# Vrije Universiteit Brussel

> Dutch-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium (since 1970)

**Wikidata**: [Q612665](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q612665)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrije_Universiteit_Brussel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vrije-universiteit-brussel

## Summary
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a Dutch-speaking public research university located in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1970. It is known for its secular humanist values, pluralism, and strong focus on research and innovation, particularly in fields like computer science, artificial intelligence, and European studies.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: October 1, 1969 (officially established as a separate entity in 1970).
- **Location**: Brussels, Belgium (headquarters in Ixelles, Brussels-Capital Region).
- **Language**: Primarily Dutch-speaking, with English also used for instruction and research.
- **Motto**: *Scientia Vincere Tenebras* ("Science Conquers Darkness").
- **Affiliations**: Member of the European University Association, Eutopia Alliance, and ORCID, Inc.
- **Notable Alumni/Faculty**: Includes computer scientists like Luc Steels, Ann Nowé, and Pattie Maes.
- **Research Focus**: Strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, computer science, and interdisciplinary studies.
- **Political Ideology**: Rooted in secular humanism, anti-clericalism, and pluralism.
- **Campus**: Includes the Brussels Health Campus and is part of the Universitaire Associatie Brussel.
- **Official Colors**: Orange, white, and blue.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Vrije Universiteit Brussel known for?
A: VUB is renowned for its research in computer science, artificial intelligence, and European studies, as well as its commitment to secular humanism and pluralism.

### Q: When was Vrije Universiteit Brussel founded?
A: VUB was officially founded on October 1, 1969, and became an independent institution in 1970.

### Q: Where is Vrije Universiteit Brussel located?
A: The university is located in Brussels, Belgium, with its main campus in Ixelles (Elsene), part of the Brussels-Capital Region.

### Q: What language is used at Vrije Universiteit Brussel?
A: The primary language of instruction is Dutch, but English is also widely used, especially in research and international programs.

### Q: What are the core values of Vrije Universiteit Brussel?
A: VUB is guided by secular humanism, pluralism, and anti-clericalism, emphasizing freedom of thought and scientific inquiry.

## Why It Matters
Vrije Universiteit Brussel plays a pivotal role in higher education and research in Belgium and Europe. As a Dutch-speaking university in the bilingual capital of Brussels, it bridges linguistic and cultural divides while fostering innovation in critical fields like AI, computer science, and European studies. Its commitment to secular humanism and pluralism makes it a unique institution in a region with complex linguistic and political dynamics. VUB’s research output and collaborations with institutions like the Brussels Studies Institute and ELIXIR Belgium contribute to advancements in science, technology, and societal challenges. Additionally, its affiliation with global networks like the European University Association and Eutopia Alliance amplifies its impact on international education and research.

## Notable For
- **Secular Humanist Foundation**: One of the few universities explicitly founded on secular humanist principles, promoting freedom of inquiry and pluralism.
- **Research in AI and Computer Science**: Home to influential researchers like Luc Steels and Ann Nowé, who have made significant contributions to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- **Brussels Health Campus**: A specialized campus dedicated to health sciences, enhancing medical research and education.
- **Multilingual and International Outlook**: While Dutch is the primary language, VUB offers numerous English-taught programs and attracts a diverse, international student body.
- **Innovative Affiliations**: Member of prestigious networks like the Eutopia Alliance and ORCID, Inc., fostering global academic collaboration.

## Body
### History and Foundation
Vrije Universiteit Brussel was officially founded on **October 1, 1969**, and became an independent institution in **1970** following the split of the Free University of Brussels into two separate entities: the Dutch-speaking VUB and the French-speaking Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The split was driven by linguistic and political tensions in Belgium, reflecting the broader Dutch-French divide.

### Campus and Location
- **Main Campus**: Located in **Ixelles (Elsene)**, Brussels-Capital Region, at **Pleinlaan 2**.
- **Brussels Health Campus**: A specialized campus focused on health sciences and medical research.
- **Coordinates**: 50.82186°N, 4.39338°E.

