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)
External links Liberaal Vlaams Verbond