacksmiths, and working with iron and metalwork seemed to be his path.

But he had also developed a passion for working with horses. 

When he was 22 years old, Sigi had attended classes at a school in Brussels. Every Saturday for four years at the school, he had immersed himself in the craft of a "hufschmied," the specialist care of horses. This unique profession demanded not only blacksmithing skills for crafting proper horseshoes but also the ability to care for horses' feet and legs when they are unwell. Sigi continued doing it on weekends or whenever he could find the time.

Today, Sigi specializes in horse hoof care. He crafts metal shoes, cleans the horses' feet, and takes measurements to determine the right shoe length. He relies on his eyes and instincts to create the perfect shoe. Even after attaching the shoe, it can still be adjusted and fine-tuned. This process requires speed and intense heat to avoid causing any discomfort to the horse.

Helping an injured or suffering horse and seeing it get better is the most rewarding feeling Sigi knows. 

The Cheese Maker
Jürgen Reinertz

“The taste reminded me of my childhood.”

It all began with a homemade beer. In 2020, when Jürgen Reinertz was 37 years old, he gifted his brother a homebrewing kit for Christmas. As the pair brewed beer together, they realized it needed a cheese companion. Jürgen researched cheese. He learned about cheese. He ate a lot of cheese. 

Two years later, noticing his passion, Jürgen's mom suggested he visit an older man from Amel, Eddy Klein, who had spent his life making cheese. When Jürgen visited, Eddy started making curd with Jürgen, a coagulated milk product. It turned out great, reminding Jürgen of the curd from his childhood and, to his taste at least, much better than store-bought. Jürgen and Eddy made plans to make cheese, but shortly afterwards, Eddy got sick and passed away.

Jürgen didn't want to give up, so he started looking for other experts. That's when he found Andreas Keul, known for his iconic Le Valet cheese. Andreas became Jürgen's mentor and guided him in the cheese-making process. 

He began making cheese at home with only 5 liters of milk and the utmost care made his first wheels of cheese and let them ripen for two months. He was thrilled at how good they turned out. A work colleague and good friend suggested the name Käsanova to Jürgen and he knew immediately that this was the right name for his cheese.

Jürgen now produces cheese around 2-3 times a month which serves about 18 small Käsanova wheels. He even gets to take a slice of his own cheese, sit down among friends, and pair it with his favorite Belgian beers. 

The Newspaper Collector
Klaus Biedermann

“It’s nice to sit outside with a newspaper from many years ago, open it, smell the pages, and read about what happened during that time. It’s both nostalgia and history.”

Since 1985, Klaus Biedermann has been meticulously collecting every edition of the local newspaper, GrenzEcho. It all began when he was 31 years old—he’s 70 today. He says he was driven by an uneasy feeling of discarding a piece of history each day. The act of reading about the past and then disposing of it felt wrong. “At one point, I collected so many newspapers that I just couldn’t stop.”

Newspaper collection has spurred a passion for history. Klaus immerses himself in history books. He has embarked on journeys across Europe to explore different cultures and delve into their rich historical narratives. He wants to gain insights into these histories and comprehend better the events of the past.

In the historically rich region of East Belgium, Klaus has discovered treasures like ancient tombs dating back over a thousand years. His impressive collection of GrenzEcho newspapers, carefully bound together by year by Klaus’ own hands, resides in a dedicated space in his attic. This collection weighs approximately 1,000 kilograms, a testament to Klaus’ unwavering commitment to preserving the past and a reminder that history carries weight in figuring out who we are in the present day.

The Fry Enthusiast
Melanie Spee

“My family didn’t want me to work in fast food, but this has always been my passion.”

Melanie Spee followed in her father’s footsteps of owning her own Fritture business. Her first job was in a Bakery at 14 years old. But pressure from her family led her to work a nine to five job in an office. She quickly realized this type of job was not for her, and she began to follow her dream of one day having her own Fritture restaurant.

Melanie quit her job and began to work in a Fritture in St. Vith. After five years, she was able to begin on her own and Snackeria was born. 

“It’s not really about the fries. It is the entire job in general. Plus, fries are such a big part of our culture here in Belgium and I get to be a part of this. I get to represent my culture.”

The Permaculture Gardener
Christophe Voss

“The fact that you can seed your own carrot, grow it and then cook it… well, I just absolutely love this idea.”

