Namur to name more streets after women

The city of Namur has begun "feminising" its street names, after local officials noted that less than 2% of roads in the area are named after women.

Fifteen women who have made a contribution to the city's history - through politics, the arts or fighting for social justice - have been selected by the city council.

The first, Julie Dessy, created the recipes for the famous Belgian family-owned jam manufacturer Materne. City officials voted on Thursday to name a new road in Jambes after her.

"Of the 1,750 streets in Namur, only 27 carry women's names," said Arnaud Gavroy, the city's alderman for urban planning.

He said the "feminisation" of street names would happen gradually and a new shortlist of candidates would be drawn up every year.

The names will mostly be given to new roads in housing developments. Some existing roads which sound too similar to another street will also be renamed.