WHERE NEWS & BUSINESS MEET GLAMOUR & GOOD TI MES FREE / #7 /MARCH-APRI L 2008 Togethermagazine INTERVIEW Brussels Region Minister Evelyne Huytebroeck EUROPEAN VICE In the grip of gambling REAL ESTATE Housing at any cost ? ‘TOUCHY’ Flanders & Kosovo : Same battle ? PeOPle in BRUssels Pete Doherty, Prince Charles, Musharraf ... COMPetitiON Win a fabulous gastronomic weekend Spring is in the air ge CLUB MED HOLIDAYS, WHERE CAREFREE HAPPINESS WINS r a h US ALL, AT ALL AGES c a r xt E FREE CHILD STAY * FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS SUPERVISED GAMES FOR TODDLERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES WITH SPECIALISED GO®’S BABY CLUB MED* FROM 4 TO 23 MONTHS MINI CLUB MED CREATIVITY AND ENERGY FROM 4 TO 10 YEARS INTERCONNECTING ROOMS COMFORT FOR EVERYONE THE PYJAMAS CLUB* BABY-SITTING SERVICE* PEACE OF MIND FOR PARENTS WELL-BEING AND RELAXATION SPA*, MASSAGE* AREAS clubmed.be ALL INCLUSIVE HAPPINESS WHERE HAPPINESS MEANS THE WORLD S3300603M Together230x340_8 1 21/02/08 12:11:13 EDITORIAL BMW Brussels G&CO Diplomatic Sales www.bmwbrussels. Sheer be Driving Pleasure To have Together Recycling Magazine delivered free, subscribe at www.together- magazine.eu We work mainly with national and international or spin ? advertisers. If you are interested in our rates, please contact. Jérôme Stéfanski : jerome@ togethermedia.eu or T. +32 (0)75 1 63 62 Nothing in this magazine may be he issues of climate a country that’s becoming increasingly reproduced in whole or in part without the change and attractive for Belgian companies as written permission of the environmental an alternative trade partner to China, the publisher. The publisher cannot problems related according to the Brussels Business be held responsible for to energy consumption are and Enterprise Agency. Donnelly also the views and opinions expressed in this Teverywhere in our daily lives. Yet there’s provides a daring insight into the link magazine by authors and contributors. an interesting contradiction that also between Kosovo’s recently declared Together Magazine appears to be prevalent – in a nutshell, independence and Flanders’ efforts is neither responsible for nor endorses preserve nature, pollute and consume towards the same goal. To be read the content of advertisements printed less...but spend more ! without prejudice… on its pages. Together Magazine cannot be held responsible With ‘safeguarding the environment’ For myself, I have to say that it was really for any error or being twisted into a major marketing ploy, no hardship whatsoever to visit Milan inaccuracy in such advertising material. Together Magazine investigates recently, during the latest fashion week. Founder & Publisher : ‘greenwashing’ – the theme of the study Details of the trip, plus the best outlets Jérôme Stéfanski Green : The colour of money ? for a low-cost, super-stylish, Spring- Editor : James Drew by Colin Moors, part of our special cleaned wardrobe, are revealed… Graphic Design : dossier, Back to Nature, which is printed Vincent Van Meerbeeck @ Productor entirely on recycled paper and also Staying in the hyper-glamour mood, Cover Credit : features an exclusive interview our exclusive fashion shoot honours Hackett London, Spring-Summer 08, with Brussels Environment Minister a luxury product that’s so often given www.hackett.com Evelyne Huytebroeck. to our ‘Dear Mamas’ on Mother’s Day Translation : (11th May) : perfume. How fast can we help you? James Drew Writers : Our editor James Drew, meanwhile, James Christie investigates the potential dangers posed And, at the start of the season of rebirth At BMW Brussels’ Diplomatic Sales we know that as a member of the Corps Diplomatique, a European institution Dave Deruytter Cillian Donnelly by a worldwide phenomenon in our latest and renewal, let us turn to Victor Hugo : or an international organization, you deserve services that match your needs. That is why our dedicated team works James Drew European Vice article, Gambling : Your ‘It is sad to think of all that nature has to hand in glove with you, as we perfectly understand the constraints of your mission and are used to fi nding the best Magali Eylenbosch Federico Grandesso money and your life ?. Gambling addiction say, to which mankind does not listen.’ solutions in the shortest lapse of time and providing you with a full service. This includes delivery of your personalised car Colin Moors is examined with particular reference anywhere in the world while respecting local specifi cations. We also provide personal assistance in all administrative steps, Hélène Noël such as getting your CD registration and arranging insurance. You can concentrate on the fulfi lment of your mission Ludivine Nolf to Brussels and Belgium : an addict Enjoy Together Magazine #7, Josephine Overeem while enjoying sheer driving pleasure. With BMW Brussels, you are in good hands. Graham Reid offers an insight into how much his habit and have a special Spring ! Jérôme Stéfanski has affected his life, and there’s also an Muriel Troonen For more information, please contact BMW Brussels’ Diplomatic Sales: Sophie Van Cruchten exclusive interview with the president of the European Gaming and Amusement Clotilde Van Laethem BMW Brussels Bd de Waterloo BMW Brussels Evere Meiser Togethermedia Federation. Tel.: +32-2-641 57 34 Branch of BMW Belux Branch of BMW Belux E-mail: [email protected] Boulevard de Waterloo 23-24 Avenue L. Mommaerts 2 Rue d’Alost 7 1000 Brussels 1140 Brussels (Centre Dansaert – 2nd C) International politics expert Cillian B-1000 Brussels Donnelly looks at the relationship Jérôme Stéfanski T. +32 (0)75 1 63 62 [email protected] between Belgium and Vietnam, Publisher Environmental information: www.bmw.be – Together #07 BMW8671_230x170.indd 1 6/03/08 11:42:50 CONTENT 02/08 02/08 Maasmechelen Village 2 EDITORIAL 9 Dear Together outlet shopping Recycling or spin ? 10 COMPETITION 8 The VIEW © Enjoy the luxury of spending less Where do you read it ? Haute cuisine, cool car Discover previous seasons’ collections from more than 150 international fashion and home design labels at prices reduced from 30% to 60%*, all year round. With a children’s NEWS 14 PEOPLE IN BRUSSELS 28 EUROPEAN VICE play area, 5 restaurants and free parking the Village is the ideal destination for a day out. Rockers, movers and shakers Gambling : Your money and your life ? 16 ‘Touchy’ Flanders and Kosovo : 36 political chessboarD Same battle ? Green light for regional parking agency 20 Point of vieW Warming to Vietnam 38 BRUSSELS ON THE MOVE Palais des Congrès : Hip to be Square OPEN ON * compared to the original price offered in traditional retail environment © Maasmechelen Village 2008 2008 Village Maasmechelen © environment retail traditional in offered price original the to compared * ** SUNDAY BUSINESS 42 Real EstatE 48 A CEO IN BRUSSELS The Property Barometer When science meets nature 44 Housing at any cost ? 52 Somewhere in AsiA 46 ADVERTISING SPACE China and India : Flemish and French media : Different paths to power Another dividing line ? LIFESTYLE I 58 SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE Passion for fashion CLOSE-UP 66 INTERVIEW 80 Ethical investments COVERAGE : Energy revolution in Brussels 84 Going for good BACK road manners TO NATURE 69 I DON’T CARE 86 Keeping tabs It won’t stop me sleeping, but... on the environment 70 COACHING SESSION 88 TemptationS Spring-clean your life Green attitude 74 BACK TO NATURE 92 DiarY The colour of money ? Green Delights LIFESTYLE II 96 Market ForceS 124 The Places TO BE Excel yourself in Ixelles Great people make great events 98 FRESH OPENINGS 128 FOR ART’S SAKE Seventh heaven Hotel Silken’s photo project 130 Happy Buddha’s birthday party ! 102 Made IN BelgiuM 100 % Brussels fashion in Paris 138 DiarY Together’s ‘To Do’ list 110 fashion ShoOT Hugo Boss • Scapa • Barbour • Essentiel • Samsonite • Nike • Furla • Pringle of Scotland • Calvin Klein Jeans • Petit Bateau • Donaldson • Spring scents 142 HOROSCOPES Spring forecast Leonardo • Kipling • Versace • River Woods • Marlboro Classics • Olivier Strelli • Napapijri • Oilily • Levi’s • Villeroy & Boch • and many more… 120 Eat&DrinK Naturally poised and refined… 144 Comic StriP Opening hours: 10 – 18h • E314, exit 33 • T. +32 89 77 40 00 Le Chat : Eco-friendly ** For exceptional opening and closing dates, directions and all other information: www.MaasmechelenVillage.com 6 – Together #06 The new C-Class Estate. Agility in grand style. CO2 emissions (g/km) : 176 - Fuel consumption (combined cycle) (l/100km) : 6,7 - Environmental information KB/AR 19/03/2004 : www.mercedes-benz.be Let’s yield the way to safety. MBS1023915_C-Klasse_AdsTogether_210x290_Engels.indd 1 2/20/08 2:20:39 PM The VIEW © As Together goes from strength to strength on the Bruxpat TRANSLATION ISSUE THANK YOU, beautiful region, in fact I might scene, we felt the time was right to let our readers have their MY TOGETHER even consider living there. But, say – where they read us, what they think. Over to you... Sir, if I ever did, I would never dream It’s astonishing that, in two days, Sir, of asking for ‘facilities’ in my native I have been handed two new What a success ! When I was language, but quickly integrate English-language magazines, handed a copy of your recent with the local people. Neil L : Irish, 32, Sergueï : 41, Bulgarian, one of which was yours, in the edition, I was very impressed by In all honesty, your ‘touching’ European Officer, Ixelles European Officer, Ixelles street. Certainly, it’s a good deal the magazine’s evolution. The new better than what I was handed article in Together on I read it, on the day I’ve received it, with When your hostesses present it to me size, the articles, the photographs, the day before ! The articles are the quality of the paper… ‘Francophones’ moving stories’ my first cup of coffee at the office. in the morning, I resist the temptation much more interesting, and I dare you really should sell it in shops.