Mark Vanmoerkerke
Flemish private equity and property investor Vanmoerkerke’s huge collection, concentrated on post-conceptualist European and American art, is housed in Oud Vliegveld, Ostend. In 2008, he sold 500 works at Phillips de Pury in London.
Eric Decelle
A very private French-Belgian collector who served on the Art Brussels collectors’ committee in 2005 but has otherwise kept his profile low. Works include contemporary African artists Ghada Amer and Aimé Mpane.
Mimi Dusselier
One of the more visibly active collectors, Dusselier is an avid supporter of contemporary artists, buying enthusiastically since the early 1970s and visiting several European art fairs. She is on the collectors’ committee of Art Brussels and is the director of the Belgian hosiery firm Bonneterie Dusselier.
Walter Vanhaerents
Vanhaerents made his money in construction and property and began collecting in the mid 1970s. His collection, in a 3,500 sq. m space in central Brussels, focuses on pop art (with works by Warhol, Murakami and Cindy Sherman). He is also a major collector of Bruce Nauman.
Filiep and Mimi Libeert
Industrialist and textiles magnate Filiep Libeert, and his wife Mimi, have been important dealer-collectors in Belgium for over 30 years. Earlier this year, he curated a show of works from his collection of Flemish contemporary art at New York’s Andrea Rosen gallery.
Anton and Annick Herbert
The Herberts began collecting in the 1970s when he worked in textiles and she was in the fashion industry. Their collection now includes Donald Judd, Richard Long, Carl Andre and Martin Kippenberger.
Benedikt Van der Vorst
A contract lawyer, Van der Vorst became interested in art when his brother began working for Sotheby’s in the mid-1990s. He now collects emerging artists.
Lhoist Group
International minerals producer, still family run. The Lhoist collection, at its Limelette headquarters, boasts commissions by James Turrell, installations by Sol Lewitt and Richard Long, and sculpture by Antony Gormley and Louise Bourgeois.