1. What was your favourite subject during your student days?

Historical criticism by Walter Prevenier during my first year at Ghent University.

2. Have you ever failed an exam? If so, which subject?

My secondary school was a disaster. I failed so many subjects that it would be impossible to list them all. As far as I can remember, I never failed anything at university.

3. What is the strangest thing you have ever done to relieve study stress?

The exams set by Paul Ghysbrecht, a psychiatrist with a serious edge, were legendary. I have never been so nervous before an exam. I have no idea what I did to avoid the stress. Eat a spring roll at the Friday market in Ghent, I think.

4. What was your most memorable student experience?

Being summoned at 7 o'clock in the morning by Ghysbrecht (who was also the dean at the time) as a student representative and the show that followed.

5. Did you ever have a student job? What was it?

Yes, all sorts of things. Picking cherries. Carrying paint pots in the warehouse of a paint shop. Conducting surveys.

6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?

Go for it.

7. If you hadn't become a professor, what would you be doing now?

Because I failed everything in secondary school, I was recommended to go to vocational school. Carpentry, if I remember correctly. I probably would have liked that.

8. What was your first thought today?

I can't remember any of the thoughts I have before my first coffee (and that's a good thing).

9. What is your favourite book, and why?

It's difficult to name just one book, but the books you read when you're young are probably the most impactful. Pietje Puk, Suske en Wiske and so on. Later on, Jan Terlouw.

10. What music or artist do you like to listen to?

I have very eclectic musical tastes. They range from Merol, Morrissey and Monk to Mozart, to name just a few artists whose names begin with M.

11. If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be and why?

They say, “Never meet your heroes”, and in my experience, that's true. Otherwise, I would have liked to visit Jan Van Eyck 600 years ago. Not to chat, just to see him at work.

12. What travel destination is still on your bucket list?

I often travel to the US and would like to do so by ship.

13. What is your favourite way to spend a free Sunday?

Lou Reed's song Perfect Day sums it up pretty well.

14. What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently (outside your field of expertise)?

That you can read newspapers without subscribing to them.

15. What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

Recently, I went swimming at Jones Beach, my favourite beach because of its beautiful, evocative Art Deco architecture and impressive Atlantic waves. It is also the setting for the novel Jaws, and with good reason.

16. What is your most precious possession?

Materially, absolutely nothing. I don't own anything that matters.

17. How do you relax?

Cooking, especially cutting vegetables.

18. Do you have a hidden talent that your students don't know about?

I'm good at cutting vegetables.

19. When you look to the future, what do you see?

To please the university, I should say: even more publications, even more research funding, even better student evaluations and behavioural competencies. But actually, it's: doing more of what really matters and doing it well.

20. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Look on the bright side.