History
The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) share a common origin, dating back to 1834 — just four years after the creation of Belgium — when Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen founded the Université Libre de Belgique, which was renamed Université libre de Bruxelles in 1842. In 1969, the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel was established as an autonomous institution, mainting strong ties with the French-speaking ULB. Both universities have always been co-located in Ixelles, Brussels, and continue to uphold the same strong, shared values.
In 2013, their partnership was formally recognized through the creation of the Brussels University Alliance. In 2025, this collaboration received a significant boost with the establishment of the Andrée Geulen asbl-vzw, an initiative aimed at deepening the partnership between both universities in the lead-up to their bicentenary in 2034.