| Added by |
 Bart Perdieus
|
| General Description : | Jean Joseph Camille Huysmans (26 May 1871 in Bilzen - 23 February 1968 in Antwerp, born as Camiel Hansen) was a Belgian politician. Huymans studied German philology at the University of Liège. He was a teacher from 1893 until 1897. In between these years he studied for his doctorate in German philology. Huysmans joined the Belgische Werkliedenpartij (BWP), the predecessor of the Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP) at a young age. He became a journalist for many socialist periodicals until 1904 and was thereafter active in the labor unions. Between 1905 and 1922 Huysmans was secretary of the Second International. In that function he had many contacts with Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the first Chinese revolution, in 1911. His main task was creating an active peace function. At the Socialist Conference in Stockholm in 1917 he pleaded against continuing the war. He was a fighter for the Flemish movement and fought for using Dutch at the University of Ghent. As Minister of Arts and Education he could pave the way for the Dutch language. In 1911 he proposed a bill, drafted by Lodewijk De Raet, together with the Roman Catholic Frans Van Cauwelaert and the liberal Louis Franck for the usage of Flemish at the University of Ghent. However, due to World War I, the University of Ghent would become a Flemish university in 1930. In World War II he fled to London. He regained the function as secretary between 1939 and 1944, also as acting chairman. After World War II (at age 75) he became the 34th Prime Minister and led a government of socialists, liberals and communists. With an insufficient majority, this government lasted not long. In the next government, he was Minister of Education. He remained very popular until old age. The national tribute for his 80th birthday attracted 100,000 visitors. At the age of 83 he became chairman of the Chamber of Representatives (lower house). He was a freemason, and a member of the lodge Les Amis Philanthropes of the Grand Orient of Belgium in Brussels. Huysmans is considered a friend of the Jewish people, mainly due to his friendly attitude towards Jewish immigrants in Antwerp in the years 1920-1940 and the Zionist movement. Some streets and neighbourhoods in Israel bear his name. |
| Face value | 1,50 Francs + 50 Centimes |
| Catalog code (Michel) | BE 1613 |
| Catalog code | Stamp Number BE B864 Yvert et Tellier BE 1557 Stanley Gibbons BE 2173 AFA number BE 1630 Belgium BE 1557 Unificato BE 1557 |
| Stamp colour | red lilac / violet brown |
| Stamp use | Semi Postal stamp |
| Print run | 844.691 |
| Issue date | 14/11/1970 |
| Designer | Luc De Decker / Jean De Vos |
| Print technique | photogravure and recess |
| Perforation | 11 1/2 |
| Height | 39.00 mm |
| Width | 28.00 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