Christophe Voss spent many years traveling and cooking in different restaurants around the world. From cooking in a fine dining restaurant on a glacier in Switzerland to volunteering on a Permaculture farm in Nicaragua. Eventually, the lifestyle of cooking in restaurants and seeing how much food was being wasted began to haunt him.

Christophe found his home again in East Belgium and has been pursuing Permaculture. His garden, next to his home, is filled with a huge variety of vegetables and fruit. Through permaculture, he has learned to understand the cycles of nature and work with people who want to learn the same. His main goal is to grow vegetables in a very small area that lives up to the organic label.

The Priest
Albert Brodel

“My father was my inspiration. Not only did he introduce me to the Catholic Religion, but we were fortunate enough to travel the world together.”

Albert Brodel’s life has been filled with both church and adventure. When Albert was a child, he would join his father in church to listen to him play the Organ. He came to love the world that the church offered him, and he began his passion for vocation at 16 years old. He continued his life working as a pastor and became a Catholic Priest in 1993. 

Albert always looked up to his father. He not only introduced him to his life’s calling, but also gave him a curiosity for exploration.  Albert and his father spent many years flying in planes and sleeping in vans on road trips to places such as Morocco, Russia, Iceland, Canada, South America and Australia.

The Harpist
Caroline Palm

When I first saw and heard the harp, I was immediately enchanted."

Caroline Palm recalls a concert where, at the age of 14, she had her first opportunity to observe and hear a harp at close range in concert. It left a lasting impression: its majestic appearance, its captivating sound, its dreamlike timbre.

Even as a child she was enthusiastic about the harp, but for the time being she could not learn it because there were no harp teachers in her area. Therefore, she decided to take lessons in the flute at the Music Academy of the German-speaking Community. 

At the age of 18, when she took her last flute lesson at the Music Academy, harp lessons were finally offered there. And so Caroline jumped at the opportunity. Since then, she has practiced every day, taking lessons and giving solo and chamber music concerts. For Caroline, the harp not only fills her creative spirit, but the thrilling sound of the instrument also gives her a sense of freedom.

The Brewer
Axel Brück

“It’s never too late to start your dreams.”

For two decades, Axel Brück has worked night shifts as a security guard at an Asylum centre in Manderfeld. Twenty-five years ago, prompted by a love for saving older, storied, country homes, Axel moved from the German speaking municipality of St. Vith in Belgium to a seventeenth century house located 15 kilometers to the south in the tiny german village of Richtenberg. 

As he began to meet and befriend the other twenty-three inhabitants of the village, he was inspired to create something special for those in his new home. The Richtenberger beer was born, a Belgian Blonde Ale of 6.2% ABV brewed with pilsner malt and wheat malt, the addition of coriander and bitter orange peel, and hopped with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand.

When Axel takes off his camouflage military jacket, a back tattoo of the Richtenberger beer logo peeks out from his t-shirt.

The Fashion Designer
Francesca Krings

“When I'm designing and sewing, I can completely switch off and be in my own world.”

Francesca Krings was 8 years old when she started experimenting with her mother's sewing machine. As a child, she drew her designs and ideas in a notebook with pre-drawn silhouettes. Fashion has always piqued her interest.

On a trip to Tunisia, Francesca was shocked by the poor working conditions in the fashion industry. She decided to create a sustainable fashion brand and launched "BGABG - By Guess And By Gosh'' in April 2022.

Her brand focuses on recycling and reusing materials, which is in line with her love for nature and the East Belgian culture of reducing waste through repair and reuse. "I get up in the morning and immediately have an idea in my head, go to my study and start expressing myself through fabrics and designs." 

Francesca loves transforming old fabrics and fabric scraps into stylish creations, from the initial idea, to sewing prototypes of her unique designs, to assembling the finished pieces for sale. Once the garment has found its "owner," it has found its home. For her, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing people feel comfortable in their clothes.

The Geographer
Didier Landers

“Something always kept drawing me back to the mines,” says Didier Landers.

As a child, Didier Landers played in the shale tunnel. The mine is perilous. It contains 10 to 20 -meter-deep water holes that are difficult to detect. It is dark and easy to lose your way. But Didier felt compelled to venture in. 

