Alan Kirk (1888-1963)

One of the senior commanders in the US Navy during World War II, Admiral Alan Goodrich Kirk embarked on a diplomatic career after the war. He was US Ambassador to Belgium 1946-1949, before serving in US embassies in the Soviet Union and China through 1963.

Alan Kirk was a guest at the Ghent Trade Fair in 1947 and 1948. He is seen here delivering a speech on the America Day in August 1947. Flanders Trade Fair founder-chairman Clément Morraye is sitting on his right.

Photo by G. Uytterschaut.

George Rendel (1889-1979)

Sir George William Rendel (second from left) served as UK Ambassador to Belgium between 1947 and 1950. He is seen here during a visit of the Flanders Trade Fair in September 1949.

Photo by H. Sonet.

Ph. baron van Harinxma thoe Slooten (1893-1969)

On Netherlands Day, 20 September 1950, ambassador Ph. baron van Harinxma thoe Slooten (centre with hat) and other Dutch officials were welcomed by chairman Clément Morraye. As the Benelux union was still very much in the works in these years, such meetings consolidated the sense of friendship and cooperation between the countries.

Photo by Roger De Caesemaeker.

Disabled war veterans

The group of disabled war veterans welcomed at the Flanders International Trade Fair of 1950.

Photo by L. De Doncker.

Italian labourers

A group of Italian labourers visited the Flanders International Trade Fair on the Italy Day, September 21, 1950.

Robert Murphy (1894-1978)

US Ambassador Robert D. Murphy (centre, under the arrow) visited the Flanders International Fair on September 18, 1951.

In the afterwar years the presence of the USA in the Flanders Fair was very prominent and in 1949 there even followed an exhibition stand of the Marshall Plan, organised by the Economic Cooperation Association of the US Embassy. Murphy himself considered international cooperation as essential for a swift recovery of Europe.

Louis, Prince Napoléon (1914-1997)

On 19 September 1954, prince Napoleon (centre, the tall man) visited the International Trade Fair. Prince Napoleon was a great grandson of Jérôme Bonaparte, youngest brother of the emperor Napoleon I. He attended with Robert Desprechins de Gaesebeke, a descendant of Lieven Bauwens, a commemorative ceremony for the famous 19th-century entrepreneur from Ghent.

Yvonne Foinant (1892-1991)

On the Day of the Women Entrepreneurs in September 1959, Yvonne Foinant was the guest of honour. Yvonne Foinant, a French company manager since World War I had prompted her to take over her husband's business, was the founder of the groundbreaking Association of Women Entrepreneurs FCE (Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises) in 1945. The FCE would soon develop into a global organization - FCEM.
Yvonne Foinant is honoured here by chairman Clément Morraye.

Douglas MacArthur II (1909-1997)

US Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II is welcomed by Fritz Meyvaert at the Flanders Trade Fair of 1961.
MacArthur, who was a nephew of the famous US general Douglas MacArthur, served as US Ambassador to Belgium from 1961 to 1965. During his diplomatic career he also held - one assumes, more challenging - posts at US embassies in post-war Japan and in Iran.

Photo by A. De Baenst.

Alberico Casardi (1903-1968)

The Italian diplomat Alberico Casardi (centre) visits the Flanders International Fair as Italian Ambassador in 1962.

Photo by Claerhout.

Glenn Seaborg (1912-1999)

American chemist and laureate of the 1951 Noble Prize in Chemistry, Glenn Seaborg (left), signs the golden book on the America Day, September 22, 1967. He is accompanied by chairman Fritz Meyvaert.

Photo by Atelier Prim.

John Eisenhower (1922-2013)

John S.D. Eisenhower, son of US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as US Ambassador to Belgium from 1969 to 1971. As ambassador he visited the International Fair of Flanders on the America Days in 1969 and 1970.

Photo by Prims.

Roderick Barclay (1909-1996)

Sir Roderick Barclay (left), UK Ambassador to Belgium from 1963 to 1969, is seen here with Fritz Meyvaert, on a cruise on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, 9 September 1968.

1968 was a crucial year in the modernisation of the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, especially with the installation of new sea locks which were a major contribution to the economic expansion of Belgium.

Sport stars in the making

The new generation of Belgian cyclists sign the golden book of the Flanders International Trade Fair in 1965. From left to right: Ferdinand Bracke, Willy Planckaert, Patrick Sercu, Eddy Merckx and Yvonne Reynders. By then only Reynders was already an established champion, with three (of four) road world titles and three track world titles to her name.

Photo by A. De Baenst.