The new board consists of (from left to right) Vice President Marius Boboc, Vice President and Chairman of the National Sports Committee Dany Vandenberghe, President Johan De Schouwer, Treasurer Erik Joris, and Legal Advisor Gino Hoebrechts.
Big news from Belgium
The KBDB has a brand-new national board! After months (or let’s be honest, years) of tension and frustration in the Belgian pigeon scene, there’s finally a sense of change in the air. A new team has been elected, and with it comes hope — hope that unity, trust, and positivity can return to the sport we all love so deeply.
The new National President, Johan De Schouwer, won the vote with 13 ballots to 7 against Pascal Bodengien. A clear sign that fanciers wanted something new. Alongside him, Danny Vandenberghe steps in as National Vice-President (Dutch-speaking) and National Sports Chairman — with an overwhelming 18 out of 20 votes. The French-speaking Vice-President, Marius Boboc, also received 18 votes, showing that this team already has solid support across the country.
Erik Joris will handle the finances as National Treasurer (12 votes against 8 for Geert Schotte), and Gino Hoebrechts joins as Legal Adviser (14 votes). Five men with experience, passion, and — hopefully — a clear vision for the future of the sport.
As The Pigeon Boss, I want to say it loud and clear: congratulations to the new team — and please, make the most of this opportunity. The Belgian pigeon sport is legendary. It’s admired all over the world, but it’s been hurting from the inside. Too many fanciers have felt ignored, too many discussions have turned bitter, and too much energy has been lost on division instead of progress.
Now it’s time to turn the page. Let’s bring back what pigeon racing in Belgium has always stood for — passion, friendship, and fair competition. We don’t need politics; we need positivity. We need leaders who not only sit behind a desk but also understand what it means to stand in the loft on a cold morning, waiting for that first bird to come home.
I truly hope this new board will reconnect with the heart of the sport — the everyday fancier. If they manage to listen, communicate, and inspire again, the future of the KBDB (and Belgian pigeon racing as a whole) could be very bright.
Let’s give them a fair chance and a bit of our trust. After all, we all want the same thing — to keep this amazing sport alive, respected, and full of joy.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the politics, it’s about the pigeons.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss