Childhood: A Summer at the Farm

In the summer of 1986, when Mathilde d'Udekem was 13, she spent 2 weeks at the farm of Julien Vermeire and his family in the small town Stalhille right near the Belgian coast. Purpose of the holiday was to learn some Dutch. It was Mathilde's father who had arranged the stay. He was originary from the region and even though he'd moved to the Ardennes after his studies he still had acquaintances in West Flanders.

When the news broke of crown prince Philippe's engagement to a Miss Mathilde d'Udekem in 1999 regional TV made this small report about Mathilde's stay at the farm. Mr & Mrs Vermeire were interviewed. They speak of Mathilde as an active young girl who liked to participate in all the farm activities: feeding the pigs, driving to the fields in the tractor... At the same time she came across as very mature for her age.

video: https://www.focus-wtv.be/nieuws/retro-koningin-mathilde-stalhille