Club Brugge KV
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| Full name | Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging (Club Bruges Royal Football association) | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Blauw-Zwart (Blue-Black), (the) Club, FCB, FC Bruges | |||
| Founded | 13 November 1891 (as Brugsche FC) Stamnummer (matricule number) 3 | |||
| Ground | Jan Breydel Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 29,062[1] | |||
| President | Bart Verhaeghe | |||
| Head coach | Nicky Hayen | |||
| League | Belgian Pro League | |||
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League, 1st of 16 (champions) | |||
| Website | clubbrugge.be | |||
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Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging (Dutch pronunciation: [klʏ ˈbrʏɣə ˌkoːnɪŋkləkə ˈvudbɑlvəˌreːnəɣɪŋ]),[a] known simply as Club Brugge (in English also: Club Bruges), is a Belgian professional football club based in Bruges, Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,042.[2] They play in the Belgian Pro League, the top domestic league in Belgian football.
One of the most decorated clubs in Belgian football, Club Brugge has been crowned Belgian league champions 19 times, second only to major rivals Anderlecht, and shares the Jan Breydel Stadium with city rival Cercle Brugge, with whom they contest the Bruges derby.[3]
Throughout its long history, "Club" has enjoyed much European football success, reaching two European finals and three European semi-finals. Club Brugge is the only Belgian club to have played the final of the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) as of November 2024, losing to Liverpool in the final of the 1978 season.[4] They also lost in the 1976 UEFA Cup Final to the same opponents.[5][6] Club Brugge holds the European record for number of consecutive participations in the UEFA Europa League (20), the record number of Belgian Cups (11),[7] and the record number of Belgian Super Cups (17).[8]
History
[edit]
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In 1890, students from the Catholic school Broeders Xaverianen and the neutral school Koninklijk Atheneum joined together to form the Brugsche Football Club. The former students christened the club's founding by establishing the Latin motto 'mens sana in corpore sano' (a healthy mind in a healthy body).[9] A year later on 13 November 1891, the club was re-created under Brugsche FC, and this is now seen as the official foundation of the current Club Brugge. In 1892, an official board was installed at the club to oversee all operations and team decisions. In 1895, the national athletics sports union was founded, predecessor of the later national football association, under the name UBSSA (Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques); Brugsche FC was a founding member of the UBSSSA and as such took part in the first league campaign organized in Belgian football during the 1895–96 season.[10] Financial difficulties in the following year forced the club to leave the UBSSA, and soon after, Football Club Brugeois was formed by breakaway club members. The two sides were reunited in 1897 under the French name of Football Club Brugeois; they did not take on the Dutch title Club Brugge until 1972.[9]
In 1914, FC Brugeois reached their first Belgian Cup final, but lost 2–1 to Union SG. Six years later, the club claimed their first trophy, by winning the Belgian First Division during the 1919–20 season.[11] They celebrated by changing their title to Royal FC Brugeois – with their regal status now reflected in their modern prefix KV, standing for Koninklijke Vereniging (royal club).[9] Only eight years later though, the club was relegated to the Belgian Second Division for the first time in their history following a relegation play-off.[11] Further lean times followed the relegation in 1928, as they spent much of the 1940s and 1950s in the second division of Belgian football.[9]
Following the 1958–59 season, the club earned promotion back to the First Division and have not been relegated since.[9] The club were able to add to their trophy cabinet in 1968, winning the first of their record 11 Belgian Cup titles for the first time after defeating Beerschot A.C. 7–6 in a penalty-shootout after a 1–1 draw.
