family Michel Eeckhout
Discover the story of the family Eeckhout in Antwerp since the 16th century.
De familie Eeckhout is constant aanwezig in Antwerpen sedert de 16e eeuw actief in ambachtelijke en artistieke beroepen zoals wijntaverniers, goudsmeders, kunstschilders en vier genereaties koperslagers, waarvan Nicolas Jacques Eeckhout 1716-1760, Philippe Jean Eeckhout 1744-1820, Cornelis Joseph Eeckhout 1791-1835 en Joannes Philippus Eeckhout 1815- 1871.
Jacob Joseph Eeckhout 1793-1861, zoon van Gaspar Luc, is een vermaarde schilder, geboren in Antwerpen, leerschool op de academie van de stad, directeur van de koninklijke academie voor schone kunsten in Den Haag en daarna gevestigd en gestorven in Parijs.
Zijn zoon Victor Eeckhout geboren in Antwerpen in 1821 en gestorven in Tanger in 1779 is bekend als orientalistische schilder.
Sedert de heropening van de Schelde door Napoleon in 1803, hebben de aangetrouwde families Eeckhout, Grisar, Havenith, Gevers deelgenomen in Antwerpen aan de expansie van de internationale handel en de economische, culturele, artisitieke en sociale groei.
Felix Grisar oprichter van het internationale handelskantoor Grisar & Co, is medestichter van
het wereldbedrijf Liebig & Co met de bouw van een eerste fabriek in 1860 in Fray Bentos.
Zijn zoon Ernest Grisar heeft de international handel van zijn familie verder uitgebouwd onder ander in de import en verkoop van rubber.
Hij is, samen met zijn zoon Alfred Grisar, en schoonzoon Paul Havenith, aan de basis van de sitchting van de Beerschot Athletic club in 1900 op zijn gronden aan het Kiel.
De familie heeft een belangrijke rol gespeeld in de organisatie van de Olympische zomer Spelen in 1920 in Antwerpen.
De familie Gevers is bekend als suiker en chocolade producenten onder het merk Gevers.
Alfred Havenith en Maurice Gevers zijn aan de basis van de stichting en het beheer van de Bank van Antwerpen.
Armand Eeckhout heeft de internationale handelstraditie verder gezet door de oprichting van de Comptoirs Armand Eeckhout als invoerder van Swedich Matches en verdeler van Union Match en Unalit.
Zijn zoon Raymond, eigenaar van Max Soetens & Co verzekeringsmakelaars, heeft reeds sedert 1940 een belangrijke rol gespeeld als gewapende verzetstrijder. Dit werd officieel erkend via een Koninklijk Besluit nr 2576 van 9 februari 1954.
Geschiedenis van de familie
Family Legacy
Jean Martin Grisar (1780-1853) arrives in Antwerp from Nievern (Duchy of Nassau) in 1804 to participate to the relaunch of the international trade initiated by Napoleon with the reopening of the Scheldt, the opening of shipyards to build vessels able to cross the oceans, the building of the first dock called Napoleon dock.
In 1807 he married in Antwerp Suzanne Cailly Duverger born in Rouen. They had 6 children; Albert composer of several operas, Felix Gabriel our ancestor, Julie Grisar married with Louis Falcon, Emile merchant/trader lived in San Franciso in 1849, Gustave copartner in Antwerp of the Grisar international trading business, Jules representing the family business in Valparaiso, Chili in 1851.
In 1811 Jean Martin has been appointed by Napoleon as independent trading and shipping broker and developed with his company Jean Martin Grisar a well-established trade of leather and animal skins between South America and Antwerp. Transported by sailing boat in average 30 day.
In 1817 together with his brother Carl, he bought a blacksmith operation in Nievern, located near the river Lahn
Back to the place where in 1670 the family Grisar moved from Liege to open new blacksmiths.
Felix Gabriel Grisar (1811-1873) married Constance Govaerts in 1841. They had 3 children, Gabrielle who died at 20 years in 1862, Marie-Louise who married Eugène Joseph Kreglinger and Ernest Paul Grisar who developed further the international trading of the family business.
Felix created the Liberal Party of Antwerp in 1857 and was counselor of the town of Antwerp between 1852 and 1862.
Together with a german engineer and other international traders, Felix Grisar created in 1863
the Société de Fray Bentos Giebert and Co in Antwerp. This was the start of the world well known Liebig Extract of Meat Company. The international trading expertise and South America network of the Grisars contributed to this success.
Co-founder in 1882 of the local Bell Telephone Company. The first telephone link in Antwerp has been established between the offices of Grisar and those of Osterrieth.
Constance Grisar built several houses in Antwerp on pieces of land herited from her father. At the decease of Felix Gabriel she donated an important amount to the town of Antwerp to build the International house of sailors to offer to those when arriving in Antwerp a decent housing.
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Ernest Paul Grisar (1844-1899), married Adèle Van den Nest in Antwerp in 1867. They had 3 children; Valentine Blanche, Louise Justine and Alfred Felix.
He extended the international trading activities of Grisar & Co by adding the trade of rubber from Congo.
Travelled a lot to extend his business. He was an appreciated trade advisor of King Leopold II.
Built several houses and warehouses in Antwerp. Bought an important piece of land near Antwerp called het Kiel. He donated a part of this land to his children in 1899 to create the Beerschot Athletic Club.
Adèle Grisar supported the international trade of her husband with her brothers Hippolyte, Arthur, and Amede Van den Nest active in the political and diplomatic world all over the world. (Belgium, USA, Egypt, Ottoman empire).
