Exclusive Interview With Veggie Ghent Founder

Exclusive interview with Tobias  Leenaert

Founder of Veggie Thursday in Ghent

When  did you start Veggie Thursday and what gave you the  idea?

We started early 2008 as a general campaign, but it got a real boost  when in May 2009 the city of Ghent picked up on  it.

Is it  all over Belgium or do you  focus on Ghent?

It’s all over Flanders (Dutch speaking part of Belgium) and soon also Brussels, who will also  subsidize it.

What  were the schools and organisations reactions?

Reactions have generally been very positive. Participation in  Ghent city  schools and kindergartens is 94% (campaign is not  compulsory).

What  response do you get now it’s been running for a  while?

We have an awareness of the campaign of 42% in Flanders, 70% in  Ghent (just did  extensive (and expensive research). Participation in Ghent is 21% (about 50.000  people).

Tell  us more about what VeggieVision viewers could expect when visiting Belgium.

Belgium as a whole, in general? Belgium is often ignored and used as a point of  transfer or people pass through it, but it has some wonderful historic cities:  Brussels, Antwerp,  Bruges and…  Ghent, the latter of which is ignored most of the  four in cases when people do visit Belgium.

What  is special about Ghent?

It’s the greatest city in Belgium. Young, vibrant, progressive,  historic, not too big, not too small it has a big student  population.

Why  must VeggieVision viewers visit Ghent?

Ghent has the  highest density of veggie restaurants in western Europe and beyond: 13 veggie  restaurants out of 240.000 people.

Why  are you vegan?

Being vegan for me is a very obvious and essential step if you want  to live your live causing the least harm possible. And it’s a very tasty way of  living to boot.

How is  it being vegan in Belgium?

It’s a bit in between the best and the worst countries. Not as easy  as in US or UK, but much  better than in France or  Spain. Vegan is actually not so known  in Belgium. Vegetarianism is getting  there, and we try to make sure that vegan becomes more known, slowly but  surely.

What  are your plans for the future?

We want to make Thursday the Veggie Day in the whole of Belgium, make sure people have good  culinary experiences and then can move on.

Click here for a list of the veggie restaurants (with a grey V  symbol) here: 

To fine out more about Ghent – www.vegetarisme.be

And to see the VeggieVision films about Ghent please go to our  World Vision Channel or click on a video link below:

Ghent Part 1

Ghent Veggie Capital of Europe

Why Ghent Veggie