August Vermeylen
Encyclopedia
August Vermeylen was a Belgian
writer and literature critic. In 1893 he founded the journal Van Nu en Straks (English: Today and Tomorrow). He studied history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
(ULB), and became a professor of literature and of art history at the ULB (1901–1923). In addition to many works of literary and art criticism, he wrote poetry and in 1906 a novel, De wandelende Jood (English: The Wandering Jew). A cultural organization, the Vermeylenfonds
, was named after him.
Politically, Vermeylen supported both the unitarian Belgian state (to the point of condemning the Flemish Pro-German activists during the first World War) and an equal status for the Dutch language
in that state. From 1921 to his death he was a senator for the Belgian Labour Party
. In 1930, he became the first rector of the newly Dutchified Flemish
Universiteit Gent. In 1938, he became vice-president of the Senate. In 1940, he was removed from all his official functions by the German
occupation force.
August Vermeylen was the father of the Belgian socialist
politician, Piet Vermeylen
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
writer and literature critic. In 1893 he founded the journal Van Nu en Straks (English: Today and Tomorrow). He studied history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
(ULB), and became a professor of literature and of art history at the ULB (1901–1923). In addition to many works of literary and art criticism, he wrote poetry and in 1906 a novel, De wandelende Jood (English: The Wandering Jew). A cultural organization, the Vermeylenfonds
Vermeylenfonds
The Vermeylenfonds is a non-profit Flemish cultural socialist organization. The Vermeylenfonds was founded in 1945, in Brussels with the aim of studying and of continuing the work of August Vermeylen...
, was named after him.
Politically, Vermeylen supported both the unitarian Belgian state (to the point of condemning the Flemish Pro-German activists during the first World War) and an equal status for the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
in that state. From 1921 to his death he was a senator for the Belgian Labour Party
Belgian Labour Party
The Belgian Labour Party, called Belgische Werkliedenpartij in Dutch and Parti Ouvrier Belge in French, was the first socialist party in Belgium, founded in 1885.-History:...
. In 1930, he became the first rector of the newly Dutchified Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
Universiteit Gent. In 1938, he became vice-president of the Senate. In 1940, he was removed from all his official functions by the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation force.
August Vermeylen was the father of the Belgian socialist
Belgian Socialist Party
The Belgian Socialist Party was a democratic socialist party which existed in Belgium from 1945 to 1978.The BSP was founded by activists from the Belgian Labour Party , which was the first Belgian socialist party. It ceased to function during the Second World War, while Belgium was under Nazi...
politician, Piet Vermeylen
Piet Vermeylen
Piet Vermeylen , was a Belgian lawyer, and Belgian Socialist politician and minister. He was the son of the Flemish politician August Vermeylen.-Early life:...
.
Sources
- August Vermeylen (Univ. of Brussels)
- History of the Vermeylenfonds