The LVSV (Liberaal Vlaams StudentenVerbond (Dutch) or Liberal Flemish Students' Association) unites all Dutch-speaking classical-liberal and libertarian students in
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
. The values they uphold are individual freedom, freedom of speech, free trade and human rights, with focus on the
non-aggression principle. The LVSV opposes big government in any meaning (both right-wing and left-wing). They are an independent organisation, not affiliated to any political party. The LVSV organises political activities (debates, discussions,...) as well as typical student activities (visiting pubs, organising a cantus,...) in five cities:
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
,
Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
,
Ghent
Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...
,
Hasselt
Hasselt (, , ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Limburg (Belgium), Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium.
As of 1 August 2023, Hasselt had a total population of 80,846. The old ...
and
Leuven
Leuven (, , ), also called Louvain (, , ), is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipalit ...
. The national presidency of the association rotates between the local presidents every year.
The first LVSV branch was founded on December 8, 1930 by Max Cosijns as a result of the “Dutchification” of University of Ghent.
In 1932 LVSV Ghent joined the
Liberal Flemish League. In 1937 another branch was founded in Brussels by Raymond Schepmans who was elected as their President on January 20, 1937.
Both branches would later join the
Belgisch Liberaal Studentenverbond/Fédération des Étudiants Libéraux (BSVL/FEL) which oversaw all liberal student associations from both the Dutch- and the French-speaking region of the country. In 1972 all LVSV branches discontinued their partnership with the BSVL/FEL with the reason being that only French was spoken at the conferences held by the BSVL/FEL. This led to the establishment of LVSV National which would take over the responsibilities from the BSVL/FEL.
Famous former members include
Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt (; ; born 11 April 1953) is a Belgian politician who served as the prime minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium from 2009 until 2024.
He was a me ...
(
Open VLD
The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (, , Open Vld) is a Flemish liberal political party in Belgium. The party has been described as centre-right and has smaller factions within the party that have conservative liberal and social liberal ...
),
Bart De Wever
Bart Albert Liliane De Wever (; born 21 December 1970) is a Belgian author, historian and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Belgium since February 2025. From 2004 to 2025, De Wever had been the leader of the New Flemish Allianc ...
(
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( ; N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist, conservative political party in Belgium. The party was established in 2001 by the right-leaning faction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
The N-VA is a regionalist an ...
),
Zuhal Demir
Zuhal Demir (born 2 March 1980) is a Belgian lawyer and politician affiliated with the N-VA. Demir was elected as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2010 and served there until 2017. She served as Secretary of State for Pover ...
(
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( ; N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist, conservative political party in Belgium. The party was established in 2001 by the right-leaning faction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
The N-VA is a regionalist an ...
),
Willy De Clercq
Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq (8 July 1927 – 28 October 2011) was a Belgian liberal politician.
De Clercq was born in Ghent, son of Frans de Clercq.Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62 After his law and notariat ...
(
Open VLD
The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (, , Open Vld) is a Flemish liberal political party in Belgium. The party has been described as centre-right and has smaller factions within the party that have conservative liberal and social liberal ...
),
Karel De Gucht
Karel Lodewijk Georgette Emmerence De Gucht (; born 27 January 1954) is a Belgian politician who was the European Commissioner for Trade from February 2010 until 31 October 2014.[Open VLD
The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (, , Open Vld) is a Flemish liberal political party in Belgium. The party has been described as centre-right and has smaller factions within the party that have conservative liberal and social liberal ...]
) and Egbert Lachaert (
Open VLD
The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (, , Open Vld) is a Flemish liberal political party in Belgium. The party has been described as centre-right and has smaller factions within the party that have conservative liberal and social liberal ...
).
References
{{Reflist
External links
LVSV national boardGhent chapterLeuven chapterBrussels chapterAntwerp chapterHasselt chapterLibertySeminar.beLiberas
Student organisations in Belgium