“It was exciting and adventurous for us since there was no light and we always had to illuminate the area with flashlights,” he says. “Of course, our parents knew nothing about this ‘playground’. It was very dangerous, but it didn't seem that way to us.”

It was during these excursions that Didier started developing a fascination for the earth and its geological formations.

Out of an interest in geology, Didier Landers studied and received a bachelor's degree of Geography and Natural Sciences. He taught the subjects geography and natural history in Büllingen and St.Vith for 40 years.

One of the highlights of Didier Lander’s geography class is the trip his students take to the Steiferstollen underground mines as a field trip. Despite the lack of infrastructure, the students always love the experience, and these educational visits have  inspired a government funded project to  begin on infrastructure improvements in the mine.

Didier worked voluntarily for 9 years before the first visitor could be officially received. Today, the Rechter Schieferstollen is the most visited museum in Ostbelgien with around 12,000 visitors per year.

Didier loves the Schieferstollen mine for its special micro-climate; one that maintains a constant 7°C, regardless of the season outside. He also loves the blue and pink stone that lured him down the mine as a child, and also the sharpening stone "Coticule,  found only in three places in the world; Belgium, the UK, and the USA.

The Martial Artist
Sarkis Bas

"In East Belgium, especially Eupen, there are many martial arts clubs... you don't have to go very far to find the right one for you."

Sarkis Bas’s martial arts journey began at the age of 14 when he joined the Taekwondo club “Hankook Eupen”. He dedicated 11 years to Taekwondo, a Korean martial art that includes competitive sparring and places a significant emphasis on kicking techniques. He achieved the rank of 2nd Dan (2nd black belt). During this time, he also explored other martial arts like Israeli martial art Krav Maga and Korean sword martial art Haedong Gumdo to further develop his skills. As the years went by, he took on the role of assistant instructor in the club, teaching and guiding fellow students.

In 2015, Sarkis ventured into the art of Wing Tzun, a Chinese martial art that does not involve competitive tournaments. It focuses on close-quarters combat, emphasizing rapid strikes, trapping, and redirecting an opponent's force. It is primarily a self-defense martial art. He decided to leave Taekwondo and he joined the “Remac Europe Association”, an organization that not only teaches martial arts but also serves as a training ground for individuals to learn how to open their own schools and become self-employed. He trained extensively, sometimes up to five days a week, and he soon became an instructor for Wing Tzun and Escrima, the national martial art of the Philippines. Since 2022, he has been running the martial arts school VoG in Eupen, where he imparts his knowledge and skills in these martial arts to others.

For Sarkis, martial arts is not just a physical activity; it's a way to relieve stress, both mentally and physically. It has become an integral part of his life, boosting his self-confidence and social skills. What he values most is the opportunity to channel aggression constructively during training. He can spar with partners and, at the end, share a handshake. In martial arts, respect is paramount, and Sarkis appreciates the camaraderie that comes with it.

The Painter
Natascha Sarlette

“As an artist, any place is the perfect place to paint.”

Before Natascha Sarlette had turned eight years old, she was already accurately drawing horses from memory on paper.

She would go on to create portraits of people, depicting them from her own perspective. She became particularly interested in drawing human eyes. Her portfolio of portraits expanded, eventually also including nude paintings. What set her apart was her ability to create portraits on canvas without the need for any templates.

During her upbringing, Natascha had a habit of painting in various settings, be it in her bedroom, during lessons, or during breaks at school. She didn't require a dedicated space; whenever she had a pen in her hand, she would start drawing.

Natascha’s artistic journey was also influenced by her great uncle, Hubert Schäfer, the only other artist in her family. She pursued several years of art education at the RSI's art department in Eupen. During this period, she gained valuable experience by interning at the renowned art college in Riga, Latvia. Subsequently, she dedicated two and a half years to her studies at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Liège and also attended ESA Saint-Luc. However, it was her commitment to practice and training that ultimately brought her to learn her style.

Art evokes a range of emotions within Natascha, encompassing both joy and sadness. When not painting, she immerses herself in documentaries about artists like Picasso and Frida Kahlo, finding inspiration in their works that fuels her own creativity.

The Rallye Driver
Nicola Peiffer

“I think this is something, that everyone should experience. Being surrounded by people who support you is such a nice feeling.”

Nicola Pfeifer has been following Rally since he was born. He would constantly attend various Rallye races around Belgium with his father, cousins and friends. His father drove Rallies in his early 20’s and shared the passion with his son. This is how Nicola began to find his own interest in the sport.

