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Willy Naessens (14 February 1939 – 31 March 2025) was a Belgian industrialist and owner of a group in industrial and swimming pool construction fromWortegem-Petegem that bears his name. He sponsored football club KSV Oudenaarde and was shirt sponsor of first division teamsWaasland-Beveren,SV Zulte Waregem and the DutchRKC Waalwijk. He also sponsored a cycling team for some time.
Naessens was also known as a horse lover. At the annual horse race named "Waregem Koerse" he has organised a "Willy Naessens Hat Trophy" since the beginning of the 21st century, a hat competition based on that of the EnglishAscot.
At a young age, Naessens started a construction business called "Naessens Constructions", specializing in constructing big — but rather economised — industrial buildings and swimming pools.[1] He became one of the most powerful Belgian industrialists. Later, his corporate group participates in many branches of the construction sector, and in non-construction businesses, such as restaurants and sports teams.
Naessens paid for an expensive organ transplant for a Belgian child.[2]
Naessens fell in January 2025 in his home and broke his hip. He died as a result of complications during the recovery from it on 31 March, at the age of 86.[3]
https://www.willynaessens.be/en/home/
Jaren geleden bijvoorbeeld moest een meisje van achttien uit het Antwerpse een beenmergtransplantatie krijgen. Ze kon dat niet betalen, omdat haar ouders onder de armoedegrens leefden. .. Het was bouwheer Willy Naessens die de transplantatie heeft betaald.' (Years ago for example, a girl of eighteen from Antwerp had to get a bone marrow transplant. She could not afford it because her parents lived below the poverty line. .. It was builder Willy Naessens who paid for the transplant.)
