Most passports tend to be relatively uniform in design. They are usually burgundy, black or blue and may encompass a small version of a nation’s symbol. But that won’t be the case for the Belgians from February 7th – the country will now issue passports defined by images of its comic book heroes, from Tintin to the Smurfs.
Belgian passport holders will be able to flip through the pages of their new document and spot some of the country’s most beloved fictional characters, including Lucky Luke and Blake and Mortimer, alongside the famous Hergé reporter and the blue Smurfs that have long been popular with children around the world.
In a press release, Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès said the new passport is “even more secure thanks to new security and personalization techniques” and added that it will be “recognizable thanks to its original design, which honors one of the jewels of our culture: the heroines and heroes of comic books.”
Wilmès also described the Belgian passport as “one of the best in the world” and called it a “source of pride” for the nation. She also noted that it is an “object of desire for counterfeiters,” which is why the ministry is constantly working to improve its security.
“The introduction of this new passport is also an opportunity for us to highlight the 9th art, comics, which is a central element of our culture and our influence abroad”, said Wilmès.
The chancellor thanked the “publishers, authors and rights holders who agreed to participate in the project”. She also emphasized strengthening the passport’s quality and security, but acknowledged that the cost would not increase, which she called a “strong gesture that will be cost-effective for our citizens”.
According to the official Tintin website, on the occasion of the launch of the new document, a temporary exhibition on the history of the Belgian passport will be accessible at the Musée de la bande dessinée (Museum of Comic Art) until March 6.
Most of the images on the new passport are taken from classic comic books such as Tintin’s “Explorers on the Moon” – first published in 1954 – and, according to Tintin, the characters chosen to grace the new passport’s pages. are linked to the theme of the trip.
Tintin’s adventures have taken him all over the world, from the United States to Sydney and even into outer space. Now, Belgian travelers will be accompanied by the Hergé drawing along with the other comic figures the country is known for producing.
Source: CNN Brasil
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