On Monday, 1 December 2025, a memorial plaque was unveiled in Lublin, Poland, in honour of Belgian philosopher and resistance fighter Leopold Flam. The plaque commemorates Flam’s childhood years in the Polish town, where he lived before becoming active in the resistance during the Second World War. This ceremony marks an important step in the international recognition of Flam's legacy, which resonates far beyond Belgium.
The unveiling was the result of the efforts of authors Kristien Hemmerechts and Guido Van Wambeke, who have spent recent years making Flam’s diaries accessible to a wider audience. In 2023, they published Ik zal alles verdragen, ook mezelf (I Shall Endure Everything, Even Myself), a book based on Flam’s early diaries and correspondence, bringing to life his experiences as a Jewish resistance fighter and the intensity of his wartime struggles. This book has been a significant catalyst for renewed interest in Flam, both in Belgium and internationally.
Guido Van Wambeke and Kristien Hemmerechts at the memorial plaque in Lublin
From Buchenwald to Lublin
Flam, who was active in the resistance during the Second World War and worked underground in the clandestine press, was arrested in 1943 and deported to Buchenwald. His diaries, written under the harrowing conditions of war, offer a rare insight into the human struggle with violence, loss, and the search for meaning in times of unimaginable darkness.
In 2024, during a symposium at the Catholic University of Lublin, Hemmerechts and Van Wambeke presented Ik zal alles verdragen, ook mezelf to Polish students and philosophers. This event was made possible by the translation of several of Flam's diary excerpts into Polish, which had been prepared by the university under the direction of Professor Marcin Polkowski. The success of this event, alongside support from the Flemish community in Poland, ultimately led to the unveiling of the memorial plaque in Lublin, the city where Flam spent his childhood.
Philosophy that lives on
Flam is now widely recognised as an important intellectual, whose work was not only dedicated to resistance against the Nazi occupation but also to the fundamental values of freedom, responsibility, and the enlightenment of the human mind. He was a co-founder of the Centre for the Study of Enlightenment and the Flemish Society for Philosophy, and his philosophy continues to influence modern thought.
The memorial plaque in Lublin commemorates not only Flam’s past but also the enduring relevance of his ideas in our contemporary world. It serves as a symbolic gesture, extending Flam’s influence beyond the borders of Belgium, ensuring that the voice of a philosopher, defined by his struggle against oppression, is heard once more.
Ik zal alles verdragen, ook mezelf (c) Photo CAVA
The Resistance Alley at the VUB, a tribute to the Belgian resistance fighters
Connected to the VUB
Flam was also one of the faces of the Resistance Alley at the VUB, a tribute to the Belgian resistance fighters who risked their lives during the Second World War. The unveiling of this memorial plaque in Lublin is part of a broader reassessment of his work, which is gaining increasing attention both in Belgium and internationally. Part of the Flam Archive is kept at CAVA (Centre for Academic and Secular Archives) at the VUB, where manuscripts, typescripts, and diaries are available for those wishing to learn more about his life and work.
Learn more about the commemoration of Leopold Flam and the role of the VUB in preserving his heritage on the CAVA website (in Dutch): Leopold Flam | CAVA - Centrum voor Academische en
Learn more about the Resistance Alley: Resistance alley | Vrije Universiteit Brussel