Th e little Belgian mermaids Once a niche activity, the mermaid phenomenon has finally washed into Belgium, and it’s making more of a splash than you probably realise Words Vicky Lane Photography Tim E White 40 OCTOBER 2017 BELGIUM OCTOBER 2017 41 BELGIUM Mer-talk “Call me on my shellphone?” A way to enquire whether you’ll be phoning later on Disney’s flame-haired siren protagonist in The Little Mermaid. “It was only after seeing the video that I realised being a professional mermaid was actually a thing,” she explains. “Overnight, I decided I was going to be one, too.” Fast-forward 12 years and the now 28-year-old Van de Voorde, or Mermaid Celine, as she’s better known, has done just that. After a lot of online research, the purchase of a monofin and four years designing, making and perfecting her first neoprene tail (since upgraded to a stunning gold and pink sequined one with the “biggest fin in the mermaiding world”), the Belgian splashed into the water, and has barely surfaced since. Helped by a Facebook page advertising her new underwater credentials, Mermaid Celine scored her first professional job at the age of 20 – starring in a video for Copenhagen’s Congress. She has since worked stints ranging from Belgian fantasy festival Elftopia to corporate events to a regular gig at Kokorico nightclub in Zomergem near Ghent, swimming for hours in the ceiling tank above the dancefloor. Previous page: Mermaid Lelie t was late one night, while sitting “As far as I know, I am the first professional mermaid in and Mermaid Celine take in Ghent’s beautiful scenery in her bedroom clicking through Belgium,” she grins with water droplets on her shimmering Above: Mermaids must take videos on YouTube, that a face, which is expertly painted with the same waterproof good care of their hair 16-year-old Celine Van de Voorde make-up used by competitive synchronised swimmers. We’re I discovered something life- in the pool of TODI Dive School (todi.be) in Beringen ‒ an hour changing: Hannah Mermaid. east of Brussels ‒ where Van de Voorde has agreed to give “I saw this incredible mermaid me a lesson in mermaiding. The incredible venue – which swimming with a beautiful, opened late last year as part of an extensive, tourism-driven homemade tail in the ocean alongside whales and turtles renovation of the former BE-Mine mining site it stands upon and just thought ‘wow’,” reveals the Belgian from Ghent. – is the only subtropical aquarium, scuba diving and Hannah Mermaid, a few Google searches later revealed, snorkelling centre in Europe. Home to almost 2,500 fish that was an Australian ocean ecology activist and one of the swim in the 6.5million litres of fresh water filling the huge world’s first professional mermaids. Van de Voorde ‒ “like tank – along with decorative elements such as caves, car everyone who takes up mermaiding” ‒ had been obsessed wrecks and ancient ruins – it’s attracted more than 90,000 with the mythical creatures from the moment she’d set eyes visitors in its first nine months of opening. But it’s not just GHENT HAIR & BEAUTY, JAY’Z TO THANKS WITH 42 OCTOBER 2017 EXCLUSIVE SALE Luxury is in the air Manor Celles CELLES At the foot of the ‘Kluisberg’ and nearby Kortrijk, you will find this unique 1,47 hectare 628 M2 country house. 14703 M2 Its prominent interior, with luxurious and authentic elements, has been realized by 1918 DESCAMPS - and will impress you for sure. This 8 bedroom manor, comes with a 8 spacious concierge building, stables, wine cellar, heated swimming pool, tennis court 3 and a delightful garden with orchard. 1 Cotact us: T. +32 (0)50 66 00 00 1 www. found-baker.com E. [email protected] BELGIUM the site’s state-of-the-art diving facilities and lifelike underwater setting that they come for. It’s also the only venue in Belgium with resident mermaids. It turns out, Van de Voorde isn’t the only Belgian making a living out of being half-human-half-fish. Mermaids Evi, Lelie, Naomi and Ariel Starfish also work regularly at the venue alongside her. While you may get lucky and spot them on the odd occasions the mermaids pop by for a dip ‒ their colourful tails sparkling through the water’s haze as they play in the depths with the grace of a dolphin ‒ you’re guaranteed a sighting on ‘Mermaid Mondays’. Running the third Monday of every month, it starts with a mermaid meet and greet in the venue’s stylish brasserie at 6.30pm, followed by a group synchronised performance in the water that’s watched, filmed and photographed by hundreds of delighted humans from the underwater viewing gallery. “People’s faces instantly light up when they see us, and children believe we’re real,” says Van de Voorde. “It’s a really magical feeling.” Afterwards, the spectators can join the sirens in the water; snorkelling for €15 or scuba diving for €37. On other days, you can book a two-hour ‘mermaid initiation course’ for €69, where you’ll be provided