Journal of Belgian History: Literature, the Occupation, and Artificial Intelligence Take Center Stage in the First Issue of 2026

This issue opens with three articles. Margaux Van Uytvanck (postdoctoral researcher at ULB and project coordinator at the NFWO) describes Marcel Broodthaers’ poetic journey to visual art. The next article by Pierre-Alexis du Bus de Warnaffe (Ph.D. candidate at the European University Institute in Florence) explores the history of administrative control and identification techniques in Belgium, with a particular focus on the role of municipalities regarding the Personal-Ausweis introduced by the German occupiers in “Greater Brussels” during World War I. Finally, Gertjan Desmet (archivist at CegeSoma-State Archives) presents his impressive archival analysis on the authenticity of the typescript of Patrice Lumumba’s famous speech on June 30, 1960.

Alongside these contributions, this issue also features a dossier on the use of artificial intelligence in historical and archival research, with position papers by Xavier Gillard (FED-tWIN researcher at the State Archives and UCLouvain), Frédéric Clavert (researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History — C²DH), and Caroline Muller (researcher at the University of Rennes 2).

A concise and illuminating publication at the intersection of source analysis, methodological innovation, and the major challenges facing the culture of remembrance, concluding with fourteen abstracts of doctoral dissertations recently defended at Belgian universities.
This issue is available for 15.00 euros (excluding shipping costs) and can be ordered from CegeSoma, Aviation Square 29 – 1070 Brussels, +32 2/556 92 11 - cegesoma@arch.be.