The Asparagus Society
To put an extra spotlight on our white gold, there is a ‘Grafelijk Genootschap van de Klein-Brabantse Asperge’.
A new member is knighted every year at the start of the Asparagus Festival. These are well-known people who have a connection with our municipality and are sympathetic to asparagus.
Meet the grandmasters and knights of The Society.
The grandmasters
The Asparagus Festival can count on grandmasters. Feel free to call them ambassadors of our white gold. Everywhere they go, they talk about the Klein-Brabant asparagus. They make the mouths water of everyone who listens to them.
The grandmasters still have important tasks: delivering the very first asparagus of the season to our provincial governor and knighting the Knights of the Asparagus Society.
The current generation of grandmasters includes: Levi De Mul, Bjorn Cloostermans and Mascha De Wolf. From edition 2024, two more grandmasters will be added: Natalie Van Nuffel and Nathalie Michiels. They all live in Klein-Brabant and have a special bond with asparagus.
The grandmasters are decked out in appropriate costumes.
The Knights
2025: Jo Brouns
Jo Brouns is Flemish minister for environment and agriculture. He lives in Kinrooi, a Limburg municipality that today has the largest area of asparagus fields in Flanders. Brouns has a strong personal connection with this vegetable: from his childhood, asparagus was on his family's table at least weekly during the season, and he prefers to enjoy asparagus with salmon and hollandaise sauce or Flemish-style with egg, parsley and butter.
As a minister, he is proud of his title as Asperger Knight and seizes every moment to promote the “white gold”, as he believes this seasonal vegetable links tradition, healthy eating and local agriculture.
2024: Hans Bourlon & Anja Van Mensel
As many as two new knights in 2024: ceos of Studio 100 Hans Bourlon and Anja Van Mensel will be knighted at the gala dinner on 13 May 2024.
Hans Bourlon is a Flemish entrepreneur known as the co-founder of Studio 100. Together with Gert Verhulst, he built Studio 100 from a small production studio into an international phenomenon.
Anja Van Meersel started at Studio 100 in 2004 and became head of the TV & Film department in 2008, responsible for the expansion and content of productions. Later, she also managed the Live Entertainment department and established the Content Creation department. In 2013, she became CEO of Studio 100 Benelux and has since directed all activities in the region. In addition to her role as CEO, Anja remains responsible for the development of new content (series, films, formats, shows) as Director Content Creation.
2023: Maarten Vancoillie
Maarten Vancoillie is a radio producer at Qmusic and a resident of the municipality of Puurs-Sint-Amands.
2022: Jelle Cleymans
Jelle Cleymans is a singer and actor. As a young boy, he made his TV debut in De Kotmadam. After that, he got big roles as ‘Evert’ in the Ketnet soap Spring and as Jens in the popular one-series Thuis. Jelle is also a much sought-after musical actor. He starred in Tintin, 40-45 and Daens, among others. For many years, Jelle's grandparents ran the former café Klein-Brabant in Puurs. So he has been visiting the municipality for many years.
2019: Sabine Hagedoren
Sabine Hagedoren is VRT's weather woman. Born in Bornem, she graduated in chemistry from the former Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen (UIA). After seven years in education, she switched to TV: on 6 October 1993, she presented her first weather report there. Later, she also appeared in programmes such as Vlaanderen Vakantieland and Klant en Klaar. Sabine is mum of 2 children.
2018: Laura Deloose
Laura Deloose from Oppuurs plays for the Red Flames, our national women's football team. As a five-year-old, she first put on her football boots at FC Oppuurs. After that, she played for FC Kontich. And since 2012 she has defended the colours of Anderlecht. On 23 May 2015, Laura played her first match against Norway for the Red Flames. She was also part of Red Flames selection for the 2017 European Football Championship where she played 2 of the 3 group matches.
2017: Ruben Van Gucht and Cathy Berx
In the 2017 festive year, in which Puurs celebrated its 725th anniversary, two knights were appointed: Ruben Van Gucht and Cathy Berx.
Ruben Van Gucht, a compatriot of the region, has been a sports reporter at VRT since 2012. He studied Communication Science at the Free University of Brussels and took his first steps in the media world at RTV and EXQI. On 18 April 2015, he was honoured with the ‘Rising Star’ at the Gala of Flemish Television Stars. Fact: Ruben has stepped into the Death March on several occasions.
Cathy Berx has been governor of the province of Antwerp since 2008. She received her PhD in Law from the University of Antwerp, where she has also taught since 2000. She was vice-president of CD&V from 2003 to 2008 and served in the Flemish Parliament. She is also a member of the boards of ITG, FTI and the Supreme Council of the University of Antwerp.
2016: Michel Moortgat
Michel Moortgat is CEO of the Duvel Moortgat family brewery in Breendonk where he represents the fourth generation. He and his brothers took over the brewery in 1998. Their ambition was to grow in the niche market of premium speciality beers by investing in quality, diversification and geographical expansion. The company grew from one brand and one country strategy to a complementary product portfolio with international presence in more than 70 countries. Michel Moortgat sits on several boards of museums and cultural institutions and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises. He is married and father of three children.
2015: Ben Roelants
Ben Roelants, who lives in Puurs-Sint-Amands, is a well-known TV presenter. He studied Communication Science at the Free University of Brussels and then went to work as a journalist at the regional channel TV Brussel. Later, he moved to the production house Jok Foe where he edited the vtm programme Recht Van Antwoord under Goedele Liekens. Shortly afterwards, he started working as a presenter on youth channel JIM before moving to VRT. There, he became best known for his reports in the travel programme Vlaanderen Vakantieland.
