Belgium’s favourite son, Jean-Claude Van Damme, remembers where it all began…
“They call me ‘The Muscles From Brussels’,” smiles Jean-Claude Van Damme, almost coyly. “But really, I am just a normal man from Belgium, who once was skinny like a toothpick, reading comic books and dreaming of being a star.”
Back then, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, they called him Jean-Claude Van Varenberg. Few would have guessed that a Brussels municipality so peaceful it’s known as “the village in the city” would raise the star of action blockbusters like Hard Target
“My parents sent me to a farm in a village called Affligem, in the Flemish area of Brussels. In that village is a church. And one night I just woke up, like an epiphany. And walked to that church and started praying that I would become one of these guys like Laurence Of Arabia.”
Affligem, famous for its traditional beer brewed from its beautiful ancient Abbey, inspired Jean-Claude to chase the dream: he became a martial arts champion, bodybuilding’s Mr Belgium and even studied ballet for six years before wowing Hollywood with his skills. “I sent everyone this unbelievable picture of me, jumping above a car in the splits position!” he laughs. “And I went from a sleeping in a box and stealing food to the best penthouse and private jet.”
Back in Belgium for his new autobiog action-comedy JCVD, Van Damme puts his success down to his prayers being answered. But who knows? Maybe there’s something special in Affligem’s abbey beer…
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