On 8 May 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered and World War II ended in Europe. This devastating war claimed between 70 and 85 million lives and was the direct result of a murderous, racist and genocidal ideology. But during the war, brave citizens all over Europe also rose up against that ideology. They printed and distributed resistance magazines, for example, and destroyed German equipment at the risk of their own lives. Almost 80 years later, they are a shining example for all those who hold freedom in high regard.
Therefore, on 8 May 2024, the VUB will celebrate the values of freedom and resistance with a short ceremony at which Henri Heimans, son of resistance fighters, and VUB student Brent Huygh will take the floor. The ceremony takes place in the Lounge of the student restaurant on the VUB Main Campus.
Inauguration: VUB's path of resistance
When freedom is threatened, resistance is important. Countless resistance fighters from World War II taught us that lesson. Even today, people all over the world are standing up against ideologies, rulers and warmongers who deny citizens freedom. To honour the resistance fighters of the past and the present, the VUB is renaming one of the paths on its Main Campus into Resistance Path, with recognition plaques for freedom fighters of yesterday and today. Because to them we all owe our personal freedom.
Programme (Lounge)
- Welcome by moderator Rik Röttger (VUB CAVA)
- Explanation of ULB's role in the Resistance by Prof Nel de Mûelenaere, Chair of Traces of Resistance
- Speech Henri Heimans
- Speech student Brent Huygh
- Speech rector Jan Danckaert
- Moorsoldatenlied by a small choir
- Inauguration Resistance Path