Newsletter April 2026
New Faces, New Future: General Meeting Sets the Tone for 2026
On Saturday, April 18, the annual General Assembly of Wikimedia Belgium took place. With 14 attendees (12 of whom were eligible to vote) and 3 proxies, there was a good turnout from our community.
A Warm Welcome to New Talent
The absolute highlight of the meeting was undoubtedly the induction of three new, young members: Nyo, Mohamed, and Mondo. We are delighted to welcome them. Youth engagement is essential for the future of Wikimedia, and we look forward to working with them to further promote our movement’s image and mission.
In particular, we would like to congratulate Nyo on his election to the board. It is inspiring to see how new talent immediately steps up to take on responsibility. We look forward to a pleasant and fruitful collaboration.
Looking Back on 2025
During the meeting, an overview was provided of the organization’s operations and activities in 2025. Topics discussed included:
- Photography contests, which will be organized again this year
- Writing workshops and themed events, such as the writing workshops held in conjunction with International Women’s Day
- Collaborations with museums and heritage institutions
- Educational projects
- The partnership with Wikimedia Europe
In addition, there was a brief discussion of the origins and growth of Wikimedia Belgium as an organization.
Communication and Engagement
Members and volunteers are encouraged to continue sharing ideas for newsletters and social media via e-mail. That way, we can work together to ensure that Wikimedia remains a vibrant and visible community.
Finances and Outlook
The 2025 financial statements were presented and approved. The separate fund Friends of Wikimedia Belgium Fund remains an important source of project funding, separate from the operating budget.
For 2026, a grant of €59,010 was awarded by the Wikimedia Foundation, supplemented by revenue from training sessions, services, donations, and membership fees. Additional funds from the Friends of Wikimedia Fund remain earmarked exclusively for projects.
The discussion also looked ahead to 2027, with the future budget set to depend heavily on the strategic plan. Further professionalization of Wikimedia Belgium will be a key priority in this regard.
Board
Finally, four board members were reappointed, and Nyo’s nomination as a new board member was officially approved. All votes were in favor.
We would like to thank everyone present for their dedication and look forward with confidence to the new work year.
Wikimedian in Residence at meemoo: More Than Just Visibility
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“For the first time, we were able to work on a larger scale with our Art in Flanders collection,” says internship supervisor Bart Magnus. “That immediately highlighted where our data was incomplete or inconsistent. So the biggest benefit wasn’t just in making the material available on Wikimedia Commons, but also in improving our own processes.”
That impact also surprised Wikimedian in Residence Didier Mellaerts-Avila. “I had underestimated just how crucial metadata is. You don’t just learn to work with tools like OpenRefine, but also how important it is to truly understand your collection. It takes patience and research, but once everything is in order, it’s incredibly powerful.”
During the internship, more than 12,000 images were uploaded and tagged, and found their way into Wikipedia articles. Still, it’s hard to quantify the impact right away. “You only see the real effect in the long term,” they say. “When images are reused and a snowball effect takes hold.”
The collaboration also raised broader questions, such as how to handle sensitive collections like colonial heritage. “That forces an organization to reflect on context and responsibility,” Bart said.
Both agree: programs like this are extremely valuable. “Six months is the ideal timeframe to make a real impact,” says Bart. “And thanks to the support of the Friends of Wikimedia Belgium Fund through the King Baudouin Foundation, we were able to make this happen without internal budget constraints.”
Didier especially emphasizes the learning opportunities: “You’re given a lot of autonomy and can really take the initiative. Plus, the Wikimedia community is incredibly supportive. If you’re interested in both culture and technology: just go for it.”
Is this right for your organization too?
This project demonstrates that a Wikimedian in Residence not only increases visibility but also yields more robust data and new insights. Through the Friends of Wikimedia Belgium Fund, organizations can receive financial support to launch their own initiatives
"Let this be a call to action,” Didier concludes. “Every institution can benefit from this."
You can read more about the Friends of Wikimedia Fund here.
Wikimedia Europe General Assembly in Prague: Strategy, Risks, and Looking to the Future
About 25 member organizations with voting rights were represented, with a total of approximately 60 participants. In addition to the formal approval of the 2025 financial statements and the 2026 budget, this year’s meeting focused primarily on strategic issues.
A key topic was the risk analysis for the Wikimedia movement in Europe. Much attention was focused on changing European legislation, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), and its potential impact. Broader geopolitical developments were also discussed, such as the growing uncertainty surrounding financial flows between the US and Europe. In addition, attention was drawn to the growing risk of so-called SLAPP lawsuits (strategic lawsuits to limit public participation).
Attention was also given to preparations for the upcoming election of board members. Work is underway to establish a committee that will evaluate the candidates. The exact procedures for this committee will be further developed in the coming months, in preparation for next year’s elections.
