Belgian Congo: Was that a specific kind of colonialism?
Thu, 08 Feb
|Vredeberg City Theatre
prof.dr. Guy Vantemsche - Professor of History V.U.Brussels Information and registration: hvv.vrijdenkendlier@telenet.be mensenenwetenschap.lier@upv.name 03/480.89.23 - 0495/43.14.29 Admission 5€/3€ members & -25y.


Time & Location
08 Feb 2024, 20:00 – 22:00
Vredeberg City Theatre, Vredebergstraat 12, 2500 Lier, Belgium
About the event
What do we still know about the Belgian Congo? Research by Prof. Guy VANTHEMSCHE shows that both the political world and public opinion were very indifferent during the colonial period.
Except on two occasions. Around 1908 when Leopold II, under international pressure, transferred the Congo Free State - his personal province - to the Belgian government. And in the early 1960s when independence (30 June 1960) turned into a political crisis after a few days, a military coup, secession of provinces, massacres (including of Belgians), interventions by the Belgian army and the United Nations, the departure of almost all Belgians.
Recent surveys show that these two pivotal moments are still in our collective memory.
But without a lasting effect. The return of people was “digested” quite quickly. The economic impact was small, except for specific sectors (maritime sector and aviation, diamonds, non-ferrous metals).
After 1960, privileged relations disappeared quite quickly, including in trade relations and development cooperation.
The colonial adventure was considered over – except in certain circles, such as the royal family.
It is remarkable that in and after the 1990s important studies appeared and questions about decolonization were raised.
In 2000, a Lumumba Commission was established in Parliament, which revealed Belgian involvement in the murder of the Congolese Prime Minister.
After the current king expressed his regret for the suffering of the colonial past, parliament set up a new commission in 2020. Which led to 128 recommendations. But stumbled over the recommendation for an apology (which could lead to compensation).
That Leopold II's Congo Free State was based on the exploitation of both the natural resources and the population is unequivocally established. To what extent - certainly after 1945 - in addition to the exploitation of natural resources and labour by the Belgian government (and private partners) humanitarian efforts were also made in the areas of education, health care, agriculture and community building is a point of discussion.
Who better than Prof. Dr. Guy VANTHEMSCHE, - emeritus professor of contemporary history at the VUB - who has published extensively on the subject (including “Colonial Congo; A history in questions” (2020) can help us with this.
All his publications are based on meticulous archival research, in which new perspectives regularly emerge because he takes all processes into account.