Jeanne Vandenplas, the oldest living person in Belgium, celebrated her 110th birthday in Herent, Flemish Brabant, on 27 June, according to Nieuwsblad.
Jeanne Vandenplas was born in Wijgmaal, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, on 27 June 1916. She was the youngest daughter in a family of fifteen children. At a fairly young age, she met her future husband, Leon Moelants. He was the son of a liqueur merchant in Wijgmaal and an excellent student. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from the then French-speaking Université Catholique de Louvain. They were married on 6 January 1940, and settled in Mortsel, where Leon began working at Gevaert (later Agfa-Gevaert). She devoted herself to managing their household. Much to their regret, they never had children of their own.
From the mid-1960s onward, they travelled extensively throughout Europe and to destinations farther afield, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, and several countries in Africa. When Leon retired in the late 1970s, they decided to return to their roots and built a new home in Wijgmaal, where she was once again surrounded by her brothers and sisters.
On 16 April 2026, following the death of 110-year-old Denise Waelbers, she became the oldest living person in Belgium.
LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Jeanne Vandenplas on her 110th birthday.
