VUB Contextual Research in Law

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 ( ACFHAB ) The Conference of Historical and Archaeological Societies of Belgium, which held its most recent assembly in Tournai in August 2021 and started its cycle in 1889, will convene at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels from 20 to 23 August 2026 , with the support of the French-Speaking Community of Belgium, the Académie Royale de Belgique, urban.brussels, and the City of Brussels. The section for institutional and legal history (presided by Prof. em. Jean-Marie Cauchies/ARB; vice-presidents: dr. Marc Ronvaux, Prof. Frederik Dhondt ; secretary: dr. Nicolas Simon) welcomes proposals by 6 April 2026 .  Any topic in institutional and legal history may be presented, in French, Dutch or German . The call is also open to recent graduates who have completed their MA thesis. Abstracts ought to count 20 lines . Those interested in presenting can contact frederik dot dhondt at vub dot be. A website for abstract submission will be operative in January 2026.

    (image source:  Maklu ) Prof. Frederik Dhondt reviewed the book Elise Reszöhazy, Dimitri Roden, Stanislas Horvat & Dirk Luyten De laatste 242: de terechtstelling van collaborateurs na de Tweede Wereldoorlog, which treats the execution of death sentences for those convicted of collaboration with the Nazi occupant.  More information  here .

  (image source: Amsterdam University Press ) Abstract: This article explores the dynamics of court practice with regard to mercantile pre-insolvency in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Belgium. In 1883, the Belgian legislature introduced the proceeding of concordat préventif, making it possible for insolvent entrepreneurs to remain outside the liquidation-oriented procedure of faillite. Instead, they could declare their financial problems and propose a scheme of payment to their creditors. In spite of this goal, however, the 1883 law, along with subsequent laws of 1885 and 1887, imposed high majority voting requirements. Accordingly, in the Antwerp commercial court, the shortcomings of the legislation were amended to ameliorate its procedural and judicial practice. The new practices of the court resulted in higher rates of acceptance of applications. However, these success ratios were not evenly distributed among the groups of debtors who applied. Perceptions shared by...