The Plaine Campus in Etterbeek has been a vibrant hub of education, research and connection for 50 years. Today, we celebrate not just half a century of the Plaine’s history, but also the release of a unique book that brings that story to life. L’Université libre de Bruxelles à la Plaine. Genèse et métamorphose d’un campus takes you on a journey through time—filled with images, stories and anecdotes.
This site, home to both the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), has evolved from a green fringe of the city into a buzzing academic centre. Here, modernist architecture meets leafy avenues and a dynamic urban setting. Generations of students and researchers have found their place here.
The book is officially published by ULB and available only in French, but it tells a part of our VUB story too. Photographer and VUB colleague Jean Cosyn captured daily life in and around the Plaine—its green spaces, bold architecture and thriving academic atmosphere all come together in this publication. The book is the result of in-depth historical research by ULB experts and features contemporary photography, rare archive material, old maps and long-forgotten designs.
The brand-new Learning and Innovation Centre (LIC), a bridge between VUB and ULB
For anyone eager to explore the roots of our shared history with ULB, this book offers a unique opportunity to dive into the story of the Plaine Campus.
*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.