Benoît from Belgium: ‘In Russia I feel better than in Europe’

Today, the native of the small Belgium city of Kortrijk on the border with France lives in Irkutsk. He has a Russian wife, works in gastronomy, has 13 huskies with whom he goes dog sledding on weekends and is building a house on the shore of Lake Baikal.

Benoît De Witte with his wife Tatyana and a couple of their huskies

Why did the Belgian come to Russia?

"I came at 27 as a ready-made specialist: I worked in the brewing business, producing malt for beer. If I had stayed in Belgium, by my current age of 47, I would have been a solid professional. There, people choose one thing and perfect themselves in it their whole lives. But, I was interested in seeing the world, so I accepted an offer to go to Moscow and then I was sent to Angarsk," the Belgian recounts.

In Angarsk, he was appointed director of a brewery. In the very first days, local residents took him to a "place of power" on the Baikal – where the Angara River begins. What he saw amazed him.

"There was so much space, so much air around, I felt that energy! Now, I find it hard to perceive small spaces. And I can no longer live in densely populated places like in Moscow, for example."

Later, Benoît started traveling around Russia – to the north, to the east and to neighboring Buryatia. And he realized how lucky he was to be here and what a natural wonder Baikal is.

Winter fishing on Lake Baikal

Siberia embraced the Belgian well, but, in Angarsk, no one spoke English or French. And Benoît hardly spoke any Russian at the time. So, he had to study the language intensively.

Benoît started going to the taiga with Siberians, fishing and realized what strong people they are – they thrive on challenges and fear little. Now, he himself loves going out into nature with only a tent.

"Other people think that Belgian predictability and comfort are what they need. But, I like to have more drive in my life. And stepping out of my comfort zone is my favorite adventure! That's why I live next to Lake Baikal."

How the Belgian got Siberian huskies

Over the years living in Russia, Benoît got a Russian wife and… 13 huskies that joyfully pull his sled in the frost.

In Siberia, the Belgian became a proper dog musher.

“We moved to a dacha outside the city. And there, on the land, memories from my childhood started surfacing for some reason: as a child, I really wanted a husky, was crazy about them, they seemed like kind wolves to me."

That's how, eight years ago, Benoît got the husky ‘Sam’. Then, breeders suggested taking two more and then he was given three more…

To better care for his animals, Benoît is now studying to become a veterinarian. And he even has an idea to start producing proper dog food.

Business, Siberian-style

In Irkutsk, Benoît is known as a restaurateur – he started with culinary masterclasses (he enjoyed working with chocolate and beer). Then, he opened his own restaurant and worked in catering. The restaurant closed two years ago: most of the revenue came from European tourists, who have, unfortunately, become scarce.

A 20-kilogram ‘Medovik’ honey-cake by Benoît.

In Russian cuisine, Benoît came to love the ‘Olivier’ salad, which is known as ‘Russian Salad’ around the world. "Do you know that Lucien Olivier was my countryman, a Belgian, not a Frenchman?" he laughs.

He’s also delighted with ‘solyanka’: "It's our northern soup. Fatty, rich, helps you survive the winter. I love 'buuzy' (Buryat dumplings), that's Buryat cuisine. And Russian ‘pelmeni’ are very tasty."

How ‘Russian’ has the Belgian become?

"I ended up loving this country. To love Russia, you have to understand it. And, for that, you need to live here not for two weeks, but for 10, 20 or even 30 years. The country is big and I'm still discovering something new. And I'm studying history. Why don't Europeans understand Russia? They don't know much about it."

How a Swiss man ended up driving tourists around Siberia in his own KAMAZ

In Siberia, Benoît changed, became more straightforward and says he started thinking like real Siberians. "Sometimes, it seems a bit rough. But, the climate here is so tough, you can't do otherwise. At the same time, I know: inside a harsh Siberian person lives a kind, warm soul!"

And Benoît also learned to think that anything is possible!

"Just yesterday, I was discussing this with some foreign friends: In Europe, you can say anything, but do nothing, while, in Russia – you say nothing, but do everything. There, it's like democracy: if you don't like the King of Belgium, go out with a flag and talk about it, it's your right. But, what's the use of that for your business, for a normal life? I'm not a blah-blah person, I'm a boom-boom person (makes a gesture like hammering a nail). I like doing more than talking. That's why I'm better off in Russia."

The full version of the interview is available (in Russian) on the ‘Nation’ magazine’s website.