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
From Fragmented to Connected: A Shared Hub for Europe’s AI
AIo
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Enforced by Brussels
The agreement aims to create a free-trade area for 720 million people but is contentious since the European Parl
Harmony Bridges
A Concert Celebrating the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW)
By Angelina Vladikova
On February 21, 2026, the concert “Bridges of Harmony” was held at the Royal Palace “Vrana” in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Eastern European Forum for Dialogue Bridges association marked the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) with distinction. The Week aims to promote dialogue and highlight “the impe
Debatte über Antisemitismus nach der Berlinale und Erfolge der AfD
Eileen Gu and Buddhism: Embracing Detachment in the Spotlight
Hungary Blocks Russia Sanctions Package Over €16B EU Defense Loans, Diplomats Say
With Kyiv facing a financial shortfall in April, coinciding with Hungary’
Ukraine wakes to more violence as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year
US Senator Apologizes for Lindsey Graham’s ‘Appalling’ Outburst at Danish PM
In response to criticisms, Graham told POLITICO, “I don’t gi
EU "Buy European" Plan Tests Single Market Rules
Brussels plans a major procurement shift as industry applauds—and lawyers highlight trade and competition risks
The EU is adopting a “Buy European” strategy for public spending to direct taxpayer funds towards EU-made strategic technologies. Proponents believe it will support jobs and supply chains; critics argue it may increase costs, provoke trade disputes, and challenge the single market̵
Leave a Reply