Oldest Belgian turns 112 years old

In a nursing home in Zoutleeuw, in Flemish Brabant, lives Belgium’s oldest resident, Fanny Godin, who turns 112 years old today. She still takes a daily stroll on her own through the corridors and reads book after book about World War One. Another 186 days, and she will become the oldest Belgian ever. “We'll see how that goes,” says her daughter Claude.

Fanny doesn’t claim to have any secrets for her longevity. She has never worked a job, but did do a lot of sports as a child, including ballet, cycling, running, kayaking and swimming. Up until a few years ago, she was still swimming a lot.

According to the nursing home staff, Fanny enjoys life and is a fan of classical music, literature and nature. “My mother is an independent woman with a strong character,” says Claude, who visits her mother twice a week.