Holland and Belgium

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM Leyden.—The earliest, that of Leyden, founded in 1575, com memorated the successful resistance of the citizens to the Spanish forces under Requesens. Throughout the 17th century Leyden was distinguished by its learning, the ability of its professors, and the shelter it afforded to the more liberal thought associated at that period with Arminianism. Much of its early success was owing to the wise provisions and the influence of the celebrated Janus Douza. Douza, in fact, did for Leyden and the Dutch, what Miinchhausen afterwards did for Gottingen and the German uni versities. The appointment of the professors at Leyden was vested in three (afterwards five) curators, one of whom was selected from the body of the nobles, while the other two were appointed by the States of the province—the office being held for nine years, and eventually for life. With these was associated the mayor of Leyden for the time being. Leyden secured and has maintained a very high reputation for scientific work. Other Dutch universities with a famous history are Franeker (founded 1585), Harderwyk (founded 160o), Groningen (founded 1614), and Utrecht (founded the latter being a great resort in the 18th century for English students. Amsterdam is a 19th century foundation dating from 1882.

Ghent and

Liege.—The Universities of Franeker and Harder wijk were suppressed, and those of Ghent and Liege created in 1815, while a uniform constitution was given to Dutch and Bel gian universities. It was provided that there should be attached to

each a board of curators, consisting of five persons, "distinguished by their love of literature and science and by their rank in soci ety," to be nominated by the king. When, however, Belgium was created as a separate kingdom, further changes took place in the latter :.ountry. At Louvain, the chief Catholic centre, the facul ties of law, medicine and philosophy had already, in 1788, been removed to Brussels.

Brussels.

In 1834 Brussels was constituted a free and inde pendent university with a new fourth faculty of natural science, and supported mainly by contributions from the Liberal party. Having, however, no charter, it continued incapable by law of possessing property. Louvain and Brussels thus came to represent the two chief political parties in the realm, while the Universities of Ghent on the Scheldt and Liege on the Meuse recruited their students mainly from the two chief races—the Flemish and the Walloon. For the struggles which arose over the Flemicisation of the University of Ghent in the present century see BELGIUM. In Holland, on the other hand, where no such marked racial differences exist, the Universities of Groningen, Leyden and Utrecht have been assimilated (1876) in constitution, each being administered by a consistory of five rectors with a senate com posed of the professors in the respective faculties.