3 years ago after completing his studies, Nicola decided he wanted to learn to drive the Rallye cars himself. After a lot of training, he had his first Rallye in East Belgium. Nicola’s father helped with the planning, his mother made food for everyone, and his girlfriend and friends encouraged continued to encourage him. Everyone around Nicola was helping make his dream come true without them, it would not have been possible.

The Cello Player
Rudi Plattes

“I love playing the cello because it is one of the instruments most similar to the human voice. Although I am getting older, I will always be able to bring a piece of my heart into the world through my music.”

Rudi Plattes has been a lover of music ever since he was a child. But at age 26, a colleague changed his life forever when he asked Rudi if he was interested in learning about the Cello. Now, 56 years later, the Cello has become a part of who he is. His favorite Cello, which he made himself from the wood of the region at a workshop, is inspired by the bell flower, Campanula.

The Leather Maker
Yvonne Schröder

“I love to create without machines and electronics - only with my head and hands. The bags I produce are sewn exclusively by hand and this makes them all individually unique.”

Yvonne Schroder has been running her small leather factory in Eupen for about two years now. She always loved to sew, and one day decided to challenge herself and learn to also sew with leather.

Yvonne is also a full time graphic designer, which consists of many hours on a computer touching the keyboard and mouse. Working with leather in her hands gives Yvonne a sense of freedom and independence. She does not want to create mass-produced goods, but pieces that are sustainable, durable and to the wishes of the customer.

“Sometimes, it takes me over 20 hours to make one bag. The handwork makes me, as well as my customers appreciate the products more.”

The Skateboarder
Mike Deconinck

“It is important to me that the children in the community of Sankt Vith see that there are also alternative sports, where the focus is not on performance, but on one's own ambition to push oneself forward, the fun of movement and learning that mistakes and falls are not bad, but drive you all the more to keep going.“

Mike Deconinck starting riding his brother’s skateboard around the neighborhood when he was 8 years old. Being on a skateboard made him feel alive and full of energy. This gave him ambition to push to create more and learn tricks and stunts.

On several occasions, Mike had been approached by parents asking if he could teach their children how to skate. This sparked the idea of opening a skate school in Sankt Vith. Since April 2021, every Wednesday at 18h Mike is surrounded by about 40 children who are also filled with the same feeling of fun and ambition he had when he was 8 years old. 

“The children learn about their bodies and their abilities, and support each other. There are 4-year-old children, but also 12-year-olds, so there is a colorful mixture. There is no enrollment fee or mandatory training, the school is free-form, you just come when you feel like it. So no one is forced to do something they don't want to do.”

The Bird Watcher
Ernst Halmes

"We grew up in the post-war period, where we passed the time by catching fish with our hands, skiing in the winter and watching the swallows in the spring and summer. It was a simple, beautiful childhood."

When Ernst Halmes was 12 years old, he noticed a flock of songbirds on his parents' farm in Wirtzfeld. They were swallows, small birds with dark shiny backs, red throats, pale undercoats and long tail feathers. They nested in the barn, and Ernst often visited the family's shelter to watch them. He was fascinated by how agile they were in flight and pondered their mysterious journeys to faraway places each winter.

In 1966, he and his wife moved to a new house in Iveldingen. On a mild April morning in 1967, he looked out the window and spotted the first swallows approaching his property. Today, his house in Iveldingen is home to 107 nests, with 214 swallows. He keeps meticulous records of their annual return and rejoices at their arrival from Africa.

In front of his house hangs a yellow sign that reads "Swallow House," a gift from his children that he now proudly displays. His house displays countless artificial nests, numbered and named, which serve as a guide for his annual bird and nest documentation.

He began installing these artificial nests when other birds invaded the swallows' territory, knowing from experience that in such cases the swallows' return was uncertain. 

On warm, sunny days, 83-year-old Ernst sits outside his house, watching hundreds of swallows hovering overhead and studying their lives and interactions with the other birds. Each year, when they leave for their winter migration in September, he eagerly awaits their return in the spring. "I look forward to that all winter," he says.

The Stonemason
Sandro Dudenhausen

“Every stone tells a story.”

