- Willemsfonds
[
Ghent ] The Willemsfonds, named afterJan Frans Willems , is anon-profit cultural organization founded in the 19th century to promote Flemish culture and language inBelgium . In order to achieve this goal, the organization encouraged Flemishfolk song , organized linguistic games and published inexpensive Flemish books. In addition the organization established general libraries.Nowadays the Willemsfonds is still a volunteer organization and a meeting place for cultural activities. It seeks to promote a dialogue between people in order to allow them to form their own opinion. The Willemsfonds is of liberal inspiration which distinguishes it from the
socialist Vermeylenfonds and the CatholicDavidsfonds .History
The Willemsfonds was founded on
23 February 1851 , for the promotion and support of theDutch language inFlanders (north ofBelgium ). It was founded by 31 people fromGhent and 7 fromBrussels , and since1868 its headquarter is located in the "Lakenmetershuis" at the "Vrijdagmarkt" inGhent . In its early days, bothRoman Catholics and liberals worked together within the organization, evenJean-Baptist David was a member of the Willemsfonds. When in1870 the Roman Catholic church opposed the non-denominational status of public education, the Willemsfonds sided with the liberals and the Roman Catholics, such as Jean-Baptist David left the organization and they founded theDavidsfonds in1875 .Until
1976 , the presidents of the Willemsfonds would come fromGhent , such as its first presidentJules de Saint-Genois (1813-1867),Ferdinand Snellaert ,Prudens van Duyse ,Frans Rens ,Jacob Jan Heremans , andJulius Vuylsteke , to name a few.Over the years it published the work of several Flemish authors, such as
Jan Frans Willems "Reinaert de Vos" andJulius de Geyter , Johanna Courtmans-Berchmans, Tony Bergmann,Cyriel Buysse ,Virginie Loveling ,Maurits Sabbe ,Paul Kenis ,Karel Jonckheere ,Marcel van Maele ,Willem Roggeman , andClem Schouwenaars .ee also
*
Liberaal Vlaams Verbond
*Masereelfonds
*Rodenbachfonds
*Flemish literature
* Liberal ArchiveExternal links
* [http://www.willemsfonds.be/ Willemsfonds]
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