The club enjoyed their most success under legendary Austrian manager Ernst Happel as he led the club to three straight league championships from 1975–76 to 1977–78 and a Belgian Cup victory in 1976–77.[12] Happel also guided Club Brugge to their first European final, reaching the 1976 UEFA Cup Final. Over the two-legged final against English giants Liverpool, Club Brugge fell 3–4 on aggregate.[13] Two years later, Brugge again met Liverpool in a European final, this time in the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley, becoming the first Belgian club to reach the final of the competition. Brugge fell to a lone second-half goal from Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool won their second European Cup and third European trophy in succession.[14][15] Following the cup final loss to Liverpool, Happel left Club Brugge and would lead Netherlands later that summer to the final of the 1978 FIFA World Cup.[16]
On 25 November 1992, Brugge player Daniel Amokachi became the first goal scorer in the Champions League. He scored in a 1–0 win over CSKA Moscow.[17]
On 20 May 2021, Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to win the Belgian First Division A title for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall.[18] It was the first time since 1973 that Club Brugge had been crowned champions at Anderlecht's ground and the first time since 1976–77 and 1977–78 that Brugge had won back-to-back league titles.[19] A year later, they would become champions for a third time in a row at Antwerp's ground, the first time since 1977–79.[20] They would go on and qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League knockout for the first time in the modern history, after losing only once and keeping 5 clean sheets in the group stage.[21]
Crest and colours
[edit]
The club don a blue and black home kit as has been traditional through their history. Away from home they wear a light coloured kit. Colours like white, light blue and yellow have been used in recent years.[22] As of the 2022–23 season, the club's current kit supplier is Macron.[23]
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt main sponsor | Back shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–1974 | adidas | Carad | — |
| 1974–1976 | 49R Jeans | ||
| 1976–1979 | Puma | ||
| 1979–1982 | St.-Louis Geuze | ||
| 1982–1985 | Bacchus | ||
| 1985–1992 | Assubel | ||
| 1992–1995 | VTM | ||
| 1995–1996 | adidas | VTM | |
| 1996–1997 | Gemeentekrediet | ||
| 1997–2000 | — | ||
| 2000–2007 | Dexia | Dexia | |
| 2007–2012 | Puma | ||
| 2012–2013 | Belfius | Belfius | |
| 2013–2014 | Nike | ||
| 2014–2015 | Club Brugge Foundation | Proximus | |
| 2015–2017 | Daikin | ||
| 2017–2019 | Macron | ||
| 2019–2020 | Unibet | ||
| 2020–2023 | Candriam | ||
| 2023– | Allianz |
Stadium
[edit]
The club's original home in the Sint-Andries district of Bruges was known as the Rattenplein (rats' stadium) since it was owned by the local fox terrier club, who used it for another imported English pastime: rat baiting.[25][9] This non-UEFA affiliated 'sport' involved getting dogs to chase and kill rats.[25][9] In 1911, the team moved to a new ground, called De Klokke (after a nearby pub), which was renamed the Albert Dyserynckstadion after the sudden death of Club Brugge chairman Albert Dyserynck.[9]
Their current stadium, since 1975, was rebranded in honour of local butcher and revolutionary Jan Breydel in 1998.[9] Breydel led a rising against the city's French overlords in the 1300s.[9] The venue – which Club Brugge share with local rivals Cercle Brugge – was previously named the Olympiastadion.[9][26]
In November 2016, the club broke ground on a new training complex at Westkapelle, including four training pitches and an additional training centre for the senior squad plus the U21 and U19 teams; all in addition to the already available sports complex Molenhoek.[27]
New stadium
[edit]Since 2007, Club Brugge has been working on developing a new stadium. Since then, there have been a number of proposed locations, but the project never really took off due to problems with ground availability and endangered animal species on the proposed grounds.
However, when a new city council and mayor were sworn into office in the city of Bruges, the project went through a rebirth. Instead of moving out of the current Jan Breydelstadium, the site on which this stadium is built will be completely reconstructed into a park with a brand new stadium next to where the current stadium is situated. Although this project has been criticised by some, it's the furthest the club has come with a project. In October 2021 the club received their building permit. The club, the city and the Flemish government aim to have a functioning stadium by mid-2023, which will hold up to 40,116 spectators.[28]
Supporters
[edit]
Some of the fans are part of 62 supporter clubs in Belgium, which have more than 10,000 members. The "Supportersfederatie Club Brugge KV", founded in 1967, is recognized as the official supporters club of Club Brugge. The federation is made up of 60 recognized supporters' clubs and has an elected board to steer the operation in the right direction.[29]
In tribute to the fans, often dubbed the twelfth man in football, Club Brugge no longer assigns the number 12 to players. Club Brugge also has a TV show, CLUBtv, on the Telenet network since 21 July 2006.[30] This twice weekly show features exclusive interviews with players, coaches and managers.
Mascot
[edit]
The official mascot of Club Bruges is a bear, symbol of the city of Bruges. The history of the bear is related to a legend of the first Count of Flanders, Baldwin I of Flanders, who had fought and defeated a bear in his youth. Since the end of 2000, a second mascot, also a bear, travels along the edge of the field during home games for fans to call and encourage both their favorites. These two bears are called Belle and Bene. In 2010, a third bear named Bibi, made its appearance. He is described as the child of the first two mascots, and is oriented towards the young supporters.
