Christoffel Plantin Award

In 2001, Casteels became the youngest recipient and the second musician ever to receive the prestigious Christoffel Plantin Prize, the Flemish Government’s highest award for cultural achievements, in recognition of his contribution to cross-cultural research.

The Christoffel Plantin Prize is a prestigious Belgian civilian award established in 1968.

• Purpose: It is intended to recognize and reward a Belgian citizen who resides abroad and has made significant contributions to cultural, artistic, scientific, or social activities, thereby contributing to the prestige of Belgium internationally.

• Categories: The prize is awarded annually, typically rotating between the fields of:
  Culture
  Science
  Social Engagement (or Social Entrepreneurship)

• Nomenclature: It is named after the noted Renaissance humanist, book printer, and publisher Christophe Plantin (c. 1520–1589), who worked in Antwerp.

• Significance for Dr. Casteels: As noted in his biography, Dr. Robert Casteels received this award in 2001, which was cited as the Flemish Government's highest award for cultural achievements at the time, recognizing his cross-cultural research.