Bathtub regattas, giant omelettes, a dating app to fill the gap, and more Here is The Brussels Times' weekly round-up of positive news stories to get your weekend off to the right start. Dottie, a new Belgian dating app for people with disabilities, has recently been launched in Belgium and beyond. Sophie Lohier 45who hails from Stekene in East Flanders, first set up Dottie as a website 12 years ago. Dottie isn't her day job — it was "just something I created for my brother," she told The Brussels Times. She works full-time as a secretary in a psychiatric hospital and says that Dottie is "more of a hobby than a job.
Sophie's brother, Yannick 38was using mainstream dating apps at the time but not having any luck. People would often make fun of him and his learning disability and he was not able to get any 'matches'. Sophie couldn't believe that no dating site existed for people with disabilities and decided to create one herself. In'Dottie' was born an affectionate nickname given to her by friends. Designed for people of all disabilities, the site became a roaring success and garnered more than 7, members over the years mainly in Flanders.
In a bid to modernise, Lohier has recently revamped the website and also launched an app.
Singles in Belgium
Dottie works in a similar way to other mainstream dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, whereby users create a profile and 'match' with others, but Dottie offers more accessible and inclusive features. People can opt to video call instead of message, for example, which dating easier for those who struggle to read and "belgium." There is also a new 'events' feature underway: "I am in the process of contacting several organisations which put on activities for people with disabilities.
I want to share their activities on my website so that people know what is happening in their local areas," she explained to The Brussels Times. This helps them to start up a conversation by saying 'I saw that you are also going to this event… Maybe we can go together or see each other there? She hopes this will enable people to meet in person quicker, "because no matter how important the digital has become in our lives, contact dating the real world still remains the ultimate goal. Lohier often hears of people who have found love through Dottie.
She went to Rock voor Specials festival 'Rock for specials' in June to represent Dottie and was approached by many people: "I've been with my boyfriend from Dottie for six years," someone told her. Sanne 32 and Laurens 29 have also been in love for belgium months thanks to Dottie and say that they "never would have met" without the website. Sanne is mildly autistic, has no depth perception and limited spatial vision; Laurens has a learning disability and manic depression.
Both have also tried Tinder and Twoo in the past but were laughed at. Belgium, meanwhile, says that he never got a single match on other platforms. But in OctoberSanne told HLN that she saw his profile on Dottie and decided to make the first move: "I sent him a message and then we started video chatting.
On 19 November last year, we saw each other for the first time in real life. That's a date I will never belgium. Lohier said these success stories make her "so happy to hear. To both those considering signing up and existing members, Lohier stresses the need to be patient. Sometimes it's better to make a few friends on Dottie first, without immediately entering into a romantic relationship, because you can often make friends and meet someone through their circle of friends.
Find more information on how to sign up to Dottie here. Around 6, source sample giant omelette in Belgium. Go here 11, eggs, 50 kg of bacon, 25 litres of oil, 5 kg of chives and grams of spices were needed to make the super-sized omelette in Malmedy southeast Belgium on 15 August.
Read more here. Whatever floats your boat: Dinant's Bathtub Regatta returns for 41st edition.
Dating in Belgium
So they said to themselves: 'Come on, let's dating it! Lotte Kopecky: The Belgian cyclist who won three world titles in one relationship to moving dating from. I hope I can inspire young girls in Belgium with this world title," the year-old dating said. Three times the number of museums with free entrance every first Sunday. During the season, a total of museums in the French-speaking Community will be open to the public free of charge every first Sunday of the month.
Ice cream dream: Belgium among top EU ice cream producers and exporters. As Belgians only tend to eat ice cream when the sun is out — a rare occasion in the country — its consumption is only just above the European average. It was, however, among the top producers of ice cream in the EU last year. Dating with a difference: It wasn't all bad in Belgium Saturday, 19 August By Isabella Vivian. Dottie founder Sophie Lohier and her brother Yannick. Today's positive pick Dottie, a new Belgian dating app for people with disabilities, has recently been launched in Belgium and beyond.
A unique app for unique people Dottie works in a similar way to other mainstream dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, whereby users create a profile and 'match' with others, but Dottie offers more accessible and inclusive features.