Peter Paul Alberdingk Thijm

Paul Alberdingk-Thijm was professor of Dutch and Germanic Literature at the Catholic University of Louvain. His younger brother was the Dutch literary scientist Jozef Alberdingk-Thijm who founded the magazine “Dietsche Warande” in 1855. After his studies in Utrecht, he continued his education in Germany (Freiburg). He first became a teacher in Maastricht, then, from 1870, professor in Louvain. He was immediately elected vice-chairman of the Flemish student association “Met Tijd en Vlijt” (With Time and Diligence). After the death of Pieter Willems in 1898 he became chairman. He influenced the young Albrecht Rodenbach. In 1875 he also became founder and first chairman (1875-1878) of the Flemish, Catholic cultural association “Davidsfonds”. In October 1886 he became a member of the Royal Flemish Academy for Language and Literature and in December of the same year he took over the magazine “Dietsche Warande” from his brother. He sold the magazine in 1899 to Maria Belpaire, who merged the magazine with “Het Belfort”. As an author, P. Alberdingk-Thijm had a broad humanist vision which is reflected in his literary and historical studies.