I went to the Belgium IA cocktail hour last Thursday in the cafe Monk in Brussels. Fun was had by all, and many beers. And of course (as always) Paul Otlet was discussed.
Paul Otlet is Belgium's claim to fame in the information management world: amongst many other feats on which Geert plans to report in depth in an upcoming Paul Otlet blog, he invented the index card. Here's proof in the form of pictures Geert Allegaert (Photoblog) took from a documentary ;)
Pictures of the event, by Geert as well:
I also visited the guys from iCogs, an upcoming Belgium content management system. I didn't have my own camera with me or I would have taken some pictures of their workplace, which is in a beautiful old house in Brussels. Namahn, where I gave a talk on Tuesday, is also in a beautiful, art deco location in Brussels. No pictures there either. Damn. The talk was very well organized, with fantastic food afterwards.
There is a distinct Belgium-like quality to the IA scene in Belgium, and I'm trying to put my finger on it. Beer has something to do with it.