Sandro Dudenhausen, originally from Germany, worked in a tourism agency in Portugal when he was 18. For two years, he spent most of his days doing this in an office. This experience taught him that he didn't want a job where he sat inside all day. He wanted to work with his hands and create something.

At the age of 20, he returned to Germany and trained as a stonemason near Aachen. In 1997, he settled in nearby eastern Belgium, where he and his friends, then still using mountain bike maps, set out on unique journeys to explore areas of exposed stone from which they could make something.

Seeing the places where the stones came from on those hikes deepened his connection to the art of stone carving. "Every piece of natural stone is a product of a specific time and place," Sandro says. "It's a piece of earth history."

In 2006, Sandro founded his own company, Monolithique, in eastern Belgium. As a master stonemason and sculptor, he specializes in working with stone for gardens, always emphasizing the inherent beauty, diversity and uniqueness of natural stone. Since 2001, he has shown his work in various exhibitions throughout Europe, leaving a lasting impression on exhibition visitors with his remarkable creations.

The Runner
Sophia Schroeder

"Athletics gives me a very special feeling. When I run or more precisely, when I do sprints, it feels like I'm flying. I just think of nothing and feel the speed that I constantly try to increase. It's also a way to learn more about my body and to connect with it.”

Sophia Schroeder is a runner who competes in the 100m, 200m sprints and 100m hurdles. She first got in touch with athletics when she was 12 years old and now gets the opportunity to compete in competitions all over Belgium.

Although there are only 2 tracks in the entire German speaking region of Belgium, Sophia wants to share her passion and love for athletics with other students in hope to inspire them to try something new and also find their passion. Whether it is also running or something else. 

The Mechanic
Werner Posch

"When I was a child, around five years old, I saw a Porsche and my heart was racing. I loved it from the beginning.”

Werner Posch has been a car mechanic for 35 years in Sankt Vith. It’s no coincidence where he works now used to be a Porsche workshop back in the day. The garage has an old history of fixing race cars from the 70’s and 80’s. When he was fifteen, he would come here with his father to look at the cars and hear the sounds of the engines. 

The Porsche 911 from 1980 has always been Werner’s dream car to own. He loves this type of vehicle because of the body and sound it has when it drives. A few years ago, Werner finally found this car in Germany and purchased it to have for himself.

The Miller
Bruno Keller

“You must listen carefully to the sounds of the mill.”

Hannelore's family comes from the nearby village of Andlermühle. The Manderfeld family has operated a mill since 1863. The mill, located between two valleys and powered by nearby streams, is an important part of the community. Hannelore grew up near the mill and regularly helped her parents with tasks such as delivering flour to local bakeries, maintaining the mill ponds, operating the forklift, and doing office work.

"The millstones had to be ground," Hannelore says. "My father did that with a hammer, and I can remember taking the hammer as a child and using it to knock the plaster off the walls in the mill."

Bruno continued to work as a bricklayer, but he often helped Hannelore's father in the mill and found great satisfaction in the mill work.

As Hannelore's father grew older and could no longer run the mill, a decision had to be made about the mill's future. Hannelore could not bear the thought of closing the mill; all the beloved childhood memories and hard work of generations of her family would be wiped out.

The family made a decision. Bruno would take on the role of miller and ensure that the mill's legacy would be preserved.

Bruno's mill day begins with him setting the millstones in motion, carefully making sure they don't grind too much or too little. Once the stones reach the right speed, the power is turned on, the grinding begins, and the excitement begins. When Bruno is grinding, he is fully focused on every sound and detail of the mill.

"You can't listen to music while you're working," Bruno says. "You have to listen carefully to the sounds of the mill to be sure everything is working smoothly."

Manderfeld, the last officially functioning watermill in eastern Belgium, still grinds flour from buckwheat. On a typical day between October and April, 300-400 kg of flour are produced from about 1000 kg of buckwheat. Hannelore and Bruno hope that their son Peter will help to ensure that the family business lives on into the 6th generation.

The Horse Trainer
Céline Küpper

“Horses are a deep passion of mine that keep me grounded in nature. Being with them is about personal growth, living in the moment, and following intuition.”

Céline Küpper runs la Vida horse farm with her husband Karl. At the farm, the couple uses horses in projects for children and young people. It's not so much about riding as it is about getting in touch with the horses and learning a mindful way to interact with these animals.