She had her own foundations to help abandoned children and has been recognizes for this.
The Grisar grave is located at Schoonselhof in Antwerp.
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Valentine Blanche Grisar (1868-1962) married in 1889 Paul Havenith . Both were very active in the start and management of the Beerschot Athletic Club as well as convincing the International Olympic Committee to organize the VII Olympic Games in 1920 in Antwerp hosted at the Beerschot Olympic stadium.
They had two sons Pierre, died very young, and Rene Havenith.
Alfred Grisar, educated in Brighton (UK) and player of several English sports, had the idea to create in Antwerp a multi-sport club.
He created the Beerschot Athletic Club in 1899. His brother in law Paul Havenith chaired an managed the club during 40 years. Alfred was also an excellent international player of Polo.
He worked for Liebig & Co in Montevideo and afterwards in Buenos Aires.
Rene Havenith (1890-1958), married in 1913 Marcelle Gevers (1890-1981). They had 6 children.
Rene was stockbroker, Board Member of the Liebig Cie, and the Beerschot Athletic Club.
Marcelle Gevers is member of the family Gevers, in Antwerp mainly active in trading of sugar and producer of chocolate.
The Havenith grave is located at Schoonselhof, near the Grisar grave
Solange Havenith married in 1943 with Raymond Eeckhout (1912-1957). They had 3 children ; Catherine, Philippe (deceased in ) and Michel
Raymond was owner of the insurance broker Max Soetens & Co. He died at 45 years due to a car accident in 1957 in Kapellen. He was reserve Major of the Belgian Army.
He has been from 1940 on an official recognized armed resistant of the Secret Army. Active during the whole period of the German occupation. His network has been denounced in 1943 and he was researched by the Germans. He had to hide himself, his wife and his daughter Catherine in the maquis of Genval. Participated actively to the combats to liberate Antwerp and surroundings.
At his decease Solange took over the management of the family businesses and assumed the education of her 3 children.
The Eeckhout grave is located at Fredegandus, Deurne, restored in 2025. The grave is under the ‘peterschap/sponsorship’ of the family Eeckhout.
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Michel Eeckhout born in Antwerp on 2 nov 1949, married Genevieve Letzer in Brasschaat in 1978. They have 3 children;
Eglantine is born in Antwerp in 1979.
Charles-Edouard born in Laeken in 1983. He married Sybille Lancksweert at Bois d’Haumont on 9 July 2021.
Martin-Frederic born in Laeken in 1983. He married Virginie de Meeûs d’Argenteuil in Brussels on 1 June 2018.
Michel Eeckhout retired in 2013 as Honorary Executive Vice President of the Delhaize Group, operating supermarkets in the US, Europe and Asia. He assumed since 1987 consecutively at Group level the responsibilities of Information Technology, Supply Chain, Indirect Procurement, CEO of Delhaize Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.
He is honorary or active Chairman and/or Director of different companies of the economic, social and cultural world.
Recente Geschiedenis
Alphonse Eeckhout
Armand Eeckhout
Raymond Eeckhout
Solange Havenith
Alphonse Eeckhout
Antwerpen 15-7-1844 / 30-6-1920
Zoon van Joannes Philippus Eeckhout (Antwerpen 19-12-1815 / 1871) en Maria Catharina Janssens (Antwerpen 26-11-1812 / 31-12-1901).
Hij stichte het handelshuis Debie-Eeckhout.
Alphonse Eeckhout en Therese Hebbelynck ( Antwerpen 15-1-1835 / 4-8-1912) hadden twee zonen;
Philippe Jean Eeckhout (Antwerpen 24-7-1871 / Bouchout 12-10-1912, ongehuwd.
Armand Eeckhout (Antwerpen 28-7-1872 / 7-5-1928).
Armand Eeckhout
Antwerpen 28-7-1872 / 7-5-1928
Stichter van het handelshuis Comptoir Armand Eeckhout, Vice Voorzitter van de Antwerpse Expediteurs, invoerder van de buitenlandse Swedish Matches en verdeler van de gekende Union Match van de belgische Union Allumettière.
Lid van de Moto-Club Anversois en deelnemer met de moto en auto Minerva ploeg aan verschillende rally’s rond 1903. (de eerste rally des Ardennes)
Armand Eeckhout en Margueritte De Ridder (Antwerpen 5-7-1887 / 10-8-1942) hadden twee zonen;
Raymond Eeckhout (Antwerpen 1-4-1912 / Kapellen 2-7-1957).
Fernand Eeckhout (Antwerpen 24-11-1913 / in Brussel gestorven.
Raymond Eeckhout
Antwerpen 1-4-1912 / Kapellen 2-7-1957.
Gewapende weerstander vanaf 10-5-1940, actief lid van het Geheim Leger, reserve Majoor, houder van verschillende eretekens.
Eigenaar en beheerder van het verzekeringsmakelaars kantoor Max Soetens & Co.
Gehuwd met Solange Havenith (Antwerpen 17-3-1920 / 29-2-2004), klein-dochter van Ernest Grisar en dochter van Paul Havenith, stichters van de Beerschot Athletic Club op het Kiel.
Zij hebben drie kinderen;
Catherine gehuwd met Ridder Jean-Jacques Schul, Phillipe gestorven, Michel gehuwd met Genevieve Letzer.
Michel Eeckhout en Genevieve Letzer
Michel Eeckhout en
Genevieve Letzer