° 13/07/1938, Ostend
Roland Desnerck, the keeper of the Ostend language, has dedicated his life to documenting and passing on the rich dialect of his city. At the age of 15, he began working on his Ostend Dictionary, a monumental work that has since seen five editions and preserves the dialect for future generations. In addition to this life’s work, he wrote the scientific study The Flemish Fishery and published Boundless Ostend in 2014, an etymological quest for the origin of Ostend words. Roland combined humor and heritage by translating three Tintin albums into Ostend dialect and enriched the folk culture with his collection of 80 Ostend ghost stories and wonder tales. Through his work, he not only puts Ostend on the map but also keeps the language and traditions of the city alive.
And when he takes a break from his pen, he enjoys spending some free time on the terrace of Andromeda, where the sea breeze and the city always inspire him.
© De Slegte