Wallonia’s Fêtes 2026 have an Antwerp-Namur bridge
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Peter Huybrechts, a police operations director originally from Antwerp, Belgium, has lived in Namur for 18 years and is helping to organize the 2026 Wallonia Festivals.
Huybrechts intentionally builds connections between the two communities, seeing his upbringing and career path as ideal for bridging cultural gaps. He began his policing career in Antwerp before moving to Ghent and Brussels, eventually relocating to Namur due to personal reasons.
Huybrechts integrated into Namur’s local government ten years ago as a liaison officer for the governor, and he emphasizes the opportunities Wallonia has given him. He acknowledges that people sometimes assume negative traits based on his Antwerp origins, but he actively promotes exchange between the two communities. He has also immersed himself in Namur’s culture, decorating his office with local folklore items and joining the central committee organizing the Fêtes de Wallonie.
Huybrechts believes the festivals reflect Namur’s collaborative spirit, with volunteers, police, and politicians working together easily. He enjoys sharing his adopted city with friends and family from Antwerp, and is now learning the local Walloon language.