2014: Clara Cleymans
Actress Clara Cleymans broke through to the general public in 2010 with a role in the popular one-soap Home. That same year, she also got a stage in the vtm programme Tegen De Sterren Op, where she excelled with strong impersonations of Lady Gaga, among others. On 25 February 2011, she was awarded the ‘Rising Star’ during the Flemish Television Stars. In 2014, Clara got married and is now mum to a daughter Jeanne.
2013: Luc Morjaeu
Luc Morjeau from Puurs-Sint-Amands is a cartoonist. He studied Free Graphics at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the National Higher Institute in Antwerp. From 2000, Luc Morjaeu became one of Jef Nys' three permanent collaborators for Jommeke. Later, Hans Bourlon from Studio 100 asked him to further supervise and develop the drawing studio there. And in 2005, he was asked by Studio Vandersteen to take charge of the studio. To this day, he heads the drawing team of Suske en Wiske, the most popular comic strip in the Benelux. Did you know that he the coat of arms of Puurs and Puurs-Sint-Amands?
2012: Jan Winters
Jan Winters was alderman of Culture in the former municipality of Puurs until 2011. In addition he Jan was deputy chief of cabinet when Kris Peeters was minister of Environment, Nature and Culture. Jan was also chairman of the board of the non-profit organisation Jeugddorp Vijverbos for many years.
2011: Annemie Turtelboom
Annemie Turtelboom is a former Belgian politician with the Open VLD. From 25 July 2014 to 29 April 2016, Annemie was deputy prime minister of the Flemish government and minister for the Budget, Finance and Energy. Before that, she was justice minister. She was a municipal councillor in Puurs from 2000 to 2012. In the ten years before her political career, Annemie taught Economics at KH Leuven where she became head of training and focused on marketing and statistics.
2010: Kris Peeters
Kris Peeters from Ruisbroek is a well-known CD&V politician. He studied Law, Philosophy and Accountancy, among other things. Before his political career, he headed UNIZO, the union of independent entrepreneurs, for more than ten years. In 2004, he was asked to become minister of Public Works, Ports, Energy, Environment and Nature. Today, he sits in the European Parliament. Kris Peeters is married to Ann and father of Karel.
2006: Jos De Donder
Jos De Donder is a member of the Church Council of the Puurs Sint-Pieter parish. He is author of 'The Louis De La Haye organ 1723 Sint-Pieterskerk Puurs' and of 'The history of the Puurse Sint-Pieterskerk, Pearl of Klein-Brabant’.
2005: Ferdy Debecker
Ferdy Debecker is chef of restaurant Eyckerhof in Bornem where you taste classic French cuisine. The restaurant is located in the countryside along the asparagus route. Ferdy and his wife Ann aim for an informal atmosphere with class where young and old feel good. The classically innovative cuisine has already won several awards, including a Michelin star in Ferdy's pocket and receiving high points in the Gault & Millau year after year. Moreover, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Ferdy is also peter of the Asparagus Festival!
2004: Jos Geuens
Jos became sp.a alderman in Balen in 1982, responsible for Sport, Youth and Information. He became a provincial councillor and in 1985 deputy for finance, budget, recreation centres, green areas and environment. With his long track record, he was the ancien in the deputation. His mandate ran until 2012. He was also sp.a chairman for the province of Antwerp, chairman of the Association of Flemish Provinces (VVP), chairman of the board of directors of the Flemish transport company De Lijn, member of the board of directors at Cipal and member of the board of directors at the Vlaamse Maatschappij voor Sociaal Wonen (VMSW).
2003: Harry Beuckelaers
Harry Beuckelaers is honorary alderman of Puurs and honorary vice-chairman of the Antwerp Provincial Council. He was elected to the Antwerp Provincial Council in 1981 to become a member of the daily bureau of the provincial council after the elections from 1987.
In 1989, Harry Beuckelaers sat for the CVP in the Puur municipal council. He immediately became a member of the College of Aldermen where his responsibilities included Mobility, Public Works and Tourism. Harry became chairman of Tourism Klein Brabant-Scheldeland in 1990. The promotion of cycle tourism and Klein-Brabant regional products were his focal points. For instance, he was the initiator of the first Puur asparagus festival under the name 'ASPUURSGE’.
2002: Dina Tersago
Dina Tersago, born and raised in Puurs, was allowed to put on the Miss Belgium crown in 2001. This immediately launched her for a successful career in the media. Since 2004, she has been the presenter of the popular vtm programme Boer Zoekt Vrouw (Farmer Seeking Woman). She still presents it today, now in duo with An Lemmens. In 2006, Dina won the very first edition of the vtm programme Sterren Op De Dansvloer. In 2012, she was a member of the jury of the same programme. Dina is mum to sons Isak and Thor.
2001: Frans Vertongen
Frans Vertongen is a true asparagus connoisseur. He studied the history of the vegetable over the centuries. And focused especially on the role of the white gold in European painting. He even wrote a book about it: 'Aspergus in the history of botany in European painting of the 17th century'. The asparagus is a pure passion for Frans. For by training, he is an engineer: he spent his life working as an industrial manager.
2000: Koen Van den Heuvel
In 1997, Koen became mayor of the former Puurs. With a thoughtful vision, he allowed the municipality to flourish and put it on the map commercially. In 2004, Koen became Flemish MP for the constituency of the province of Antwerp, specialising in finance and budget, innovation and work. In 2012, he became the CD&V party leader in the Flemish Parliament. And in 2019, he succeeded party colleague Joke Schauvliege as Flemish Minister of Environment, Nature and Agriculture.