DES (in full: diethylstilbestrol) is a drug that has been widely prescribed for pregnant women. The best known brand names in Belgium were Distilbène and Stilbestrol. An artificial hormone to prevent miscarriages. A panacea - that's how it was promoted. But DES proved extremely harmful to the unborn child, but also to the mother. In the meantime, it is clear that DES sometimes affects even the third generation. Belgium has never paid compensation. Other countries did, The Netherlands and France even today.
Photo: © Elisabeth Broekaert
