Background
Smets, Hendrik Maria Jan was born on February 17, 1939 in Brasschaat, Belgium. Son of Julien H.F.H. and Marie Eugenie (Merckx) Smets.
Smets, Hendrik Maria Jan was born on February 17, 1939 in Brasschaat, Belgium. Son of Julien H.F.H. and Marie Eugenie (Merckx) Smets.
Master in Political Science, KUL, Belgium, 1969; Doctor of Laws, Lovanium U., Belgium, 1973; Bachelor in Economics, University of South Africa, Pretoria, 1982.
Production assistant, Photoengraving de Schutter, Antwerp, Belgium, 1960-1961; teacher, College St. Thomas More, Lisala, Zaire, 1966-1967; lecturer, Institute D'Enseignement Social, Kinshasa, Zaire, 1967-1970; assistant legal advisor, Federation Agricultural and Alimentary Enterprises, Brussels, 1972-1973; from public service secretary to diplomat trainee, Belgian State, Brussels, 1973-1976; 2d embassy secretary, Belgian State, Kigali, Rwanda, 1976-1979; 2d embassy secretary, Belgian State, Pretoria, 1980; acting consul general, Belgian State, Capetown, 1980-1983; 1st embassy secretary, Belgian Perm. Representation to European Economics Cmty., Brussels, 1983-1988; economics counsellor, European Economics Cmty. Delegation, Bangui, 1988-1992; head delegation, European Economics Cmty., N'Djamena, Chad, since 1992.
Active European Cmty. Choir, Brussels, 1984-1988, Los Nasaras Choir, since 1993. Member Rotary.
Married Chantal Desmedt. Children: Claude, Ludovic, Michael.