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CC 283 2017
Coincard
BU Französisch
Coincard – French version
Belgium · 200 years of Universiteit Gent
Mintage100,000
Issue price€8.00
Issue date29 Sept 2017
PackagingCoincard
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€13.60
Mintage information from source: Gesamt 200.000 · 1:1 auf NL/FR geteilt
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of Ghent University (Universität Gent). The design features the university’s emblem with the years “1817–2017”, surrounded by the inscription “200 JAAR UNIVERSITEIT GENT — 200 YEARS GHENT UNIVERSITY” and the country code “BE”. Also depicted are the Brussels mint mark, the helmeted head of the Archangel Michael, and the mint directors’ mark, the coat of arms of the city of Herzele.
The design
The inner section of the coin features the emblem of Ghent University with the date 1817-2017, surrounded by the inscription “200 JAAR UNIVERSITEIT GENT — 200 YEARS GHENT UNIVERSITY” and the “BE” mark for the issuing country. The mint mark of Brussels, the helmeted head of the Archangel Michael, and the mint directors’ mark, the coat of arms of the city of Herzele, are placed to the right and left of the country code, respectively.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The university was established during the time of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which, following the Congress of Vienna, also included the territory of present-day Belgium. King William I pursued the goal of establishing a state-organized higher education system in the southern parts of the country. In addition to Ghent (Gent), public universities were established in Liège (Lüttich) and Leuven (Löwen). The institution in Ghent initially began its activities with faculties of humanities, law, medicine and natural sciences. The language of instruction was predominantly Latin at first.
Following the Belgian Revolution and the establishment of the state in 1830, the political and linguistic framework changed. French became established as the language of instruction and administration, although Dutch was spoken by the majority in Ghent and large parts of Flanders. The demand for a Dutch-language university therefore became an issue of the Flemish Movement. A first attempt at Dutchification during the German occupation in the First World War was politically contentious and was reversed after the end of the war.
In 1930, the university was finally formally converted to Dutch. It thus became the first completely Dutch-language university in Belgium. The writer and art historian August Vermeylen became its first rector following this reorganization. The change had political significance beyond the operation of the university: for the Dutch-speaking population, it expanded access to academic education in its own language and formed part of Belgium’s long-term transformation into a federal, multilingual state.
Over the course of the 20th century, the university developed from a smaller public institution of higher education into a broadly based research university. Its facilities are spread across several sites in Ghent; these are supplemented by university activities outside the city. Research and teaching today include medicine, engineering, natural sciences, agricultural sciences, and the humanities and social sciences.
The anniversary gave Belgium an opportunity to commemorate not only the founding of an institution of higher education, but also two centuries of Belgian educational, linguistic and state history. The university particularly represents the connection between academic development and the Dutch-language movement in Flanders.
Following the Belgian Revolution and the establishment of the state in 1830, the political and linguistic framework changed. French became established as the language of instruction and administration, although Dutch was spoken by the majority in Ghent and large parts of Flanders. The demand for a Dutch-language university therefore became an issue of the Flemish Movement. A first attempt at Dutchification during the German occupation in the First World War was politically contentious and was reversed after the end of the war.
In 1930, the university was finally formally converted to Dutch. It thus became the first completely Dutch-language university in Belgium. The writer and art historian August Vermeylen became its first rector following this reorganization. The change had political significance beyond the operation of the university: for the Dutch-speaking population, it expanded access to academic education in its own language and formed part of Belgium’s long-term transformation into a federal, multilingual state.
Over the course of the 20th century, the university developed from a smaller public institution of higher education into a broadly based research university. Its facilities are spread across several sites in Ghent; these are supplemented by university activities outside the city. Research and teaching today include medicine, engineering, natural sciences, agricultural sciences, and the humanities and social sciences.
The anniversary gave Belgium an opportunity to commemorate not only the founding of an institution of higher education, but also two centuries of Belgian educational, linguistic and state history. The university particularly represents the connection between academic development and the Dutch-language movement in Flanders.