caption birth_place image_size nationality birth_date alt image article_title name occupation
wouter in 2007 van bellingen at the multicultural mass wedding event antwerp , belgium 160px belgium 20 april 1972 wouter in 2007 van bellingen at the multicultural mass wedding event sint-niklaas gaat vreemd 4.jpg wouter van bellingen
 wouter van bellingen politician
wouter van bellingen

wouter van bellingen -lrb- born 20 april 1972 -rrb- is a flemish politician for the political party spirit .
before that , he was employed by the city of sint-niklaas as a civil servant working on youth and developing world issues .
since 2 january 2007 , van bellingen is an alderman in sint-niklaas , where he lives .
as such , he became the first black alderman in flanders .
he is responsible for the city 's activities related to youths , parties , international projects , civilian affairs and the civil registry and some administrative functions .
van bellingen drew media attention in february 2007 when it was reported that 3 couples cancelled their wedding ceremony because they did n't want to be wed by a black registrar .
in response to the event , van bellingen decided to organise a multicultural wedding event on 21 march 2007 , which is also the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination .
626 couples were symbolically married by van bellingen that day and this event was perceived as a strong anti-racism signal .
van bellingen was given up for adoption by his rwandan mother .
he grew up in sint-niklaas as the youngest son in a family with 4 adopted children .
he is married and has 2 children .
he was very active in the different sections of the youth councils in flanders , and a scouting leader .
