Connecting science and society around diversity, urbanity and citizenship.
The Hannah Arendt Institute works to build a sustainable, inclusive and democratic society by connecting science and society around diversity, urbanity and citizenship, and by countering polarisation, disinformation and hate speech.
Founded in 2020 as a joint initiative of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the University of Antwerp and the City of Mechelen, the institute has grown into a partnership of five Flemish universities — VUB, UAntwerpen, KU Leuven, UGent and UHasselt — together with the City of Mechelen, and is supported by the Flemish government.
The institute was the brainchild of the late Caroline Pauwels, rector of VUB, and Herman Van Goethem, rector of UAntwerpen. Christophe Busch is the founding director. Since 2023 the institute is housed in Huis De Zalm, a sixteenth-century former fish-sellers’ guild house on the Zoutwerf in Mechelen, a protected monument since 1943. The institute serves as the coordinating home base of the Hannah Arendt Network.
Founded: 2020
Partnership: VUB, UAntwerpen, KU Leuven, UGent, UHasselt and the City of Mechelen
Founding Director: Christophe Busch
Location: Huis De Zalm, Mechelen
Zoutwerf 5, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
Email: info@hannah-arendt.institute
Website: hannah-arendt.institute
Facebook: @HannahArendtInstituut | LinkedIn: Hannah Arendt Instituut
Press contact: Cynthia Van Der Heyden (communications), via the press page or info@hannah-arendt.institute.