List of Belgians

• are or were Belgian citizens at least for sometime in their life,
• were born in Belgium or in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but who were not or are not Belgian citizens. The names of people of this category are italicized.

• fictional characters who are undisputedly Belgians
• important ones whose citizenship is unknown, or not Belgian and with Belgian creators. The names of fictional characters of this category are italicized.

Artists

• Nicolas Ancion
• Gentil Theodoor Antheunis
• Pieter Aspe
• Henry Bauchau
• Jean-Marie Berckmans
• Anton Bergmann
• Hendrik Beyaert
• Philipp Blommaert
• Louis Paul Boon
• Cris Brodahl
• Elisa Brune
• Herman Brusselmans
• Cyriel Buysse
• Emile Cammaerts
• Sophie Cauvin
• Ernest Claes
• Hugo Claus
• Hendrik Conscience
• Julio Cortázar – Argentinian writer born in Brussels
• Joanna Courtmans
• Fernand Crommelynck
• Johan Daisne
• Jacques Danois
• Johan Michiel Dautzenberg
• Herman de Coninck
• Charles De Coster
• Julius de Geyter
• Xaveer De Geyter
• Michel De Ghelderode
• Michel de Kemmeter
• Lodewijk de Koninck
• Gilbert Delahaye
• Patricia de Martelaere
• Pol de Mont
• Filip De Pillecyn
• Paul De Wispelaere
• Christine D'Haen
• Neel Doff
• Maria Doolaeghe
• Gaston Durnez
• Georges Eekhoud
• Willem Elsschot
• Jef Geeraerts
• Guido Gezelle
• Marnix Gijsen
• Maurice Gilliams
• Paul Hankar
• Jacqueline Harpman
• Kristien Hemmerechts
• Stefan Hertmans
• Victor Horta
• Henry Kistemaeckers – novelist, and playwright
• Hubert Lampo
• Tom Lanoye
• Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck
• Camille Lemonnier
• Suzanne Lilar – essayist, novelist, and playwright
• Rosalie Loveling
• Virginie Loveling
• Maurice Maeterlinck – Nobel Prize in Literature 1911
• Marcel Mariën – surrealist
• Bob Mendes
• Pierre Mertens
• Henri Michaux – poet and painter
• Ivo Michiels
• Erwin Mortier – novelist, essayist, poet
• Alice Nahon
• Leonard Nolens
• Amélie Nothomb
• Pierre Nothomb
• Paul Nougé – surrealist
• Octave Pirmez
• Charles Plisnier – Prix Goncourt 1937
• Sophie Podolski
• Anne Provoost
• Jean Ray
• Frans Rens
• Albrecht Rodenbach
• Georges Rodenbach – Symbolist poet and novelist
• Maria Rosseels
• Ward Ruyslinck
• Paul Saintenoy
• Georges Simenon
• Jan Lambrecht Domien Sleeckx
• Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert
• August Snieders
• Jan Renier Snieders
• Reimond Stijns
• Gustave Strauven
• Stijn Streuvels
• Christophe Szpajdel
• Herman Teirlinck
• Isidoor Teirlinck
• Jotie T'Hooft
• Felix Timmermans
• Jan van Beers
• Jos Vandeloo
• Walter van den Broeck
• Henry Van de Velde
• Karel van de Woestijne
• Prudens van Duyse
• Raoul Vaneigem
• Peter Frans Van Kerckhoven
• Jacob van Maerlant
• Paul Van Ostaijen
• Bob Van Reeth
• Jan Theodoor van Rijswijck
• Anton van Wilderode
• Emile Verhaeren
• Peter Verhelst
• Dimitri Verhulst
• August Vermeylen
• Jules Wabbes
• Gerard Walschap
• Francois Weyergans
• Jan Frans Willems
• Marguerite Yourcenar – French novelist born in Belgium

  Businesspeople and economists

• Luc Bertrand
• Philippus Jacobus Brepols
• John Cockerill
• Marc Coucke
• Étienne Davignon
• Michel de Kemmeter
• Gustave de Molinari – economist
• Édouard-Jean Empain
• George Arthur Forrest
• Albert Frère – self made businessman
• Alexandre Galopin – director of the Société Générale de Belgique
• Silvio Gesell
• Lieven Gevaert
• Eric Ghysels
• Jean-Pierre Hansen – CEO of Electrabel
• Rob Heyvaert – founder of Capco
• Georges Jacobs
• André Leysen and his sons Christian Leysen and Thomas Leysen
• Maurice Lippens
• Alfred Lowenstein, soldier, aviator, sportsman, entrepreneur
• Georges Nagelmackers
• Philippe van Parijs
• Bruno van Pottelsberghe

  Criminals

• Nordine Ben Allal – multiple escapes
• Madani Bouhouche – police officer, accused of being a member of the Brabant killers
• Pierre Carette – terrorist, member of the Communist Combatant Cells
• Kim De Gelder – murdered several babies in a babycare center
• Muriel Degauque – Belgian woman who committed a suicide terrorist attack in Bagdad in 2005
• Marc Dutroux – rapist and serial killer
• Bert Eriksson – head of the extreme-right organisation Vlaamse Militanten Orde, convicted for founding a private army
• Patrick Haemers – kidnapper of former Prime Minister Paul Vanden Boeynants
• Murat Kaplan – co-member of Patrick Haemers' gang
• Jean-Baptiste Sipido – tried to assassinate Edward VII of the United Kingdom during a 1900 visit to Brussels
• Jean-Pierre Van Rossem – convicted for Ponzi fraud
• Hans Van Themsche – teenager with far-right sympathies who went on a killing spree and murdered three people in the street
• Robert Jan Verbelen – Nazi collaborator and murderer of businessman Alexandre Galopin
• Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé – nobleman who poisoned his brother-in-law with nicotine

