The Université Libre de Brussels in Brussels
Brussels Monuments and Historic Buildings: The Université Libre de Brussels
It’s important to make the distinction between the Université Libre de Brussels (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB). While both institutions fall under the umbrella of the “Free University of Brussels,” the ULB is taught in French, and the VUB is taught in Dutch.
After the Belgian state broke away from the Netherlands in 1830, and named Brussels as the capital city, a group of academically driven Masons decided to get to work on the formation of a grand Belgian university. Since its establishment in 1834, the ULB has grown to become one of the most prestigious schools in Europe. It has roughly 21,000 students, 29 percent of which are young people from other countries. The school has three distinct campuses, and offers specializations in bio-engineering, public health, physical education, kinesitherapy, work sciences, statistics and operational research, astronomy, and astrophysics.
The university’s cherished symbol of its past is one of its leading founders Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, a Belgian lawyer who galvanized the initiation of the ULB with his inspirational speeches and ideas. This is a great place to check out if you are curious about Belgium’s history of higher education and political reformation after its emancipation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.