Pieter Pools

Pieter was chosen in a competition to become Geraardsbergen's new Town Crier, ending a 50-year hiatus, and has thrown himself into the role wholeheartedly. He believes a town crier brings real added value to a town and has not remained content to cry only in his own town, taking part in championships in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, with several appearances in Hastings and Colchester, achieving several top-five finishes.

Born in the autumn of 1956, Pieter grew up in his hometown of Geraardsbergen in Flanders. After finishing his studies he started working in the construction industry before moving on to the automotive industry, where he worked until he retired. He has been married for 42 years, is father to two daughters and has three grandchildren, two boys and one girl. His hometown is dear to him, which is why he has never left Geraardsbergen to this day.