Céline has lived with horses for as long as she can remember. Her affection for horses was awakened by her grandfather, now deceased, who introduced her to the art of grooming and riding and gave her a deep connection to these beautiful animals. Her grandfather ran a small hobby horse farm. One of her grandfather's horses, Daisy, still lives at la Vida horse farm, preserving the memory of him and Céline's connection to him.

She is a trained riding educator, certified horse coach and works under the guidelines of organizations such as Equimotion and Horsesense.

The farm offers holistic learning experiences that address body, mind and spirit. The horses help people find balance, self-confidence and connection with nature. Céline believes they can teach us important life lessons such as patience, mindfulness, responsibility and living in the moment.

Together with the horses, Céline accompanies people through personal crises, difficult times and processes of change in their lives. Those who come to the farm often hope to reorient themselves or develop personally. Equine-assisted stress management helps people create a healthy work-life balance.

The Paramedic
Raphaël Barth

“The effort is more than worth it when you see that you have helped people or saved a human life. This makes you very proud and motivates you to keep going.”

Raphaël Barth is a paramedic and firefighter for Sankt Vith. He found this passion through his father who is also active in the fire department. It can be an intense job, with regular training sessions and being on call on night, Sundays and holidays.

But Raphaël wouldn’t trade this job for anything. He loves helping his community and people who are in emergency situations and also the camaraderie of the team.

The Interior Designer
Julie De Vuyst-Leufgen

“I can still smell the flowers in the back of the van. It’s the smell of my childhood.”

Julie De Vuyst-Leufgen's parents operated a flower shop named Blumenhaus Lydia in St. Vith. The family lived above the shop. When she turned 10 years old, Julie started joining her father, William, on visits to flower exhibitions. “I can still smell the flowers in the back of the van,” she says. “It’s the smell of my childhood.” Julie remembers that the flowers endowed the spaces they were in with a distinct atmosphere, a sense of spatial identity.

Julie initially pursued a career as a hairdresser for 8 years, and later worked in roles at a hospital and a natural stone company. But none of these jobs brought her satisfaction.

Then, her father passed away.

It was time to change her path; away from the work she didn’t enjoy, and towards the smell of flowers and the sense of spatial design. Supported by her husband, she enrolled in a design course and, within a year, she had founded her own interior design business: In and Outside Design.

Julie's favourite aspect of her work is getting to see the culmination of her efforts as she oversees the purchase of items and collaborates with carpenters and painters and other tradespeople. Every client is unique, with different needs and desires. Julie crafts inviting homes and spaces that enhance people's well-being and provide practical solutions. This involves skillfully combining textures, colors, various materials, and tailoring the design to suit the specific needs and preferences of the individuals involved. Her first client was so moved by the transformation of her living room that she cried tears of joy. It was then that she realized her calling—to bring lasting joy to people through her design.

The Pilot
Alfons Velz

“The fascinating thing about flying is the simultaneous feeling of complete freedom of movement over three dimensions.”

When Alfons Velz was ten years old, a "Fieseler Storch" airplane flew over his elementary school during a lesson break, slowly and at a low altitude. "We were thrilled" he says. "At that time, in the early sixties, gliders also occasionally had to make emergency landings in the fields around our village. Then we rushed with our bikes to the landing sites and watched this spectacle spellbound."

Flying thus became a dream for the little boy from Mürringen, even if it was unaffordable for a long time. But the interest in flying would not let him go, and so Alfons devoted his free time to model flying as a substitute.

In the mid-eighties, the first "flying lawnmowers" and their daredevil pioneers landed at the "Feuervogel" model airfield in Büllingen. Immediately the passion awoke anew: Flying became affordable for normal earners. In spring 1997 he started his training at Brussels and already in September he experienced the thrill of his first solo flight, a feeling no aviator will ever forget in his life.

Today Alfons has two thousand flying hours under his belt. Whenever the weather cooperates, he takes off and explores the breathtaking landscape of the Eifel, his home. He also enjoys traveling with other aviation friends to airfields in Belgium, Germany, France, or even across the English Channel to England, where he has witnessed several air shows. Countless contacts and lively exchanges in the large family of aviation enthusiasts give the hobby an additional fascinating interpersonal touch.

It's the freedom that Alfons loves so much about flying: "You're carried into the vastness of airspace in a completely relaxed way, with a view of a distant horizon above endless, untouched or man-made nature."