The Van Dyck Chair

The Antoon Van Dyck chair for the history and the culture of the Low Countries has been created by an agreement between the regents of the University of California at Los Angeles and the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) on November 30 of 2006. The chair holder spents one quarter a year at UCLA and teaches both undergraduates and graduate students. The first holder of his honor in spring 2008 was Walter Prevenier who as his pictures below suggest thoroughly enjoyed his stay.

He taught two classes at UCLA, one undergraduate seminar on ‘Golden Ages in the Low Countries (15th and 17th c.)’ (class History 191C) and one graduate seminar on ‘The Social Position of Women in Medieval Low Countries’ (class History 201C). In the first class he explained how the geography of the Low Countries has been the key for the emergence of one of the first modern economies, and the ultimate cause of the cultural success story of the two Golden Ages.