  Fictional characters

• Achilles de Flandres – antagonist in Orson Scott Card's Shadow series
• Adhemar – comics character by Marc Sleen
• Cowboy Henk – absurd comic character drawn by Herr Seele and written by Kamagurka
• Dr. Evil – main villain in the Austin Powers films
• Gaston Lagaffe – comics character by André Franquin
• Jo, Zette and Jocko – comics characters by Hergé
• Jommeke – comics character by Jef Nys
• De Kiekeboes – comics characters by Merho
• Lucky Luke – comics character created by Morris
• Nero comics character by Marc Sleen
• Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber, comics characters by Pom.
• Hercule Poirot – literary detective, created by Agatha Christie.
• Quick & Flupke – comics characters by Hergé who live in Brussels.
• Samson en Gert – characters from a popular Flemish television series
• Les Schtroumpfs – known as The Smurfs in English, cartoon characters in a series of graphic novels by Peyo
• Suske en Wiske – comics characters by Willy Vandersteen.
• Spirou et Fantasio – comics characters by André Franquin
• Tintin – comics character by Hergé.
• Corporal Trenet – from Martin Aitchison's comics series Luck of the Legion.

  Historians

• Philippe de Commines
• Victor Amédée Jacques Marie Coremans
• François-Louis Ganshof
• Xavier Mabille
• Ludo Martens
• Anne Morelli
• Henri Pirenne
• Pierre François Xavier de Ram
• Jan Vansina

  Humorists

• Alex Agnew – also the lead singer of Diablo Blvd
• Gaston Berghmans
• Jan Bucquoy
• Annie Cordy
• Wouter Deprez
• Raymond Devos
• Bert Gabriëls
• Philippe Geluck – best known for his comic strip Le Chat
• Noël Godin – "l'entarteur", aka Monsieur Gloup-Gloup
• Geert Hoste
• Kamagurka
• Hugo Matthysen
• Lieven Scheire
• Les Snuls
• Urbain Servranckx
• Mark Uytterhoeven

  Journalists

• Paul Beliën
• Jacques Danois
• Koenraad Elst
• Cédric Gerbehaye
• Germaine Van Parys – pioneering female photojournalist

  Military figures

• Ambiorix – Gaulish warlord
• Baldwin I of Constantinople – Crusader, first Latin Emperor
• Baldwin I of Jerusalem – Crusader, King of Jerusalem
• Jean-Pierre de Beaulieu – Belgian-born Austrian general
• Adrian Carton de Wiart – Belgian-born British lieutenant general
• Charlemagne – founder of the Frankish Empire
• Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor
• Clovis I, King of the Franks
• Godfrey of Bouillon – Crusader and first King of Jerusalem
• Charles Martel – Duke of the Franks, stopped the Muslim expansion at Poitiers
• Pepin of Herstal – Duke of the Franks
• Pepin the Short – first Carolingian King of the Franks
• Edgard Potier – pilot during World War II
• Jean Schramme – mercenary
• Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly – field marshal
• Léon de Witte – General during World War I
• Count Henry Robert Visart de Bury et de Bocarmé C.B.E. – lieutenant colonel

  Models

• Zoé Brunet
• Brigitta Callens
• Elise Crombez
• Sylvie De Caluwé
• Véronique De Kock
• Hannelore Knuts
• Yumi Lambert
• Anouck Lepere – supermodel
• Stephanie Meire
• Hanne Gaby Odiele
• Angeline Flor Pua, crowned Miss Belgium 2018
• Ellen Petri
• Elena Castro Suarez, crowned Miss Belgium 2019
• Ingrid Seynhaeve
• Annelies Törös, winner of Miss Belgium 2015
• Jessica Van Der Steen
• Ann Van Elsen

  Monarchs

• Albert I
• Albert II
• Baudouin
• Charles V of Habsburg – Holy Roman Emperor
• Charles VII of Habsburg – Holy Roman Emperor
• Charlemagne – Holy Roman Emperor
• Clemens August of Bavaria, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne
• Leopold I
• Leopold II
• Leopold III
• Philippe

  Performing artists

Actors and actresses

• Natacha Amal
• Patrick Bauchau
• Veerle Baetens
• Céline Buckens
• Jey Crisfar
• Koen De Bouw
• Jan Decleir
• André Delvaux
• Émilie Dequenne
• Els Dottermans
• Tim Driesen
• Cécile de France
• Johnny Galecki
• Marie Gillain
• Olivier Gourmet
• Johan Heldenbergh
• Audrey Hepburn
• Christian Labeau
• Jacky Lafon
• Bouli Lanners
• Johan Leysen
• Yolande Moreau
• Filip Peeters
• Ann Petersen
• Benoît Poelvoorde
• Eline Powell
• Natacha Régnier
• Lyne Renée
• Jérémie Renier
• Matthias Schoenaerts
• Jean-Claude Van Damme
• Peter Van Den Begin
• Dora van der Groen
• Marie Vinck
• Philippe Volter
• Titus De Voogdt

