GLAM/Newsletter/November 2025/Contents/Belgium report
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Call for volunteers, Computer's Day and upcoming events
News from Wikimedia Belgium.
International Women's Day Edit-a-thons – Call for Volunteers
Heritage institutions across the country are eager to organise their own sessions, which is fantastic news. To make sure each event runs smoothly, we are looking for additional experienced Wikipedia editors to help guide new participants.
👉 Do you enjoy sharing your Wikipedia expertise and inspiring others?
Sign up by sending us an e-mail to support a day dedicated to knowledge sharing and improving the visibility of women on Wikipedia. Please indicate the region you live in so we can take it into account when assigning locations. More information about the programme will be added here soon.
Computers Meeting Day at the Industrie Museum in Ghent
The event is part of the preparations for a temporary exhibition opening in autumn 2026, which will explore the evolution of information technology in Belgium.
Since much early IT heritage has not survived physically, the museum is taking a different approach: collecting firsthand stories from people who experienced these developments themselves. The call attracted a wonderfully diverse group—software developers, computer scientists, illustrators, teachers, business leaders, and Wikimedia Belgium.
Through multiple discussion rounds, participants exchanged stories about early mainframes, the rise of the mini-computer, the impact of companies such as Apple, Agfa-Gevaert, Telindus and Proximus, and the ways digital tools transformed academic and graphic workflows.
Together, their contributions painted a vivid picture of how quickly and profoundly the sector has evolved. They also worked collaboratively on a timeline highlighting their first computer encounters and key technological milestones—making the leap from room-sized systems to today’s handheld devices especially tangible.
The meeting not only generated valuable material for the upcoming 2026 exhibition, but also fostered warm exchanges between different generations of IT professionals. The collected stories will help the museum spotlight an important piece of Belgium’s digital past.
Want to know more? Keep an eye on the Industriemuseum Ghent website for updates.
Agenda
🍻 Writing Sessions: The History of Beer in Denderland
No prior experience is needed — guidance, Wi-Fi, and light refreshments are provided.
📅 December 13, 2025
⏰ 13:30–17:00
📍 Grand Café des Arcades, Statieplein 8, 9300 Aalst
🏛️ Wikicafé Ypres: Buildings Under Construction
Participants explore the urban landscape of Ypres and dive into the stories behind both famous and lesser-known buildings.
Together, we will create new Wikipedia articles or expand existing ones using reliable sources and images—making Ypres’ architectural heritage more visible online.
Participants register in advance and select a building from the prepared list. All relevant source material will be available on the day itself.
📅 December 10, 2025
📍 Yper Museum (Ypres)
🌐 Register
📚 Public Domain Day 2026 & Wiki Loves Heritage Award Ceremony
On 15th of January 2026, the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) in Brussels will host Public Domain Day 2026, followed by the Wiki Loves Heritage award ceremony.
Every year on 1 January, new works enter the public domain—yet many remain difficult to access. This event brings together experts, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to share insights and best practices on how to open up this material to the public.
📅 January 15, 2026
📍 Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), Brussels
🌐 Register here
Do you want to read more news from Wikimedia Belgium? Read the full newsletter here.
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