On Wednesday 5 May, Vrije Universiteit Brussel paid a poignant tribute to Belgian resistance members who lost their lives during the Second World War. For eight hours, their names echoed across the Main Campus in Etterbeek, read aloud by students, staff and academics. VUB Rector Prof. Jan Danckaert, ambassador of Heroes Week, brought the reading marathon to a close.
From 9:30 to 17:30, one name followed another, one story after the next. Behind each name lies a person, a choice and an act of resistance against the Nazi occupation. By reading the names aloud, these often-forgotten stories were given a voice once more.
The reading marathon formed part of Heroes Week (2â8 May), which culminates on 8 May â the day Europe was liberated in 1945. It fits within VUBâs broader commitment to keeping the history of the Belgian resistance alive. This commitment is grounded in a fundamental conviction: when freedom is under threat, resistance is essential. According to the university, the struggle of resistance members for freedom, equality and humanity remains highly relevant â not only as a memory, but also as a warning and a source of inspiration for today.
This message is closely intertwined with the institutionâs own history. During the Second World War, the ULB â the sister university from which VUB later emerged â closed its doors in 1941 in protest against interference by the occupying forces. Students and professors continued their academic and civic engagement clandestinely and took an active role in the resistance, often at great personal cost.
Resistance Trail and the âTraces of Resistanceâ Chair
Today, VUB continues this tradition of critical engagement. Initiatives such as the Resistance Trail on campus and the academic chair âTraces of Resistanceâ bring these historical stories back into view and place them in both a scientific and societal context. As historian Nel De MĂ»elenaere puts it, the aim is to continue creating space for dissent and critical thinking â precisely the attitude that characterised many resistance members.
The Resistance Trail on campus also makes this remembrance tangible. Along the route, commemorative plaques honour both historical and contemporary figures of resistance. In this way, resistance is not presented as a closed chapter, but as an enduring stance against injustice and oppression. By linking past and present, the university seeks to confront visitors with the contemporary significance of courage and civic responsibility.
Nel De MĂ»elenaere, Chair Holder of âTraces of Resistanceâ
Academic research also gives the theme a new dimension. Through the âTraces of Resistanceâ Chair, a collaboration with the non-profit organisation Heroes of the Resistance, the history of the Belgian resistance is re-examined and shared with a broad audience. Under the leadership of historian and chair holder Prof. Nel De MĂ»elenaere, the initiative coordinates research into resistance during the Second World War and highlights lesser-known stories. In doing so, VUB links historical research with societal engagement and actively contributes to keeping this heritage alive.