  Choreographers

• Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker

  Composers

• Jean Absil
• Florent Alpaerts
• Peter Benoit
• Gilles Binchois
• Ivan Caryll
• Jacob Clemens non Papa
• Marie Daulne
• Frédéric Devreese
• Guillaume Dufay
• François Joseph Fétis
• César Franck – Belgian composer who worked in Paris
• Karel Goeyvaerts
• Nicolas Gombert
• François Joseph Gossec
• André Grétry
• Joseph Jongen
• Orlande de Lassus – born in the provinces of present-day Belgium, but before Belgium existed
• Guillaume Lekeu
• Jacques Loeillet – baroque composer
• Jean-Baptiste Loeillet de Ghent – baroque composer
• Charles Loos
• Wim Mertens
• Vidna Obmana – pseudonym of Dirk Serries
• Johannes Ockeghem
• Henri Pousseur
• Josquin des Prez
• Cypriano de Rore
• Didier van Damme
• Pieter van Maldere
• Carl Verbraeken
• Henri Vieuxtemps
• Giaches de Wert
• Adrian Willaert
• Eugène Ysaÿe

  Filmmakers

• Chantal Akerman
• Jean-Jacques Andrien
• Nic Balthazar
• Tom Barman
• Lucas Belvaux
• Rémy Belvaux
• Nabil Ben Yadir
• Alain Berliner
• Jan Bucquoy
• Hugo Claus
• Stijn Coninx
• Carl Colpaert
• Gérard Corbiau
• Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
• Robbe De Hert
• André Delvaux
• Armand Denis
• Dominique Deruddere
• Marc Didden
• Jacques Feyder
• Jonas Geirnaert
• Harry Kümel
• Bouli Lanners
• Roland Lethem
• Benoît Mariage
• Picha
• Michaël R. Roskam
• Raoul Servais
• Henri Storck
• Guy Lee Thys
• Patrice Toye
• Jan Vanderheyden –
• Jaco Van Dormael –
• Felix Van Groeningen –
• Erik Van Looy
• Frank Van Passel
• Roland Verhavert
• Henry Xhonneux
• Thierry Zéno

  Musicians and singers

• Salvatore Adamo
• Geike Arnaert – Hooverphonic
• Natacha Atlas
• Wouter de Backer – Gotye
• Baloji – Starflam
• Tom Barman – dEUS
• Claude Barzotti
• Plastic Bertrand – Roger Jouret
• Sarah Bettens – K's Choice
• Sandy Boets – Xandee
• Francy Boland – jazz pianist, arranger
• Brahim
• André Brasseur
• Jacques Brel
• Tina Bride
• Alex Callier – Hooverphonic
• Stef Kamil Carlens – Zita Swoon
• Philippe Catherine
• Ann Christy
• André Cluytens – Belgian-born conductor
• Annie Cordy
• Mathieu Crickboom – violinist
• Suzanne Danco – soprano
• Marie Daulne – Zap Mama
• Jeanine Deckers – Soeur Sourire a.k.a. The Singing Nun
• Wim De Craene
• Arthur De Greef – pianist and composer
• Jean-Luc De Meyer – Front 242
• Luc De Vos – Gorki
• Tom Dice
• Mike Dierickx – Push, M.I.K.E.; trance DJ and producer
• Elmore D
• Tim Driesen
• Maurice Engelen – Praga Khan, Lords of Acid
• Peter Evrard – winner of Idool 2003, Belgian edition of Pop Idol
• Lara Fabian
• Frédéric François
• Stéphane Galland
• Ferre Grignard
• Piet Goddaer – Ozark Henry
• Rita Gorr – mezzo-soprano
• Arthur Grumiaux – violinist
• David Guetta – French disc jockey of Belgian descent on mother's side
• Hadise
• Fanny Heldy – opera soprano
• Philippe Herreweghe – conductor
• Arno Hintjens – TC Matic
• Bobby Jaspar
• Ya Kid K – Technotronic
• Sandra Kim
• Dani Klein – Vaya Con Dios
• Flip Kowlier
• Sigiswald Kuijken – violinist and conductor
• Philippe Lafontaine
• Victor Lazlo
• Fud Leclerc
• Pierre Leemans – conductor and composer
• Jo Lemaire
• Jan Leyers – Soulsister
• Lio
• Charles Loos
• Helmut Lotti
• Machiavel
• Maurane
• Paul Michiels – Soulsister
• Brian Molko – Placebo
• Marc Moulin – Telex
• Mauro Pawlowski – Evil Superstars, dEUS
• Bart Peeters
• Belle Perez
• Frédérique Petrides – conductor
• Pol Plançon – basso
• Pierre Rapsat
• Hugo Raspoet
• Axelle Red
• Django Reinhardt
• Kate Ryan
• Liliane Saint-Pierre
• Bobbejaan Schoepen
• Siouxsie Sioux
• Jonas Steur – trance DJ and producer
• Stromae
• Woodie Smalls – Rapper and Songwriter
• Toots Thielemans
• René Thomas
• Rudy Trouvé
• Will Tura
• Luc van Acker – of the Revolting Cocks
• Urbanus van Anus
• Tim Vanhamel – Evil Superstars, Eagles of Death Metal, Millionaire
• Paul Van Haver – Stromae
• Raymond van het Groenewoud
• Dirk Verbeuren – Soilwork
• Peter Verhoyen – flutist
• Eddy Wally
• Koen Wauters – Clouseau
• Kris Wauters – Clouseau
• Anne Wolf – pianist
• Eugène Ysaÿe – violinist and composer
• Ellie Delvaux

