The Belgian Penal Code: Historical and Comparative Perspectives (16th–21st Centuries)

To mark the entry into force of the new Belgian Criminal Code, originally scheduled for 8 April but ultimately postponed until 1 September 2026, Jérôme de Brouwer, professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles, François Pierrard, F.R.S.-FNRS research fellow at UCLouvain, and Édouard Delrée, PhD student at the ULB, are organising a conference on 18 May entitled "The Belgian Penal Code. Historical and Comparative Perspectives (16th–21st centuries)".

The aim of this conference is to provide a historical and comparative perspective on Belgian criminal codification. It will seek to situate the gradual development of the concept of the criminal code within the European and, subsequently, colonial context, from the Spanish Netherlands to contemporary Belgium. The conference will take place on 18 May 2026, from 9am to 6pm, at the Palais des Académies, Rue Ducale 1, 1000 Brussels. Admission is free, but registration is required (contact: pierrard.francois@uclouvain.be)