Rivalries
[edit]Like many historic clubs, Club Brugge contests rivalries with other Belgian clubs, whether at local (Cercle Brugge) or regional level (Antwerp) or nationally competitive (Anderlecht and Standard Liège).
Anderlecht
[edit]The rivalry between Club Brugge and Anderlecht has developed since the 1970s. At that time, the Brussels-based club and Club Brugge won most trophies between them, leaving little room for other Belgian teams. Matches between these two teams were often contested for the title of champion of Belgium. Three Belgian Cup finals were played between the two clubs (with Anderlecht winning once and Club Brugge twice), and they played seven Belgian Supercups (Club Bruges won five). A match between these two sides is often called 'The Hate Game'. They are arguably the most heated fixtures in Belgian football together with clashes between the other two members of the Big Three – Anderlecht and Standard Liège.[31][32]
Cercle Brugge
[edit]The Bruges Derby is seen as one of the most important games of the season for a lot of fans from both teams. Every season, the game attracts a huge deal of fans which results in huge choreographies on both sides. Tifos, flags and banners made specifically for this confrontation and accompanied by flares and smoke bombs aren't a rare sight in and around the stadium. The winner of this derby is crowned "de Ploeg van Brugge", which translates to "the team of Bruges". It has become a tradition for the winning side to plant a flag with the club's crest or colours on the center spot after the game.
R. Antwerp FC
[edit]The rivalry between the oldest clubs in Flanders and Belgium, is one that dates back to the 1900s. In 1908, due to Bruges supporters attacking Antwerp players after they had lost 2–1 to what we'll later call Club Brugge, one of the biggest and fiercest rivalries in Europe came to be.[33] Confrontations between the two sides bring a lot of fighting and havoc to the stadium and the surrounding neighbourhoods. This hatred has reached new highs ever since Antwerp gained promotion back to the first division.[34][35][36]
Honours
[edit]| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Belgian First Division | 19 |
1919–20, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24 |
| Belgian Cup | 11 |
1967–68, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2014–15 | |
| Belgian Super Cup | 17 |
1980, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 |
- record
- s shared record
Europeans Distinctions
[edit]- European Cup
- Runners-up: 1977–78
- UEFA Cup
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- Semi-finalists: 1991–92
- UEFA Europa Conference League
- Semi-finalists: 2023–24
Minor
[edit]- Kirin Cup
- Winners: 1981
- Amsterdam Tournament
- Winners: 1990
Results
[edit]
Players
[edit]First-team squad
[edit]- As of 27 August 2024[37]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club NXT (Reserves and Youth Academy)
[edit]Retired numbers
[edit]12 – The 12th man. Reserved for the club supporters in July 2003.
23 – 
François Sterchele, striker (2007–08). Posthumous; Sterchele died in a single-person car accident on 8 May 2008.
Former players
[edit]Club captains
[edit]Coaching staff
[edit]First-team staff
[edit]- As of 18 March 2023[38]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Nicky Hayen
|
| Assistant Coach | Hayk Milkon Michiel Jonckheere
|
| Goalkeeping Coach | Wouter Biebauw
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| Physical Coach | Carl Vandenbussche
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| Sports Scientist | Sander Denolf
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| Physical Coach | Eddie Rob
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| Team Manager | Michael Vijverman
|
| Team Doctor | Bruno Vanhecke
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| Team Doctor | Thomas Tampere
|
| Mental Coach | Rudy Heylen
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| Physiotherapist | David Bombeke
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| Physiotherapist | Leen Van Damme
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| Physiotherapist | Thomas De Jonghe
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| Masseur | Ronny Werbrouck
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| Video Analyst | Jarne Kesteloot
|
| Video Analyst | Mathias Bernaert
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| Team Support | Kevin Monseré
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| Team Support | Pascal Plovie
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| Team Support | Stefaan Van Gierdeghom
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Reserves staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach T1 | Robin Veldman
|
| Assistant Coach T2 | Steve Colpaert
|
| Goalkeeping Coach | Gianny De Vos
|
| Physical Coach | Dirk Laleman
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| Team Manager | Christophe De Nolf
|
| Physiotherapist | Astrid Pattyn
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| Physiotherapist | Dimitri Vastenavondt
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| Video Analyst | Niels Van den Wyngaert
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| Team Support | Erwin Beyen
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| Team Support | Karel Gobert
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| Team Support | Kristoff Deryckere
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| Team Support | Lander Nolf
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Club Academy staff
[edit]| Head Coach U18 | Siebe Blondelle
|
| Head Coach U16 | Stijn Claeys
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Board of directors
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Bart Verhaeghe
|
| Board Member | Jan Boone
|
| Board Member | Bart Coeman
|
| Board Member | Sam Sabbe
|
| Board Member | Peter Vanhecke
|
| CEO | Bob Madou
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See also
[edit]- Club YLA (Club Brugge women)
Notes
[edit]- ^ Club in isolation: [klʏp]; West Flemish pronunciation: [klœ ˈbrœɦə].