### Governance and Leadership
- **Rector**: **Jan Danckaert** (since 2022).
- **Political Ideology**: VUB is rooted in **secular humanism**, **pluralism**, and **anti-clericalism**, values that shape its academic and research policies.

### Academics and Research
VUB is organized into several faculties, with strong emphasis on:
- **Computer Science and AI**: Notable faculty include **Luc Steels** (AI researcher), **Ann Nowé** (AI and machine learning), and **Pattie Maes** (human-computer interaction).
- **European Studies**: The **Institute for European Studies** (now independent) was a key research hub.
- **Health Sciences**: The **Brussels Health Campus** focuses on medical research and education.
- **Interdisciplinary Research**: VUB is affiliated with the **Brussels Studies Institute** and **ELIXIR Belgium**, a bioinformatics network.

### Affiliations and Memberships
VUB is part of several prestigious networks:
- **European University Association (EUA)**
- **Eutopia Alliance** (since 2022)
- **ORCID, Inc.** (since 2023)
- **Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)**
- **European Open Science Cloud Association**

### Notable Alumni and Faculty
- **Luc Steels**: AI researcher and former director of the Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris.
- **Ann Nowé**: Professor of AI and machine learning.
- **Pattie Maes**: Professor at MIT Media Lab, known for work in human-computer interaction.
- **Bob Coecke**: Physicist and computer scientist, pioneer in quantum computing.
- **Johan Bollen**: Computer scientist and researcher in web science.

### Symbols and Identity
- **Motto**: *Scientia Vincere Tenebras* ("Science Conquers Darkness").
- **Mascot**: **Foxy**, a fox.
- **Official Colors**: Orange, white, and blue.
- **Anthem**: *Het Lied van Geen Taal* ("The Song of No Language").

### Digital Presence
- **Website**: [https://www.vub.be/](https://www.vub.be/) (Dutch), [https://www.vub.ac.be/](https://www.vub.ac.be/) (English, deprecated).
- **Social Media**:
  - Twitter: [@vubrussel](https://twitter.com/vubrussel) (verified, since 2010).
  - Bluesky: [@vubrussel.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/vubrussel.bsky.social) (since 2024).
- **Wikidata**: [Q837615](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q837615).

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## References

1. Global LEI Index
2. [Historian Niels De Nutte on secular humanism in turbulent times | Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 2024](https://www.vub.be/en/news/historian-niels-de-nutte-secular-humanism-in-turbulent-times)
3. [Source](https://today.vub.be/nl/artikel/vub-en-silvain-loccufier-winnen-prijs-vrijzinnig-humanisme-2017)
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](http://www.elixir-europe.org/about-us/who-we-are/nodes/belgium)
6. [Source](https://orcid.org/members/001G00000208CuAIAU-vrije-universiteit-brussel)
7. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
8. [Source](https://eua.eu/about/member-directory.html)
9. [Our Members / Tier 3](https://web.archive.org/web/20211129171645/https://arxiv.org/about/ourmembers)
10. [Source](https://eutopia-university.eu/)
11. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231109092552/https://coara.eu/coalition/membership/)
12. [Source](https://eosc.eu/members/)
13. [Source](http://www.odis.be/lnk/AE_11807)
14. [Crossroad Bank of Enterprises](http://kbopub.economie.fgov.be/kbopub/zoeknummerform.html?nummer=0449.012.406)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. MusicBrainz
17. GeoNames
18. [Source](http://www.vub.ac.be/)
19. GRID Release 2015-12-14
20. GRID Release 2016-12-06
21. Virtual International Authority File
22. GRID Release 2017-01-10
23. Quora
24. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
25. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:6a8:1190::/48&type=inet6num)
26. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
27. [Source](https://ror.org/006e5kg04)
28. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)