Jeanne Vandenplas, the oldest known living person in Belgium, celebrated her 110th birthday
The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Jeanne Vandenplas, the oldest known living person in Belgium, has celebrated her 110th birthday on 27 June 2026 in Herent, Flemish Brabant.
Jeanne Vandenplas was born in Wijgmaal, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, on 27 June 1916. She was the youngest daughter in a family of 15 children. At a fairly young age, she met her husband, Leon Moelants. He was the son of a liqueur merchant in Wijgmaal and a good student. He obtained a doctorate in chemistry at the then French-speaking Université Catholique de Louvain.
On 6 January 1940, the couple got married and went to live in Mortsel, where Leon started working at Gevaert (later Agfa Gevaert), and Jeanne was responsible for the household. The couple had no children. They themselves made many trips through Europe, and as true pioneers, they were already seeking out exotic destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Africa from the mid-1960s.
When Jeanne’s husband Leon died in 1993, she continued to live in their house for a number of years, but the house was too big for her alone, and in the late 1990s she decided to move to the Windesheim service flats in Herent. She lived there for more than 20 years until independent life became a bit too difficult last year and she was forced to move into the Bethlehem Residential Care Centre.
Jeanne is a sporty person. She learned to swim, did a lot of gymnastics, and practiced yoga. She did her gym exercises every day, even when she was well past 100 years old. Later, her hearing gradually weakened, but her mind remained very sharp.
On 16 April 2026, following the death of 110 year-old Denise Waelbers of Antwerp, Jeanne became the oldest known living person in Belgium.
On 27 June 2026, Jeanne celebrated her 110th birthday at the Betlehem Residential Care Centre and became a supercentenarian.
Jeanne Vandenplas currently lives in her care center in Herent, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, at the age of 110.
The GRG extends warm congratulations to Mrs. Jeanne Vandenplas on her 110th birthday.