References
[edit]- ^ Jan Breydel Stadium Archived 10 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine clubbrugge.be (last check 20 October 2017)
- ^ "Jan Breydel Stadion - Bruges - the Stadium Guide". 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Lost in…Bruges (Club Brugge – The Bruges Derby)". Lost Boyos. 15 August 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ Lacey, David (10 May 1978). "Liverpool's tunes of glory". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ Ross, James M. (9 January 2008). "UEFA Cup 1975–76". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ "Liverpool clinch it". Daily Mirror. London. 20 May 1976.
- ^ "Club Brugge KV". UEFA. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Belgium – List of Super Cup Finals". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ten claims to fame: Club Brugge". UEFA. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Henshaw 1979, p. 75.
- ^ a b Ploquin, Phil; Nackaerts, Luc; Coolsaet, Jeroen. "Belgium – Final Tables 1895–2008". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Ernst Happel: The 'Weird Man' Who Conquered European Football and Helped Shape the Modern Game". 90 Min. 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ Wood, Chris. "Great matches: Liverpool beat Bruges over two legs". LFC History. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ "Wembley glory as Reds beat Bruges". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ "Liverpool 1, FC Bruges 0". Liverpool Echo. 11 May 1978. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "2 goal Kempes sinks the Dutch". Glasgow Herald. 26 June 1978. p. 23. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Amokachi Relives Historic Champions League Strike". Goal. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Club Brugge clinch Belgian title". Reuters. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Club Brugge wins back-to-back Belgian titles". USA Today. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Spelers en fans vieren de titel van Club Brugge: "We hebben er 3 en gaan nu voor 4 op een rij"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 15 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Onmondig Club speelt gelijk in Leverkusen en ziet groepswinst alsnog door de neus geboord". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 1 November 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Club Brugge Tenue geschiedenis". Football Kit Archive. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ "Club Brugge & Macron present the new 2019/20 season kits!". macron.com. Macron. 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "D'Hooghe vertelt het mooie verhaal achter het (oude) logo van Club". www.voetbalprimeur.be (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Het Rattenplein, de eerste "thuis" van Club Brugge". Club Brugge (in Dutch). 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Stadion – Club Brugge". Club Brugge (in Dutch). 8 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "New training complex for Club at Westkapelle". Club Brugge. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Nieuw Stadion". Club Brugge (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Werking". Supportersfederati (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "TELENET EN CLUB BRUGGE LANCEREN 'CLUB TV'". Telenet (in Dutch). 20 July 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "CLUBNIEUWS. Afdankertjes bij Anderlecht, Standard én Club Brugge". Nieuwsblad.be. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "'Grote Drie' die samen nog eens winnen dat was al heel lang geleden". HLN.be. 30 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "De rivaliteit tussen Club Brugge en Antwerp is enorm: wij gingen op zoek naar de oorzaak van die vete en kwamen in 1908 terecht". www.nieuwsblad.be (in Flemish). 19 October 2017. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Veldslag na Club-Antwerp: Nederlandse hooligans raken zwaarbeveiligde match binnen met gekopieerde tickets". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Trieste taferelen: Antwerp-hooligans zoeken confrontatie op met familietribune Club Brugge". sporza.be (in Dutch). 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ ""Niemand wil Club Brugge hier kampioen zien worden": politie, Bosuil en buurt bereiden zich voor op risicomatch zondag". Het Laatste Nieuws. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "A-Kern". Club Brugge.
- ^ "team – noyau a". clubbrugge.be. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
Bibliography
[edit]- Henshaw, Richard (1979). The Encyclopedia of World Soccer. Washington, D.C.: New Republic Books. ISBN 0-915220-34-2.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Dutch, French, English, and Spanish)
- History (archived 16 November 2010)
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