“You know what, I’ll put my hat on.” I am with Daniel, a butcher’s craftsman on Sint-Jansplein, ready to snap his portrait. “People call me ‘the boss’ over here. I’ve been a butcher for 46 years, in the oldest butcher shop in the city, probably in all of Belgium! Just take a look at the ceiling and the walls, the upholstery dates from 1925. The first butcher resided here for 40 years, the next one for 35 and me for 46 years already. Although I’ve been retired for 10 years, this is my hobby, my passion.” He tells me that originally, he’s from West Flanders. “You can’t get me out of here. At the age of 19, I came from Ichtegem-Wijnendale to Burcht to do military service, and I’ve stuck around. For love, hey. I’ve been with my wife for 50 years. A lot has changed ever since. Do you still buy meat? I’m just asking. On Friday’s, people used to come here for beef soup meat and marrow pipes. And on Saturday’s, for roast veal and roast beef. But these times have passed. Small, traditional butchers aren’t popular anymore. Today they want filled sandwiches, so here I am.” Daniel is preparing a ham (on the bone) and cheese sandwich for a customer. “Remember sir, if the slice of cheese is upside down, just flip the sandwich.”

 * Series for 2060 My Hood (3/9)