  Theater directors

• Christian Labeau
• Stephen Shank

  Politicians

A – C

• Frans Ackerman
• Magda Aelvoet
• Meyrem Almaci
• Bert Anciaux
• Jules Joseph d'Anethan
• Gerolf Annemans
• Bernard Anselme
• Marie Arena
• Auguste Beernaert – Nobel Peace Prize 1908
• Wouter Beke
• Ivo Belet
• Ward Beysen
• Fons Borginon
• Geert Bourgeois
• Frederika Brepoels
• Charles de Broqueville
• Henri de Brouckere
• Jules de Burlet
• Bernard du Bus de Gisignies
• Philippe Busquin
• Henri Carton de Wiart
• Marcel Cheron
• Willy Claes
• Philip Claeys
• Guy Coëme
• Alexandra Colen
• André Cools
• Gerhard Cooreman
• Hugo Coveliers
• Hilde Crevits

  D

• Rik Daems
• Michel Daerden
• André Damseaux
• José Daras
• August De Boodt
• Stefaan De Clerck
• Willy De Clercq
• Herman De Croo
• Armand De Decker
• Jean-Marie Dedecker
• Jean Defraigne
• Magda De Galan
• Léon Degrelle
• Karel De Gucht
• Jean Duvieusart
• Jean-Luc Dehaene
• Jean-Maurice Dehousse
• Véronique De Keyser
• Leon Delacroix
• Francis Delpérée
• Hendrik de Man
• Rudy Demotte
• Gérard Deprez
• Erik Derycke
• Paul Deschanel
• Alain Destexhe
• Mia De Vits
• Patrick Dewael
• Filip Dewinter
• Karel Dillen
• Koenraad Dillen
• Elio Di Rupo
• François-Xavier de Donnea
• Vera Dua
• Daniel Ducarme
• Antoine Duquesne
• Isabelle Durant

  E – K

• Lamoral Egmont
• Saïd El Khadraoui
• Gaston Eyskens
• Mark Eyskens
• Michel Foret
• Richard Fournaux
• Walthère Frère-Orban
• Jaak Gabriëls
• Isabelle Gatti
• Gaston Geens
• Koen Geens
• Caroline Gennez
• Jacques Germeaux
• Jean Gol
• Mathieu Grosch
• Michel Hansenne
• Pierre Harmel
• Hervé Hasquin
• Arthur Haulot
• Alain Hutchinson
• Camille Huysmans
• Paul-Émile Janson
• Henri Jaspar
• Pierre Jonckheer

  L

• Henri La Fontaine – Nobel Peace Prize 1913
• Julien Lahaut – chairman of the Communist Party, assassinated
• Roger Lallemand
• Auguste Lambermont
• Karl-Heinz Lambertz
• Renaat Landuyt
• Raymond Langendries
• Joseph Lebeau
• Edmond Leburton
• Theodore Lefevre
• Yves Leterme
• Anne-Marie Lizin

  M

• Nelly Maes
• Philippe Mahoux
• Olivier Maingain
• Jules Malou
• Jean-Claude Marcourt
• Ludo Martens
• Wilfried Martens
• Philippe Maystadt
• Charles Michel – current prime minister of Belgium
• Louis Michel
• Joëlle Milquet
• Philippe Monfils
• Philippe Moureaux
• Felix de Muelenare

  N – R

• Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
• Jean-Baptiste Nothomb
• Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb
• Laurette Onkelinx
• Kris Peeters
• Joseph Pholien
• Charles Picqué
• Hubert Pierlot
• Prosper Poullet
• Jules Renkin
• Jean Rey
• Didier Reynders
• Frédérique Ries
• Charles Rogier
• Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns – founder of Institut de Droit International, adviser to Rama V of Thailand
• Jean-Pierre Van Rossem

  S – U

• Hugo Schiltz
• Frans Schollaert
• Jacques Simonet
• Miet Smet
• Paul de Smet de Naeyer
• Bart Somers
• Antoinette Spaak
• Paul-Henri Spaak
• Guy Spitaels
• Bart Staes
• Dirk Sterckx
• Steve Stevaert
• Frank Swaelen
• Marc Tarabella
• George Theunis
• Bartholemy Théodore de Theux
• Freddy Thielemans
• Marianne Thyssen
• Leo Tindemans
• Bruno Tobback
• Louis Tobback
• Jules de Trooz

  V

• Achille van Acker
• Jacob van Artevelde
• Frans Van Cauwelaert
• Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
• Johan Vande Lanotte
• Hugo Vandenberghe
• Paul Vanden Boeynants
• Freya Van den Bossche
• Luc Van den Bossche
• Frank Vandenbroucke
• Jules Vandenpeereboom
• The family Vanderpoorten: Arthur, Herman and Marleen
• Marleen Vanderpoorten
• Emile Vandervelde
• Frank Vanhecke
• Johan Van Hecke
• Pierre-Edouard van Humbeeck
• Anne Van Lancker
• Dirk Van Mechelen
• Karel Van Miert
• Vincent Van Quickenborne
• Eric Van Rompuy
• Herman Van Rompuy
• Jean-Pierre Van Rossem
• Paul Van Zeeland
• Guy Verhofstadt
• Inge Vervotte

  W – Y

• Melchior Wathelet
• Freddy Willockx
• Charles Woeste
• Yvan Ylieff

  Religious figures

Saints

• St. Damien of Molokai
• St. Gertrude of Nivelles
• St. Gudula from Brussels and Eibingen – National Saint of Belgium and Patroness of Brussels
• St. Hubertus
• St. John Berchmans
• St. Meingold of Huy

  Theologians and clergymen

• Joseph André – priest, Righteous among the Nations
• Pieter Jan Beckx – 22nd Superior General of the Jesuits
• Jean Bolland – hagiographer
• Adolf Daens – priest and politician
• Godfried Danneels – cardinal
• Victor-Auguste Dechamps – cardinal
• Jacques Dupuis – Jesuit theologian
• Pierre-Lambert Goossens – cardinal
• Henry of Ghent – medieval philosopher
• Augustinus Hunnaeus – theologian
• Cornelius Jansen – bishop, theologian
• Jean-Baptiste Janssens – 27th Superior General of the Jesuits
• Gustaaf Joos – cardinal
• Peter Paul Lefevere – bishop
• André-Mutien Léonard – archbishop
• Leonardus Lessius – Jesuit theologian
• Joseph Maréchal – philosopher, psychologist
• Désiré-Joseph Mercier – cardinal
• Everard Mercurian, 4th Superior General of the Jesuits
• Charles de Noyelle, 12th Superior General of the Jesuits
• Georges Pire – Dominican priest, Nobel Peace Prize 1958
• Edward Poppe – blessed priest
• Jozef-Ernest van Roey – cardinal
• Blessed John Ruysbroeck – mystic
• Jan Pieter Schotte – cardinal
• Brother René Stockman – Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity
• Leo Jozef Suenens – cardinal
• Franciscus van den Enden – philosopher, teacher, pioneer of the idea of democracy
• Ferdinand Verbiest – Jesuit missionary in China, astronomer

  Resistance activists

• Albert Guérisse
• Arthur Haulot
• Andrée "Dédée" de Jongh
• Marcel Louette
• Edgard Potier
• Henri Reynders
• Suzanne Spaak
• Gabrielle Weidner
• Johan Hendrik Weidner

  Scientists

Astronauts

• Frank De Winne
• Dirk Frimout – first Belgian astronaut

  Botanists

• Alfred Cogniaux
• Rembert Dodoens
• Barthélemy Charles Joseph du Mortier
• Annick Wilmotte, polar microbiologist

  Chemists

• Jan Baptist van Helmont – chemist and physician
• Jean-Claude Lorquet – theoretical chemist
• Ilya Prigogine – theoretical chemist Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1977
• Ernest Solvay
• Jean Stas

  Geographers

• Gerardus Mercator
• Abraham Ortelius

  Geologists

• Gaston Briart
• Alphonse Francois Renard – geologist and petrographer

  Inventors and engineers

• Leo Hendrik Baekeland – inventor of bakelite
• Alfred Belpaire – steam locomotive engineer
• Robert Cailliau – information and control engineer
• Joan Daemen – cryptographer
• Zénobe Gramme – electrical engineer
• Étienne Lenoir – engineer
• John Joseph Merlin – inventor associated with Cox's timepiece; also invented inline skates in 1759
• Bart Preneel – cryptographer
• Vincent Rijmen – cryptographer
• Adolphe Sax – inventor of the saxophone
• Rennequin Sualem – created the Machine de Marly
• Arthur Vierendeel – engineer and inventor of the Vierendeel truss
• Egide Walschaerts – steam locomotive engineer and inventor of the Walschaerts valve gear
• André Waterkeyn – engineer, best known for creating the Atomium

  Mathematicians

• François d'Aguilon – mathematician and physicist
• Jean Bourgain
• Eugène Charles Catalan
• Ingrid Daubechies – mathematician and physicist
• Pierre Deligne – Fields Medal 1978
• Jan Denef
• Jean-Charles de la Faille
• Victor d'Hondt – lawyer and mathematician
• Maurice Kraitchik – number theorist and recreational mathematician
• Constantin Le Paige
• Adolphe Quetelet – mathematician and statistician
• Grégoire de Saint-Vincent
• Simon Stevin – mathematician and engineer
• André Tacquet
• Antoine Thomas – mathematician and astronomer
• Joseph Tilly
• Jacques Tits
• Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin
• Adriaan van Roomen

  Medical scientists

• Jules Bordet – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1919
• Albert Claude – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
• Christian De Duve – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
• Corneille Heymans – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1938
• Albert Hustin – medical doctor, the first to practice non-direct blood transfusion
• Paul Janssen – scientist and founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica
• Marc Lacroix – biochemist and cancer researcher
• Benoît Lengelé – medical doctor, the first to perform a partial face transplant
• Louis-Joseph Seutin – surgeon
• Edouard Van Beneden – embryologist, cytologist and marine biologist
• Catherine Verfaillie – stem cell researcher
• Andreas Vesalius – anatomist
• Luc Calliauw – brain surgeon and professor

  Philosophers

• Jan Deckers
• Luce Irigaray – French philosopher, born in Belgium
• Jos Verhulst
• Etienne Vermeersch

  Physicists

• Robert Brout
• Francois Englert – Nobel Prize in Physics 2013
• Jean-Pierre Leburton
• Georges Lemaître – deviser of the Big Bang Theory
• Joseph Plateau
• Daniel Zajfman - Israeli physicist; president of the Weizmann Institute

  Political scientists and theorists

• Rik Coolsaet
• Vincent de Coorebyter
• Abram Leon
• Ernest Mandel
• Chantal Mouffe

  Social scientists

• Paul Jorion – anthropologist, sociologist, cognitive scientist, and economist
• Claude Lévi-Strauss – French social scientist born in Belgium
• Renee Rabinowitz – psychologist and lawyer

  Others

• Louis De Geer – born in Liège; considered the father of Swedish industry
• Charles Frédéric Dubois and his son Alphonse Joseph Charles Dubois – naturalists
• Adrien de Gerlache – explorer
• John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster – born in Ghent
• Justus Lipsius – classical philologian
• Michel Louette – ornithologist
• Paul Otlet – information architect
• Marc Waelkens – archaeologist

  Sports

Automobile racing

• Philippe Adams – Formula One driver
• Éric Bachelart – IndyCar driver
• Bertrand Baguette – 2009 World Series by Renault champion, IndyCar driver
• Georges Berger – Formula One driver
• Lucien Bianchi – Formula One driver
• Thierry Boutsen – racing driver
• Johnny Claes – Formula One driver
• Jérôme d'Ambrosio – Formula One and Formula E driver
• Grégoire De Mévius – rally driver
• Didier de Radiguès – MotoGP rider and sports car racer
• Charles de Tornaco – Formula One driver
• Marc Duez – racing driver
• François Duval – rally driver
• Paul Frère – Formula One driver
• Bertrand Gachot – racing driver
• Olivier Gendebien – race car driver
• Christian Goethals – Formula One driver
• Jan Heylen – Champ Car veteran
• Jacky Ickx – racing driver
• Vanina Ickx – daughter of Jacky, Le Mans regular
• Camille Jenatzy – race car driver
• Arthur Legat – Formula One driver
• Bas Leinders – racing driver
• Freddy Loix – rally driver
• Willy Mairesse – Formula One driver
• André Milhoux – Formula One driver
• Thierry Neuville – rally driver
• Patrick Nève – Formula One driver
• André Pilette – Formula One driver
• Teddy Pilette – Formula One driver
• Théodore Pilette – racing driver
• Lance Stroll – Belgian-Canadian racing driver
• Jacques Swaters – Formula One driver
• Didier Theys – Sportscar and IndyCar driver
• Bruno Thiry – rally driver
• Eric van de Poele – Formula One driver
• Stoffel Vandoorne – Formula One driver
• Jean-Pierre Van Rossem – Owner of Onyx Moneytron Grand Prix
• Max Verstappen – Formula One driver

  Basketball

• Julie Allemand
• Marjorie Carpréaux
• Antonia Delaere
• Emma Meesseman
• Hanne Mestdagh
• Kim Mestdagh
• Thomas Van Den Spiegel
• Julie Vanloo
• Ann Wauters
• Willy Steveniers

  Cycling

• Mario Aerts
• Benoni Beheyt
• Kenny Belaey
• Tom Boonen
• Johan Bruyneel
• Alex Close
• Fred de Bruyne
• Nicky Degrendele – world champion keirin
• Eric De Vlaeminck – cyclo-cross
• Roger De Vlaeminck
• Etienne De Wilde
• Stijn Devolder
• Jolien D'hoore
• Hélène Dutrieu
• Remco Evenepoel
• Philippe Gilbert
• Matthew Gilmore – Australian-turned-Belgian
• Willy Lauwers
• Roland Liboton – cyclo-cross
• Freddy Maertens
• Romain Maes
• Filip Meirhaeghe – mountain biker
• Axel Merckx – son of Eddy Merckx
• Eddy Merckx – considered by many as the greatest cyclist ever
• Jean-Pierre Monseré
• Johan Museeuw
• Sven Nys – cyclo-cross
• Stan Ockers
• Alberic Schotte
• Patrick Sercu
• Andrei Tchmil – Soviet-turned-Ukrainian-turned-Belgian
• Philippe Thys
• Wout Van Aert
• Greg Van Avermaet – Olympic champion
• Frank Vandenbroucke
• Lucien Van Impe
• Rik Van Looy
• Rik Van Steenbergen

  Fencing

• Henri Anspach – épée and foil fencer, Olympic champion
• Paul Anspach – épée and foil fencer, two-time Olympic champion
• Jacques Ochs – épée, saber, and foil fencer, Olympic champion
• Gaston Salmon – épée fencer, Olympic champion

  Football (soccer)

• Philippe Albert – player
• Toby Alderweireld - player
• Aimé Anthuenis – coach
• Christian Benteke – player
• Jean-Marc Bosman – player
• Jan Ceulemans – player, coach
• Lei Clijsters – player, coach
• Rik Coppens – player
• Thibaut Courtois – goalkeeper
• Frank De Bleeckere – referee
• Kevin De Bruyne – player
• Steven Defour – player
• Marc Degryse – player
• Mousa Dembélé – player
• Marouane Fellaini – player
• Eric Gerets – player, coach
• Raymond Goethals – coach
• Georges Grün – player
• Eden Hazard – player
• Thorgan Hazard - player
• Stein Huysegems – player
• Karel Kesselaers – player
• Vincent Kompany – player
• Romelu Lukaku – player
• Joseph Mermans – player
• Vic Mees – player
• Roy Meeus – player
• Thomas Meunier - player
• Simon Mignolet – goalkeeper
• Kevin Mirallas – player
• Emile Mpenza – player
• Jean-Marie Pfaff – goalkeeper
• Michel Preud'homme – goalkeeper, coach
• Enzo Scifo – player, coach
• Timmy Simons – player
• Wesley Sonck – player
• Lorenzo Staelens – player
• Guy Thys – coach
• Youri Tielemans - player
• Gilbert Van Binst – player
• Daniel Van Buyten – player
• Erwin Vandenbergh – player
• Constant Vanden Stock – honorary president and former president and player of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht
• Roger Vanden Stock – president of football club R.S.C. Anderlecht
• Franky Van der Elst – player
• Wim Van Diest – player
• Paul Van Himst – player, coach
• Wilfried Van Moer – player
• Franky Vercauteren – player, coach
• Gert Verheyen – player
• Thomas Vermaelen – player
• Jan Vertonghen – player
• Bernard Voorhoof – player
• Marc Wilmots – football player and elected senator
• Axel Witsel – player

