The Liberaal Vlaams Verbond (E: Liberal Flemish League) was founded in 1913. From its origin it wanted to promote the Flemish cause and drew attention to social matters, within the Belgian Liberal Party. Together with the Willemsfonds and the Liberaal Vlaams Studentenverbond, it is one of the Flemish liberal organizations.
History
The first attempt to create an organization which brings together the Flemish liberal politicians, seems to have happened in 1908. Julius Hoste Sr., Pol De Mont, Max Rooses, and Maurits Basse were present at the meeting. In addition there were two liberal conferences for Flanders on 28 January 1912 and 5 October 1913. At the conference of 1913 it was decided that an organization would be founded to realise the program of the conference: liberal, Flemish and social. The first name which was proposed was Verbond van Vlaamsche Liberale Kiezerskorpsen and its first president was Emile De Puydt from Antwerp. The first general assembly convened on 16 October 1913, and on this occasion the name Liberaal Vlaams Verbond (LVV) was decided upon. One of its co-founders was Julius Hoste Sr. (1848–1933), the founder of the liberal newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.
Over the years, several Flemish liberal politicians, were/are member of the LVV, such as Julius Hoste Sr., Karel Buls (1837–1914), Julius Hoste Jr. (1884–1954), Herman Teirlinck, Frans Grootjans, Willy De Clercq, to name a few.
Members of the Board of Governors
President
1913: Emile De Puydt
1914: E. Stubbe
1919-1923: Jules Somers
1923-1926: Arthur Vanderpoorten
1926-1928: Jean Sach
1928-1934: Jules Boedt
1934-1940: Jules Somers
1945-1957: Victor Sabbe
1957-1966: Herman Vanderpoorten
1966-1967: Louis D'Haeseleer
1968: Karel Poma
1969-1972: Herman Vanderpoorten
1973-1974: Karel Poma
1974-1982: Louis Waltniel
1982-1993: Camille Paulus
1993- : Clair Ysebaert
Secretary
1913-1914: Leo Van Hoorick
1919-1923: Victor Heymans
1924-1947: Marcel Stijns
1948-1959: Piet Lenain
1960-1996: Piet Van Brabant
1996- : Oscar De Wandel
Chief editor of Volksbelang
1960-1970: Piet Van Brabant
1971-1990: Frans Strieleman
1990-1996: Piet Van Brabant
1990-: Bert Cornelis
See also
Liberalism in Belgium
Flemish movement
Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) Liberales Liberal Archive
Sources
P. Van Brabant, W. Blomme, Als een vuurtoren, 85 jaar Liberaal Vlaams Verbond, Liberaal Archief (1998)