Hugo Schiltz

ANTWERP - Hugo Schiltz is the most important Flemish nationalist of the 20th century. He grew up in a strict Catholic and radical Flemish nationalist environment and joined the collaboration at the age of fourteen. He quickly overcame the trauma of that collaboration and his imprisonment, after which he became the architect of federal Belgium.

This biography recounts the life of an exceptional political mind, from 1927 to 1981, against the backdrop of the history of the Flemish movement and Flemish nationalism. In that environment, Hugo Schiltz behaves like a self-assured politician, open to dialogue, with clear objectives and an open mind. The lawyer went through life as a charming Antwerp native, gifted with many talents, but held back by minor flaws.

As chairman of the Volksunie, he steered his party into government and towards the signing of the illustrious Egmont Pact. Since then, he has been adored by some and reviled by others.

Van de Casteele describes Schiltz's bumpy journey for the first time with passion and clarity, with his successes and disappointments, his moments of happiness and his sorrows. The result is a compelling and new history of post-war Flanders with Hugo Schiltz as the central guest.

Supported
€24,600 allocated on 19/09/2017, 15/11/2018, 22/04/2022 & 20/02/2023
ID:
FPD/2017/1397, FPD/2018/1541, FPD/2022/1924 & FPD/2023/2017
Grant:
Pascal Decroos Fund

Publication

BOOK

BOOKPRESENTATION

  • Hugo Schiltz - Homme hors catégorie, Provinciehuis Antwerpen, 04/03/2025

COUNTRY

  • Belgium

Team members

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