Investigation The Franco-Belgian business of “stolen babies”: “We were goods that could be taken back to the store”
For at least thirty years, families from the Belgian bourgeoisie paid Catholic organizations so that their daughters would give birth under X in the north of France. The infants were then brought back to Belgium to be adopted. Today, these victims are fighting against silence.
When he tells his story, he begins with this: “I had just turned 18, the police knocked on the door.” Stern expression, handcuffs in hand. “The French police sent us. You are accused of insubordination. Military service is obligatory, young man.” Christophe de Neuville, however, has two Belgian parents and does not remember having set foot in France. He watches his father, embarrassed, stammer out an explanation to the police. He stays behind. "I always knew. My brother and I come from “the Dunkirk industry”.” A blurry image has always wandered through his head: “I see my mother covering the bassinet with a blanket. I imagine when crossing the border, to hide the baby from customs officials.”
Christophe de Neuville, 64, is a journalist at RTBF in Liège. Usually, he talks about other people's lives. This time, it’s about his own, and “like him.” "We are numerous. We recognize each other right away. No need to talk a lot.” With Christiane, discovered by chance on a forum, the bond was immediate. Both were born a few hours apart, in the same clinic in Dunkirk (North). “On the “Belgian floor”, as they said. It was under the roof. Our cribs were in a locked room. Our mothers kept away, without the possibility of seeing us. Very quickly, we were brought to Belgium, sold to adoptive families. Like D