with a monofin and fabric training tail to swim alongside a mermaid instructor. While Mermaid Celine is only aware of 20 other ‘official’ mermaids in Belgium, including her TODI mer-buddies, she believes this is increasing. Of course, there are many more people who, like I’m doing today, partake in the discipline for fun, with it widely agreed that mermaiding is quickly changing from niche hobby to a widespread, trendy activity. “Mermaiding is much better known these days,” agrees Evelien Peeters ‒ or Mermaid Evi. “In the beginning, family and friends thought I was crazy for doing it. Now, when they see how much fun I’m having, they’re like, how do I do this?” It’s also part of a bigger, worldwide phenomenon which – like all trends these days – is being fuelled by social media. Mernetwork.com, the main online community for ‘merfolk’, estimates the number of mermaids across the world to Mer-talk now be in the thousands, with around 1,000 working professionally in America alone. “People are attracted to “Th ere’s a million swimming in mermaid costumes for many reasons, but fish in the basically they all boil down to wish fulfillment,” the website sea — but I’m explains. “Whether you fantasise about being some sort of a mermaid” legendary creature, or out of a love for the ocean, wearing a Way to boost self-esteem, costume is a way to live out such fantasies.” reminder of uniqueness Placed somewhere between synchronised swimming, freediving and amateur dramatics, escapism is a further attraction of mermaiding. “Being a mermaid is soothing for the soul,” agrees Lieke Knoops, aka Mermaid Lelie. “You’re 44 OCTOBER 2017 There are more mermaids than you think: you could be sitting next to one right now Need a hotel? DE WITTE MEREL In terms of a mermaid-themed weekend, the new ‘Dream Boat’ at alternative B&B De Witte Merel ‒ which also has teepee and ‘bubble’ glamping options available ‒ couldn’t be more fitting. Located in Paal, a 15-minute drive from TODI dive centre in Beringen, the snazzy vessel ‒ smartly fitted with nautical decor ‒ is great for a cosy weekend away. dewittemerel.com OCTOBER 2017 45 Belgium: the most surrealistic country. Discover this entire country for a fixed price, all year round, with the Hi Belgium Pass at €149. This pass covers your return flight from 50 airports in 18 countries on our European network, unlimited train rides within Belgium during your stay, and vouchers for attractions, experiences and intra-city transport. You can be sure that you’ll definitely know all of Belgium’s secrets after this. brusselsairlines.com/brussels BELGIUM “It’s soothing for the soul... a dream come true” making dreams come true: both your own childhood fantasy and for those watching. I feel I take on a different persona as Mermaid Lelie ‒ one that is more confident and bubbly ‒ and am able to forget about daily stresses.” Reports also suggest the activity helps to manage depression and autism, benefits self-confidence and is just a great way to stay fit. “It’s not easy!” agrees Mermaid Celine. “It’s like dancing; you need core strength, skill and technique to look believable under the water. You also have to be able to deal with extreme conditions – like if the water is cold. I’ve contracted hyperthermia during performances before, suffer cramps and sore eyes from the chlorine – so it’s not all glamorous!” Still, the benefits far outweigh the challenges, as Julia Sardella has discovered. A former synchronised swimmer and performer for Cirque du Soleil, she founded France’s first mermaid school Sirenes by Perle Events in 2015 in her home- city of Marseille. “I’ve already taught over 1,000 people to be mermaids,” she reveals. “We get a lot of tourists from Belgium, London, Italy ‒ plus local people.” Sardella, who is also a pilates instructor, is passionate about teaching the discipline as an artistic sport. “It’s a workout,” she confirms. “You have to learn breathing techniques and train your body to work in the right way.” The school has been so successful, Sardella is now opening a series of them across France. It’s a good example of the business opportunities that have further surfaced through mermaiding. Many other WITH THANKS TO CAFE THEATRE RESTAURANT BAR, GHENT BAR, RESTAURANT THEATRE CAFE TO THANKS WITH mermaid schools already exist; in Tarragona (just below Mer-talk “Th at’s mermazing!” High praise: a way to say something is really good A mer-meet: like all mermaids, Mermaid Celine and Mermaid Evi love to socialise OCTOBER 2017 47 ZEEDIJK-ALBERTSTRAND 563 JAKOBIJNENSTRAAT 1 8300 KNOKKE-HEIST 9000 GENT BREDABAAN 131 MARNIXPLAATS 16 2930 BRASSCHAAT 2000 ANTWERPEN HJODQWLHUODDQ WWW.LUCYCHANG.COM %ZLOULMN BELGIUM Mermaid Celine and Mermaid Evi relax back at home after a long day of mermaiding Mer-talk “Sea you later” An invite to reconvene at a later time or date Barcelona), Manchester, Toronto and New York, to name a few.