't zal wel gaan
Encyclopedia
TSG 't Zal wel gaan, is a non-profit student society founded in the 19th century to promote Flemish
culture and liberalism in Flanders
, based at Ghent University
. Since its inception, the student fraternity was characterized by its progressive, Flemish, and libertarian
nature. It supports the absolute separation of church and state
. 't Zal wel gaan remains a student society and a meeting place for intellectual debates.
of Ghent
. The most prominent among these students was Julius Vuylsteke
.
Soon afterwards, the association moved to Ghent University where it continued its activities with other Political and Philosophical student societies.
During the Nineteenth century, the student society became notorious for its Anti-clericalism
and played an important role in the Flemish Movement
's struggle for the use of Dutch in Belgian education. However, the onset of World War I
soon caused an ideological crisis within the student faternity. Orangist
sentiment gave way to an anti-authoritarian
philosophy of emancipation.
Members of t Zal wel gaan later joined the resistance during the Spanish Civil War
and World War II
.
They also played a role during the controversy surrounding King Leopold III and the student revolts of May 1968.
Today the society continues to participates in ethical and political debates. It celebrated its 150th birthday in 2002 as the oldest extant Flemish student society.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
culture and liberalism in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, based at Ghent University
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
. Since its inception, the student fraternity was characterized by its progressive, Flemish, and libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
nature. It supports the absolute separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. 't Zal wel gaan remains a student society and a meeting place for intellectual debates.
History
't zal wel gaan (aka 't Zal), was created in 1852, by students at the AthenaeumAthenaeum
-Educational institutions, museums, libraries:* Melbourne Athenaeum, Melbourne, Australia* Limerick Athenaeum, Limerick, Ireland* Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest, Romania* Warminster Athenaeum, a theatre in Warminster, Wiltshire, UK* Glasgow Athenaeum, Glasgow, UK...
of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. The most prominent among these students was Julius Vuylsteke
Julius Vuylsteke
Julius Vuylsteke was a Belgian liberal politician and writer. He started his career as a lawyer, but later opened a bookshop. As a liberal Flemish politician, he founded the liberal association 't zal wel gaan, and he played an important role in the Flemish movement...
.
Soon afterwards, the association moved to Ghent University where it continued its activities with other Political and Philosophical student societies.
During the Nineteenth century, the student society became notorious for its Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
and played an important role in the Flemish Movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
's struggle for the use of Dutch in Belgian education. However, the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
soon caused an ideological crisis within the student faternity. Orangist
Orangism (Belgium)
Orangism was a political current in what is now Belgium that supported its inclusion in the short-lived United Kingdom of the Netherlands . After the secession of Belgium in 1830, Orangist sentiment in Flanders for a time sought a restoration of the United Kingdom. Some of the most prominent...
sentiment gave way to an anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism, which is defined as a "political doctrine advocating the principle of absolute rule: absolutism, autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism." Anti-authoritarians usually believe in full equality before the law and strong civil...
philosophy of emancipation.
Members of t Zal wel gaan later joined the resistance during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
They also played a role during the controversy surrounding King Leopold III and the student revolts of May 1968.
Today the society continues to participates in ethical and political debates. It celebrated its 150th birthday in 2002 as the oldest extant Flemish student society.