VUB Contextual Research in Law

Prof. Frederik Dhondt contributed a book review to the Revue historique de droit français et étranger' s second issue of 2025, on the monograph Penser le droit constitutionnel: Pellegrino Rossi (1782-1848)  published in the Bibliothèque des thèses - Droit public  (Mare & Martin).  Read more on Dalloz's website , or in the journal on paper.

  (image source:  Hart/Bloomsbury ) Dr. Nathaniel Boyd will discuss his recent  Hegel and German Public Law  with dr. Raphaël Cahen . Abstract: Nathaniel Boyd's pathbreaking book argues that Hegel's political thought was shaped by German public law. This tradition of legal discourse, especially through its imperial tradition, was crucial to European modernity, influencing foundational philosophical concepts such as sovereignty, the state and the diverse legal systems that emerged from them. Hegel and German Public Law examines the impact of Johann Jacob Moser, Johann Stephan Pütter and Johann Christian von Majer on Hegel's intellectual development. It reveals how the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire informed his early speculative system and constitutional theory. In doing so, Boyd extends our understanding of Hegel's relation to European legal and political thought while offering an original interpretive framework for Hegel's absolute idealism and unfolding institu...

The website for the 59th Congress of the Federation of Archaeological and Historical Societies of Belgium/12th Congress of French-Speaking Societies of History and Archaeology of Belgium (ACfHAB) is now fully functional. Proposals for the section Institutional and Legal History (incl. sigillography) can be sent through the form on the website, or directly to the President (prof. em. Jean-Marie Cauchies/ARB), the Vice-Presidents (Marc Ronvaux - Prof. Frederik Dhondt ) or  Secretary (dr. Nicolas Simon/ARB). More information here .

(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...

  (image source: eventbrite ) Teaching assistant Vincenzo De Meulenaere will present his new book Karel V. De biografie  in Ghent on Sunday 22 March, between 15:00 and 17:00 . More information here .

Dra. Léna Sylvestre obtained the permission to submit her PhD Dissertation (Joint PhD agreement CY Cergy Paris Université/Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and defend it publicly on Saturday 23 May 2026 .  The candidate will defend her dissertation entitled " L’influence de la pluralité linguistique dans l’élaboration et l’application de normes internationales. Étude de cas historique du régime multilingue de l’Organisation des Nations Unies " before a jury consisting of: - Prof. Dr. Paul De Hert (VUB) - Prof. Dr. Dirk Heirbaut (UGent/KVAB-Academia Europaea)  - Prof. Dr. Sylvie Monjean-Decaudin (Sorbonne Université)  - Dr. Gésa Dannenberg (CY) Jury President: Prof. dr. Renaud Baumert (CY). Supervisors are Prof. Dr.  Caroula Argyriadis-Kervégan  (main supervisor, CY) and Prof. dr.  Frederik Dhondt  (VUB). More information with the candidate: lena dot melanie dot renee dot sylvestre at vub dot be.

  (image source: Edinburgh UP ) Our alumnus dr. dr. Niels Fieremans ( JointPhD UGent/VUB 2023 , D. Heirbaut/J. Dumolyn - D. De ruysscher) published his prize-winning doctoral dissertation in open access with Edinburgh University Press. Abstract: Late medieval Bruges was a commercial hub that connected Hanseatic, English, Scottish, Portuguese, Spanish, Aragonese, and Italian traders. This book focuses on the conflict resolution of the aldermen and how merchants operated within this legal framework. The key question being whether Bruges was a city of justice. Although this was sometimes claimed by travellers, a lot of merchants confronted with the practicalities of conflict resolution in Bruges, disagreed. Fieremans analyses how customary law, institutional frameworks, and commerce intersected and were challenged by the aldermen's pursuit of justice. By clarifying the working of the aldermen, it advances our knowledge of the basic mechanisms of a late medieval law court and the evol...

(image: CHUK; source: QS China ) dr. Stefano Cattelan will present at the Asian Legal History Conference , with the support of a FWO travel grant.  Full program below: Day  1: 17 March 2026 (13:00 – 17:30) CUHK Graduate Law Centre (GLC), 2 nd Floor, Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Rd, Central, Hong Kong Island 13:00-14:00 Introduction to the Conference and Keynote Address (Venu e: GLC Moot Court) Introduction and Welcome to CUHK Professor Renisa Mawani, Canada Research Chair in Colonial Legal Histories, University of British Colombia Title: The Time of Emergency in Colonial India, Burma, and Siam, 1914-1921 14:00-14:15 Break       Venue: GLC Moot Court Venue: Lecture Theatre 1 Venue: Classroom 5 14:15-15:45 1.1 From Socialist Labour Discipline to Legal Governance: Historical Trajectories of PRC Labour Law ...