VUB Contextual Research in Law

(image source: De Morgen ) Prof. Frederik Dhondt was interviewed by Simon Tibo ( De Morgen ) on the first round of the local elections in France. Read the interview here .

  (image source: SFDI ) Dr. Raphaël Cahen (guest lecturer) has contributed a lemma on the Belgian professor of international law Edouard Descamps for the Galerie des internationalistes  of the French Society of International Law ( SFDI ). First paragraph: Issu d’une famille catholique, Descamps étudie le droit et les sciences politiques à Namur et à Louvain jusqu’à l’obtention de son doctorat en droit (1869) et d’un doctorat en sciences politiques et administratives (1870). Alors qu’il est déjà avocat au barreau de Mons, il s’inscrit à celui de Paris où il parfait ses études à la Faculté de droit lors de la guerre franco-prussienne. En 1872, à 25 ans, il débute sa carrière universitaire à Louvain en tant que titulaire du cours de droit administratif. Il y restera professeur jusqu’en 1932, après avoir enseigné une grande variété de cours, dont celui de Droit des gens à partir de 1881 (il succède à Charles Périn, son ancien professeur). Doyen de la faculté de droit à quatre repr...

  (image source: NextGenLegal Scholars Conference ) The program of the "1st NextGen Legal Scholars Conference", an event co-organised by the assistants at the Faculty of Law and Criminology, including drs. Rodrick Van der Smissen , is available here . Drs. Hugo Brethenoux von Vietinghoff will present a paper, Prof. Frederik Dhondt will preside a session.

     (image source:  ESCLH blog ) Dr.  Wiebe Hommes  (UvA) will present his recent monograph  The Convention and the Kingdom. How the Netherlands received the European Convention on Human Rights  (Cambridge University Press, 2025) on  19 March 2026  at  14:00  in the  Faculty Council Room . On the book: How and why did the European Convention turn from a neglected legal tool into one of the most important human rights documents in legal practice? This book argues this remarkable development wasn't merely the result of a top-down movement initiated by the European Court, but of a far more dynamic process in which the national and European spheres engaged in constant co-creation. Focusing on the Netherlands and uncovering little known archival sources, it lays bare how the Convention was received over time throughout the entire Kingdom. In doing so, it incorporates insight into how European human rights were perceived in Eur...

  (image source: VUB ) The VUB hosts its "Teaching Congress" ( Onderwijscongres ) on 26 May 2026 . The EUTopia Connected Learning Community Legal History will be presented in the parallel session on interdisciplinary teaching. More information here .

    (image source:  ESCLH blog ) Dr.  Wiebe Hommes  (UvA) will present his recent monograph  The Convention and the Kingdom. How the Netherlands received the European Convention on Human Rights  (Cambridge University Press, 2025) on  19 March 2026  at  14:00  in the  Faculty Council Room . On the book: How and why did the European Convention turn from a neglected legal tool into one of the most important human rights documents in legal practice? This book argues this remarkable development wasn't merely the result of a top-down movement initiated by the European Court, but of a far more dynamic process in which the national and European spheres engaged in constant co-creation. Focusing on the Netherlands and uncovering little known archival sources, it lays bare how the Convention was received over time throughout the entire Kingdom. In doing so, it incorporates insight into how European human rights were perceived in Europe an...