At the café In de Stad Aalst, located in Antwerp rather than Aalst, life continues with its unique rhythm. Philippe, a loyal customer and somewhat drunk, performs a split between two dance steps in front of the counter. Next to him, an African street vendor attempts to sell counterfeit perfume and shows the waitress a gold-plated fake ring. The jukebox plays a mix of blues, German variety music, and stunning techno, prompting hands to rise in appreciation. It is 4 p.m., and the atmosphere is one of celebration. Ben Mouling, 50 years old, comments on the presence of people on the margins of society while sitting in a corner of the small café, which is decorated with paneling, mirrors, and copper chandeliers. In de Stad Aalst is not only a lively café but also a sample of Flemish heritage. Founded in 1876, it has belonged to the same family for three generations and is located at a place where stagecoaches used to arrive from Aalst. Ben Mouling acknowledges the presence of alcoholics but suggests it is better they are there rather than getting drunk alone at home. He mentions that if a customer does not show up for three days, the owner calls everywhere to find out where they are. The café is described as the most beautiful example of... The rest of the article requires subscription for access, including all articles, the weekly digital edition, the app, the Réveil Courrier, and newsletters, starting at 1 € per month. The article also mentions a French-speaking press group in Belgium and references various other news items, including the death of entertainer Noël Godin, a discovery of 9 million euros in gold bars and coins during construction work, and the evolution of Le Journal du peuple, a weekly newspaper that became secular in 1965. Le Journal du peuple is now the favorite reading of progressives in Amsterdam and ranks as the third daily newspaper in the country after De Telegraaf and Algemeen Dagblad. It belongs to the Persgroep editions, a Belgian press group that owns most of the Flemish and Dutch newspapers. Many personalities from Dutch literature have written columns for de Volkskrant, including writer Godfried Bomans, novelist Kader Abdolah, and poet Remco Campert. Launched in May 1996 as an experimental website, the site later gained some prominence and eventually reached its current form, with part of the content reserved for subscribers.