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
EU Demands "Full Clarity" as US Tariff Turbulence Tests Trade Deal
Commission Asserts “A Deal is a Deal” as Key MEP Calls to Pause Parliamentary Vote
Brussels, 22 February 2026 — The European Commission is demanding clear information from Washington regarding its future trade actions amid disruptions in US tariff policy, making it clear that any increase beyond last year’s transatlantic agreement will not be tolerated. Simultaneously, a prominent European Parli
Macron Urges Trump to Remove Sanctions on Former EU Tech Chief Thierry Breton
“I would like to personally draw your attention to the sanctions imposed by the United States against several European citizens, including two Frenchmen,
AI Innovations Spotlighted at UN Agency Showcase in India: Grain ATMs and Hunger Maps
Wer gewinnt Rheinland-Pfalz? Gespräch mit Alexander Schweitzer
Indonesian Churches Celebrate Historic Environmental Ruling
Many countries avoid safety commitment in global AI pledge
The declaration represents the most significant outcome of the fourth artificial intelligence summit held in New Delhi, India, this week. The absence of “AI safety” highlights the summit’s shift from a safety-centered focus at its first U.K. iteration in 2023 to a more o
South Asia: Advancing Together as a Global Community
Forty-five participants from LWF member churches in the South Asia sub-region, including NELC and the recently joined Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church (BELC) and Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church (MELC) of India, attended.
The workshop emphasized Lutheran theology and identity fundamentals. Rev. Dr Rospita Siahaan, LWF Regional Secretary for Asia, highlighted the collaboration among the Offic
Merz Promises Unified EU Approach Before Tariff Talks with Trump
Europe at a Turning Point: Security, Migration, and Social Cohesion Challenges
A new vocabulary is emerging across Europe. Political leaders discuss “Fortress Europe,” focusing on closing borders, enhancing external defenses, and revising asylum systems. Public debates in several countries have shifted from integration to “remigration”—indicating a reversal of decades of settlement for many.
Recently, laws like Denmark’s mandate to deport certain non-Western migrants with
Meloni and Macron Delay First High-Level Summit
France and Italy have not held a high-level bilateral summit since 2020 when then-Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met with Macron in Naples. The Toulous
Leave a Reply