New University of Brussels

The New University of Brussels (French: Université nouvelle de Bruxelles) was a private university active in Brussels, Belgium between 1894 and 1919.

Seal of the New University

Its origins were in the Free University of Brussels, a liberal institution, which became the subject of controversy in December 1892 when the anarchist geographer Élisée Reclus was prevented from teaching for political reasons. In the aftermath, a number of liberal and socialist members of faculty began to plan for an independent "new" university, eventually created in October 1894. It was libertarian in political outlook, and attracted a significant proportion of international students and faculty members. However, its degrees were not recognised by the Belgian government and it remained short of funds.

The New University was the only university in Belgium which continued teaching through the German occupation of Belgium during World War I. In 1919, however, it was decided to re-merge the institution with the Free University. Its last surviving remnant is the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Belgique which provides free public lectures and conferences.

Faculty members

• Emile Vandervelde
• Paul Janson
• Edmond Picard
• Enrico Ferri
• Achille Loria
• Paul Sollier
• Hector Denis
• Alexandra David-Néel
• Louis de Brouckère
• Augustin Hamon
• Élisée Reclus
• Henri La Fontaine
• Paul Otlet

Further reading

• Laqua, Daniel (2013). The Age of Internationalism and Belgium, 1880–1930: Peace, Progress and Prestige. Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-8883-4.