Freddy Thielemans

Freddy Thielemans was born in 1944 and graduated in modern languages and commercial sciences. After 17 years of teaching, as a professor of Germanic languages, he joined the Mayor’s office as Principal private secretary. He has since held numerous public offices including deputy mayor in charge of cultural affairs and public education and a member of the European parliament and Commission of Foreign Affairs. He was elected Mayor of Brussels in 2000 and was re-elected in 2006 whilst receiving a post-war record share of the vote in the municipal elections. He has been a member of the Brussels Regional Council since 1995, chair of the Brussels Exhibition Hall and a very keen supporter of the arts, culture, and urban planning and re-development.