Patrick De Corte steps down as Brussels fairground chairman after 30 years

After three decades at the helm, Patrick De Corte is retiring as the chairman of the Brussels fairground operators' association. The 69-year-old announced his decision on the final day of the 146th edition of the Zuidfoor, a fair he knows intimately.

De Corte, who will turn 70 in December, stated that the demanding role required a lot of effort and that he wishes to dedicate more time to his six grandchildren. "There is a time for everything," he remarked, reflecting on his long tenure. He learned the trade from his parents, who also worked at the Zuidfoor, and began working alongside them at age 15 after leaving school.

His family has a deep-rooted history in the fairground business, with his ancestors selling fries and doughnuts since 1892. De Corte himself started his own chip stand after marrying at 25, following a family tradition. Although he secretly dreamed of operating a larger, more glamorous attraction, the family business ultimately steered his career.

He expressed immense pride that his three children are continuing the family legacy, operating their own fry and doughnut stands, just as their grandparents did. "This is the most beautiful profession in the world," De Corte stated, highlighting the physical demands and unique lifestyle of a fairground vendor, which requires skills ranging from being a merchant to an electrician and heavy transport driver.

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Vroeger waren er geen geluidsnormen en deden we onze kramen dicht wanneer we dat wilden.