During an informal lunch session, there was an opportunity to speak with members of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation. Topics discussed included the global strategy and governance issues, such as the transition between CEOs.
On Sunday, the “Wikimedia Futures Lab” event took place, looking ahead to the next five years. The focus was on topics such as the impact, risks, and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Through panels and working groups, participants collaborated to explore possible future scenarios for the Wikimedia projects.
Although governance and strategy may be less visible to the general public, they form an important foundation for the continued development and stability of the Wikimedia movement in Europe.
Every word counts: Join us in celebrating Wiktionary's birthday
The WikiDictionary offers not only definitions, but also comprehensive linguistic information such as spelling, etymology, conjugations, and translations. This makes it a valuable resource for anyone interested in language, from curious readers to researchers.
The English-language version was launched on December 12, 2002. Since May 1, 2004, other languages have been added, including Dutch. Today, there are hundreds of language versions, containing millions of words and definitions.
What makes this project unique is its open and collaborative approach. Words are only included if they are demonstrably in use and appear in multiple reliable sources. This ensures quality while the dictionary is continuously expanded.
Together, we continue to build a world in which knowledge—and therefore language as well—is freely accessible to everyone.
Wiki Loves Monuments International Award
Among the winning photos is also a Belgian entry: a photo of St. Peter’s Church in Leuven, taken by Giles Laurent.
Congratulations on this recognition. Would you like to view all the winning photos? You can do so by clicking on this link.
The international coordination team would like to thank the international jury, all the national juries and organizers, and, of course, the photographers whose stunning submissions contribute to Wikipedia and its sister projects.
✍️ Join in: Help write classical music!
You can contribute by:
- Creating new articles
- Expanding existing pages
- Or improving and updating content
Need some inspiration? Think of composers like Johann Pachelbel, lists of operas or musical terms, and biographies of musicians (many of which are still missing).
Did you contribute? If so, don’t forget to add your contribution to the results page. Every contribution counts!
Agenda
📅 June 2, 2026: Don’t miss the Major Maintenance
Together, we will discuss questions such as:
- What forms of knowledge do we recognize today?
- How important is participation in knowledge-building?
- What role does research play within heritage organizations?
- And how do we protect knowledge from external pressures such as the climate crisis or budget cuts?
As always, it will be an inspiring day filled with discussion, new connections, and fresh ideas.
Do you work in the cultural heritage sector? Be sure to mark this date on your calendar—you won’t want to miss it. You can find more information here.
📖 Exhibition: “A Book”
The exhibition “a book” opens on Saturday, May 2 at 12 p.m. in the Typistenzaal at the Kunstencampus in Turnhout. Everyone is welcome!
In this interdisciplinary exhibition, students from the Stedelijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten and the creative writing and drama lab departments of the Academie voor Muziek, Woord en Dans explore the same starting point: a book. From image to text, from abstract to personal: every interpretation is unique. Discover how a single word can evolve into a rich tapestry of ideas, forms, and stories.
🆘 Stop by the Wiki Help Desk!
Do you have a question, are you stuck on something, or do you just want to catch up with other volunteers? Then you're welcome to visit the Wiki Helpdesk!
Every Tuesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM you can join us online to chat with other volunteers from Wikimedia Belgium. The platform offers a wide range of features: you can ask questions, start a video call, or share your screen to quickly find solutions together.
In addition, the virtual environment makes it possible to split into smaller groups. This allows multiple conversations to take place at the same time without interrupting one another, and makes it easy to join a group that matches your interests or questions.
We’d like to continue growing this Helpdesk into a regular meeting place for our community. So feel free to drop by, ask questions, share your knowledge, or just come listen. Together we can make a difference; the more, the merrier! You can join via this link.
📸 Enter the King Baudouin Foundation’s annual photo contest!
Your projects deserve to be seen and shared. Submit your entry by May 22, 2026 and showcase your impact with a compelling photo and a short story.
Did you or your organization receive funding from the Foundation between 2023 and the end of 2025, or were you involved in a project account? If so, you are eligible to participate.
How to participate?
- Upload 1 photo by May 22, 2026
- Add a short story (max. 500 characters)
What can you win? 💡
- 16 entries: €300 each
- “Jury’s Favorite”: €500
- Audience Award: 3× €500 extra
- Social Media: €1,000 / €600 / €400
- Staff Award: €300
Don't miss this chance to make your project shine!
👉 Click here to enter!
Contact us
Wikimedia Belgium NPO (WMBE)
Antwerpselaan 40 Boulevard d'Anvers B-1000 Brussel/Bruxelles
+32 471 82 20 26 (voice/sms/Signal/Telegram/WhatsApp)
Enterprise 0563.775.480 – RPR Brussel
www.wikimedia.be •
info@wikimedia.be