
Halle (Eurotoday): Geert De Poorter has restored the 19th-century Villa Servais in Halle, Belgium, transforming it into a bed and breakfast and concert hall. Inspired by its history, he is building a garden seating area using blue limestone from the demolished local station, enhancing cultural events while honoring cellist François Servais’s legacy.
The villa of the legendary 19th-century cellist François Servais in Halle, Belgium, has been restored and is now owned by Geert De Poorter. It serves as a bed and breakfast, concert hall, and exhibition space, honoring Servais’s legacy while providing a venue for cultural events. De Poorter is also adding seating in the villa’s garden, creating a new space for outdoor concerts and events during the summer months.
How is Geert De Poorter reviving François Servais’s legacy at Villa Servais?
The idea for the new seating area in the garden of the villa is inspired by its historical significance. When François Servais lived there, the garden overlooked the local station, which was demolished in 1993. Geert De Poorter managed to get about 20 pallets of blue limestone from the original station building. These historic stones are being repurposed to create the seating tribune, preserving a piece of the past while enhancing the cultural atmosphere of the villa’s garden. This project blends history with modern use, creating a unique space where music and heritage come together.
It has been said that building the grandstand costs money, so Geert will sell champagne with a label of the Halle musician Servais and his favorite instrument, the cello. He also asked the community to help restore the villa. Many older people in Halle miss their old station. Now, the stones from that 19th-century building are being reused, making the grandstand special. Geert said the stones were in a waste container for years, then moved to Edingen, and now they are in the villa’s garden.
Comments
One response to “Villa Servais: Geert De Poorter Brings 19th-Century Cellist’s Legacy Back to Life in Halle”
-
Reviving a 19th-century cellist’s legacy with a side of recycled limestone? Talk about a sustainable twist! Next, they’ll be serving tea from the last century and calling it avant-garde. 😏🍵
Last News
OSCE Meeting Cautions Against Ineffective Torture Prevention
In Germany, Football Reflects a Governance Crisis
There is “always a connection
Congo Brings Rwanda to World Court Over Decades of Atrocities and Requests Belgium to Return Its Dead
The Democratic Republic of Congo filed proceedings against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice in the week of its 66th independence anniversary, in what victims’ groups and government officials are describing as the most significant international accountability action the country has ever taken — while simultaneously pressing Belgium to return more than 500 human remains held in Europea
EU Strengthens Chemicals Agency Foundation
Transatlantic Dialogue: US and German Journalists Explore EU Reporting at the European Newsroom
The group, representing various media outlets including Semafor, WCVB, NPR, CNN, KTVI/KPLR, WSOC Charlotte, Spectrum News, ABC, The Dispatch, and CBS, hailed from states such as New York, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C
Kallas to meet Erdoğan ahead of pivotal NATO summit
Coal India to Invest $201 Million in R&D for Sustainable Coal Mining Advancement
New Delhi, June 30, 2026 – Eurotoday — Sustainable coal mining received a major boost after Coal India announced plans to invest $201 million in research and development by fiscal 2030. The state-owned mining company said the funding will support technological innovation, improve mine safety, increase productivity, and reduce the environmental impact of coal extraction.
The investment forms part
Why Does My Cat Walk Between My Legs?
We’ve all experienced the challenge of stepping over or avoiding our feline companions who love to weave between our legs as we walk. Navigating the house can feel like a balancing act, trying not to disturb our affectionate pets eager for closeness. What might explain this peculiar behavior?
Marking by Rubbing Your Legs
Cats have glands around their mouth and chin that release pheromones.
Your
Europe’s Awkward Embrace of Turkey
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss security, migration, and connectivity between Europe and Central Asia.
The EU institutions’ AD5 entry-level administrator admissions test
US Supreme Court to Consider Republican Appeal on Arizona Voting Limits
Washington, D.C., June 29, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Election integrity laws are back before the U.S. Supreme Court after the justices agreed to hear a Republican-backed appeal seeking to revive Arizona voter restrictions that were blocked by lower federal courts. The case is expected to examine whether Arizona can enforce stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for certain voter registrat



Leave a Reply