Holocaust survivor among inspiring figures given Flanders’ medal of honour
Flanders awarded medals of honour to mark Flemish Community Day on Friday, to gymnast Nina Derwael, imec CEO Luc Van den hove and singer and artist Willem Vermandere. This year, for the first time, a medal was also awarded for commitment to human rights: to Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel, two men who forged an unlikely friendship with its roots in the Holocaust.
Simon Gronowski was born in Brussels in 1931 to Jewish parents. In March 1943, aged 11, he was arrested with his mother, Chana, and sister, Ita, by the Gestapo and sent to the Dossin transit camp in Mechelen. They were placed on the 20th convoy to Auschwitz in April.
"Koenraad is more than a friend, he’s my brother"
When the convoy was intercepted by members of the Belgian Resistance, Simon's mother helped him jump from the train. He escaped, along with around 100 other prisoners. Chana and Ita continued to Auschwitz, where they were killed. Simon went into hiding until the country was liberated in 1944.
Tinel grew up in a family that collaborated with the occupying forces. After reading Gronowski’s story in a newspaper decades later, he made contact and the two became close friends. Together they have given lectures, appeared widely in the media and written a book about their experiences.
“I can tell you – Koenraad is more than a friend, he’s my brother,” Gronowski said at the medal ceremony on Friday. The two men were also awarded honorary doctorates by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2020.
“Above all, I’m happy that they appreciate what we stand for: for peace and for mutual understanding,” said Tineel.
This is the 11th time Flanders has awarded medals of honour. The awards are given to people who contribute to the positive image of the region through their exceptional talents.
Nina Derwael, from Limburg, is a multiple European gymnastics champion and won Olympic gold on the bars at Tokyo 2020. As CEO of imec, Luc Van den hove has helped develop the Leuven research institute into a leading centre for nanoelectronics and digital technology.
Willem Vermandere, the West Flemish grand master of cabaret, also receives a medal. The 85-year-old singer, musician, visual artist and writer performed for more than 50 years, but announced last year that he was retiring.
#FlandersNewsService | The award ceremony of the medals of honour presented by the Flemish government to mark Flemish Community Day, 11 July 2025 © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE / Koenraad Tinel and Simon Gronowski © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS
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