  Golf

• Laetitia Beck – Belgian-born Israeli golfer
• Nicolas Colsaerts – Ryder Cup winner
• Thomas Pieters – European Tour winner

  Judo

• Ingrid Berghmans – judoka, Olympic champion
• Matthias Casse – judoka
• Jean-Marie Dedecker – coach
• Ilse Heylen – judoka
• Marisabel Lomba – judoka
• Heidi Rakels – judoka
• Harry Van Barneveld – judoka
• Gella Vandecaveye – judoka
• Robert Van De Walle – judoka, Olympic champion
• Charline Van Snick – judoka
• Dirk Van Tichelt – judoka
• Ulla Werbrouck – judoka, Olympic champion

  Motocross

• René Baeten – 1958 500cc motocross World Champion
• Marnicq Bervoets – top motocross competitor from the 1990s
• Sven Breugelmans – 2005 MX3-GP World Champion
• Roger De Coster – five-time 500cc Motocross World Champion
• Harry Everts – three-time Motocross World Champion, father of Stefan Everts
• Stefan Everts – ten-time Motocross World Champion
• Eric Geboers – five-time Motocross World Champion
• Sylvain Geboers – motocross des Nations winner
• Georges Jobé – five-time Motocross World Champion
• André Malherbe – three-time Motocross World Champion
• Jacky Martens – 1991 500cc World Champion
• Gaston Rahier – three-time 125cc Motocross World Champion
• Steve Ramon – two-time Motocross World Champion
• Joël Robert – six-time 250cc Motocross World Champion
• Joël Smets – three time 500cc Motocross World Champion

  Swimming

• Brigitte Becue – swimmer
• Gérard Blitz – Olympic bronze, International Swimming Hall of Fame
• Fred Deburghgraeve – swimmer, Olympic champion
• Ingrid Lempereur – swimmer
• Pieter Timmers – Olympic silver

  Table tennis

• Jean-Michel Saive – player

  Tennis

• Sabine Appelmans – player
• Els Callens – player
• Kim Clijsters – player, former World #1, Masters 2002–2003–2010 winner and four-time Grand Slam singles champion
• Steve Darcis – player
• Kirsten Flipkens – player
• David Goffin – player
• Arthur De Greef –player
• Justine Henin – player, Olympic champion, former World #1, Masters 2006–2007 winner and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion
• Xavier Malisse – player
• Elise Mertens – player
• Dominique Monami – player
• Christophe Rochus – player
• Olivier Rochus – player
• Kristof Vliegen – player
• Yanina Wickmayer – player

  Track and field

• Bashir Abdi – athlete
• Eline Berings – athlete
• Dylan Borlée – athlete
• Jonathan Borlée – athlete
• Kevin Borlée – athlete
• Olivia Borlée – athlete
• Fons Brijdenbach – athlete
• Veerle Dejaeghere – track and field athlete
• Peter Genyn – athlete
• Kim Gevaert – athlete, European champion 100 and 200 metres
• Tia Hellebaut – athlete, European champion high jump, Olympic champion high jump
• Karel Lismont – athlete
• Philip Milanov – athlete
• Roger Moens – athlete
• Mohammed Mourhit – athlete
• Koen Naert – athlete, European champion marathon
• Emiel Puttemans – athlete
• Gaston Reiff – athlete, Olympic champion
• Gaston Roelants – athlete, Olympic champion
• Vincent Rousseau – athlete
• Patrick Stevens – athlete
• Nafissatou Thiam – athlete, Olympic, world and European champion heptathlon
• Cédric Van Branteghem – athlete
• Ivo Van Damme – athlete
• William Van Dijck – athlete
• Marieke Vervoort – athlete

  Triathlon

• Marc Herremans – wheelchair champion
• Claire Michel
• Kathleen Smet – 2005 world champion
• Marino Vanhoenacker
• Frederik Van Lierde – world champion Iron Man 2013
• Luc Van Lierde – two-time world champion and winner Iron Man
• Benny Vansteelant – four-time world champion duathlon standard and long distance

  Water polo

• Gérard Blitz – swimming and water polo, two-time Olympic silver, two-time bronze, International Swimming Hall of Fame, son of Maurice Blitz
• Gérard Blitz – water polo player and founder of Club Med
• Maurice Blitz – water poloist, two-time Olympic silver, father of Gérard Blitz
• Henri Cohen – Olympic silver

  Other

• Luca Brecel – snooker player
• Annelies Bredael – rower
• Raymond Ceulemans – billiards player
• Frédéric Collignon – table soccer; ITSF multi-time and currently acting world champion
• Nina Derwael – artistic gymnast, world champion uneven bars, two-time European champion
• Nathalie Descamps – badminton player
• Wendy Jans – snooker player, 2006 IBSF Women's World Champion
• Frank Ntilikina – NBA basketball player – French Nationality, born in Belgium
• Tony Parker – NBA basketball player – French nationality, born in Belgium
• John Raphael, rugby union player
• Jacques Rogge – IOC president
• Tarec Saffiedine – mixed martial artist
• Seppe Smits – snowboarder
• Bart Swings – inline and speed skater
• Paul Van Asbroeck – marksman
• Kevin van der Perren – figure skating
• Hubert Van Innis – archer
• Virgile Vandeput - Belgian-born alpine skier who competes for Israel
• Bart Veldkamp – speed skater
• Ann Wauters – WNBA basketball player

