King Philippe joins in an iftar with Muslim family in Evergem

Belgium's King Philippe on Monday evening broke the fast with a Muslim family in Evergem, East Flanders, writes De Standaard. The king joined the family at a traditional Ramadan iftar table for a shared meal to end the day's fast.

"This is a very honoruable event for which we are very grateful," says Khalid Benhaddou, one of eight sons in the family who opened their bungalow in the Evergem neighbourhood at the edge of the Port of Ghent. King Philippe joined three generations of family for the event, which Benhaddou views as "a sign of togetherness and commitment."

The king took his time to meet all the family members and listen to them explain the meaning of the Ramadan. The conversation also turned to various social challenges and the fact that Ramadan is also a time to pay extra attention to those in need.