Saint Verhaegen(Brussels)
A student celebration in Brussels commemorating the founder of the Free University.
Saint Verhaegen day, known as St V’s, is celebrated by students of the Université Libre de Bruxelles each November 20. The festival honors Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the university’s 19th-century founder known for promoting academic freedom. Festivities include processions, concerts, and student gatherings that transform the city into a vibrant carnival. Participants often wear university colors and perform satirical rituals mocking academic traditions. Although not an official public holiday, it is one of Brussels’s liveliest student events.
Saint Verhaegen