  Visual artists

Comics

• Arthur Berckmans
• Jan Bosschaert
• Raoul Cauvin
• Jean-Michel Charlier
• Didier Comès
• François Craenhals
• Luc Cromheecke
• Paul Cuvelier
• Dany
• Renaat Demoen
• Bob de Moor
• André-Paul Duchâteau
• Dupa
• René Follet
• Philippe Francq
• André Franquin
• Patryck de Froidmont
• Jean-Richard Geurts
• François Gilson
• René Hausman
• Hergé
• Victor Hubinon
• Hermann Huppen
• Edgar P. Jacobs
• Janry
• Jijé
• Kamagurka
• Lambil
• Roger Leloup
• Marcel Marlier
• Merho
• Midam
• Morris
• Jef Nys
• Eddy Paape
• Frank Pé
• Peyo
• Jean Roba
• François Schuiten
• Yves Sente
• Marc Sleen
• Philippe Tome
• William Vance
• Willy Vandersteen
• Jean Van Hamme
• François Walthéry
• Will

  Fashion

• Antwerp Six
• Dirk Bikkembergs
• Veronique Branquino
• Liz Claiborne – American designer born in Belgium
• Elise Crombez
• Ann Demeulemeester
• Martin Margiela
• Hanne Gaby Odiele
• Elvis Pompilio
• Raf Simons
• Olivier Strelli
• Walter Van Beirendonck
• Dries van Noten
• Édouard Vermeulen

  Painters

• Pierre Alechinsky – Cobra member
• Joachim Beuckelaer
• Adriaen Brouwer
• Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and his family, including Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Jan Brueghel the Elder, and Jan Brueghel the Younger
• Robert Campin
• Petrus Christus
• Emile Claus – impressionism
• Gerard David
• Philippe de Champaigne
• Gaspar de Crayer
• Raoul De Keyser – abstract painter
• Paul Delvaux – surrealist
• Jean Delville – symbolist painter
• Albert Demuyser
• Gustave De Smet – expressionism
• Sam Dillemans
• James Ensor
• Frans Floris
• Adriaen Isenbrandt
• Jacob Jordaens
• Justus of Ghent
• Claire Kerwin
• Fernand Khnopff – symbolist
• Georges Emile Lebacq – Impressionist, Post-Impressionist painter
• Limbourg brothers – manuscript illuminators
• Lambert Lombard
• Jan Mabuse
• René Magritte – surrealist
• Xavier Mellery – symbolist
• Hans Memling
• Kwinten Metsys
• Joseph Noiret – painter and poet
• Constant Permeke – expressionist
• Pieter Pourbus
• Roger Raveel
• Félicien Rops
• Peter Paul Rubens – Baroque painter
• Victor Servranckx – cubist
• Frans Snyders
• Leon Spilliaert
• David Teniers the Younger
• Luc Tuymans
• Pieter van Aelst
• Joos van Cleve
• Frits Van den Berghe – expressionist
• Hugo van der Goes
• Rogier van der Weyden original name : Rogier de LE Pasture in his city of Tournai
• Gustave Van de Woestijne
• Sir Anthony van Dyck
• Jan van Eyck and his brother Hubert van Eyck
• Peter Van Gheluwe
• Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven
• Eugeen Van Mieghem
• Bernard van Orley
• Théo van Rysselberghe – neo-impressionist
• Fernand Verhaegen – painter of Walloon folklore
• Antoine Joseph Wiertz

  Photographers

• Dirk Braeckman
• Carl De Keyzer
• Bieke Depoorter
• Martine Franck
• Harry Gruyaert
• Filip Naudts
• Leon Van Loo

  Sculptors

• Delphine Boël
• René Carcan
• May Claerhout
• Patrick Damiaens
• Jean Del Cour
• François Duquesnoy
• Jan Fabre
• Lucas Faydherbe
• Jean-Michel Folon
• George Grard
• Constantin Meunier
• Léon Mignon
• George Minne
• Olivier Strebelle
• Peter van Dievoet
• Rik Wouters

  Others

• Guillaume Bijl
• Ade Bethune
• Guy Bleus
• Marcel Broodthaers
• Jean De Bast
• Victor Delhez
• Wim Delvoye
• Danny Devos
• Dr. Hugo Heyrman
• Solange Knopf
• Panamarenko

  Others

• Arturo Alfandari – diplomat, creator of the language Neo
• Menachem Banitt – expert in medieval French language and culture
• Edgard Colle – chess player
• Sabine Dardenne – victim of child molester Marc Dutroux
• Jeanne de Bellem – political activist during the Brabant revolution
• Thierry de Duve – art critic and theorist
• Michel de Kemmeter
• Henri Kichka - writer and Holocaust survivor
• Paul de Man – deconstructionist literary critic and theorist
• Joanna DeRoover – oldest documented living person in Belgium at the time of her death
• Piet Huysentruyt – chef and bestselling author
• Jean-Denis Lejeune – founder of Child Focus
• Claude Lelièvre – commissioner for children rights, French-speaking community
• Jean-Baptiste Moëns – "father of philately"
• Peter Piot – Director of UNAIDS
• Sybille de Selys Longchamps
• Vanden Geyhn et Van Aerschodt – bell and carillon founders
• Pierre Wynants – chef