VUB Contextual Research in Law

  (Source: Louis Debersaques) Louis Debersaques  will present his research on legal middlemen in Belgian construction law between 1880 and 1914. He is currently on an exchange at the University of Vienna, where he is a Visiting Fellow under the supervision of Prof.  Miloš Vec . His talk will explore the role of intermediaries in the construction sector and their contribution to the development of legal practices in Belgium during this period.   The lecture will take place on Monday, 9 November 2026, from 14:15 to 15:15 at the Juridicum, University of Vienna.  

      The program for the conference " Contested Seas: War, Commerce, and the Making of the Law of the Sea " is now available, including a registration link. More information here .

(image source: Fabrice Muller) The first edition of the new Biennial Meetings on the History of the Principality and Province of Liège will bring together scholars, local historians, cultural institutions, associations and other actors working on the past of the region. The initiative seeks to reconnect the diverse communities involved in the study and preservation of Liège’s history , encouraging dialogue and collaboration between local scholarship, cultural institutions and academic research. Presentations will focus on ongoing research, including projects that have already resulted in publications but continue to contribute to the updating of historical knowledge. The first edition will explore four complementary themes: economic activities, mobility and industrial heritage, gender and society, political life and international relations of cities and rural communities and religious and philosophical practices .  Deadline for applications: 30 October 2026 . Applications should i...

(image source: VRT MAX De afspraak) Prof. Frederik Dhondt  participated in the VRT current affairs programme De Afspraak on 19 October 2026 to discuss the protests in France. Professor Dhondt joined columnist Mia Doornaert, criminologist Joseph El Bacha and Christophe Busch, director of the Hannah Arendt Institute, for the discussion. Watch the full programme here . You can also listen to the interview with Prof. Frederik Dhondt on the likelihood of a general strike in France on VRT Radio 1: VRT Radio 1 - De Wereld Vandaag .

    The program for the conference " Contested Seas: War, Commerce, and the Making of the Law of the Sea " is now available, including a registration link. More information here .

(image source: Merlin)   Dr. Raphaël Cahen published a contribution on Ludwig Gessner (1828–1890) and the development of international maritime law, in the Acta of the Société d'histoire du droit 's 2024 conference, organised in Toulon around the theme "legal history and the sea". Read more here .