Portal:Belgium/Anniversaries/May/May 17
- 1551: birth of Martin Delrio, theologian, author of a book on magic and the occult
- 1836: birth of Virginie Loveling, writer
- 1846: the saxophone (pictured) is patented by Adolphe Sax.
- 1911: birth of Albéric O'Kelly de Galway, World Champion in correspondence chess between 1959 and 1962
- 1936: birth of Philippe Boesmans, composer
- 1940 - World War II: Germany occupies Brussels