Margriet Hermans, a woman of many lives and smiles

Born on 17 March 1954 in Turnhout (in the Belgian province of Antwerp) to a baker and a schoolteacher, Margareta Maria Josepha Hermans was the fourth in what would end up being a family with six children.

Margriet, as she was known, initially followed in her mother’s footsteps: she would teach English, French, and history in various schools throughout the Kempen region, which is situated in the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant and Limburg.

But young Margriet knew that she was destined for even greater things than educating Belgian teenagers. Eleven years after obtaining her degree, she left her trade for what it was when, in 1987, she broke through as a singer.

Margriet Hermans had hits with songs like Een Vriend (a friend), Alle Mooie Mannen Zijn Zo Lelijk (all handsome men are so ugly), and Laissez Rouler Le Bon Temps, Jacqueline (let the good times roll, Jacqueline). She also attempted three times to represent Belgium – in 1987, 1989, and 1999 – in the Eurovision song contest. While she never made it to that stage, she did present a music radio show and had a talk show that ran for eight years.

Even from the above, it’s clear that Margriet Hermans has lived many lives, and she chronicled those in an autobiography aptly named Vele Levens.

Unfortunately, her life was cut short when, at the tender age of 72, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Taking the poor prospects and quality of life into consideration, she chose euthanasia and passed away on 3 June 2026 at Antwerp University Hospital in Edegem.

She was remembered with great love and admiration by her celebrity colleagues, and it is in this way that we, too, will remember her.

Photo: Paul Van Welden (CC-BY-SA 4.0)