ULB’s origins and evolution

The history of the Université libre de Bruxelles is tightly interwoven with that of Belgium itself. In 1830, when the 9 provinces that had separated from the Kingdom of the Netherlands formed the new Belgian state, three state universities existed in the country: those of Ghent, Liège, and Leuven. Although it was promoted to the rank of capital, Brussels did not have its own university.

This is why, in 1831, a group of key Brussels figures in the fields of letters, sciences, and education decided to create a university. To them, it could be either a state university or a private university, as the Belgian constitution—the most liberal in Europe—allowed this.

The Belgian state, finding that its three existing universities were already too much of a financial burden, was not very enthusiastic about the project. However, when the episcopate decided to found a Catholic university in Mechelen in 1834, events unfolded quickly: liberals and Freemasons, who were backing the Brussels project, ramped up their efforts and, on 20 November 1834, at the initiative of Auguste Baron and Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the Université libre de Belgique—ULB’s original name—started its first academic year.

In 1842, it became the ‘Université libre de Bruxelles’: the geographic indication changed, but the adjective ‘libre’ remained. It was essential.

Find many articles and books about ULB’s history in the University’s digital library.