On Friday, April 26, the Hoover Presidential Foundation hosted three Belgian dignitaries at the Hoover Campus. We were joined by Ambassador Dirk Wouters, Dr. Jan Wouters of KU Leuven, and Honorary Consul of Belgium Patrick Van Nevel. The visit was to both educate visitors on the role Herbert Hoover played in the reconstruction of the library at KU Leuven after its burning during World War I and give our visitors the opportunity to learn more about Herbert Hoover and his work in Belgium.

Dr. Jan Wouters is the professor of International Law and International Organizations and Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Leuven. He is the founding Director of the Institute for International Law and of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and serves as an Administrator of the America Europe Fund. His presentation today, titled The Restoration of the Leuven Library after World War I and the Role of Herbert Hoover, addresses Herbert Hoover’s involvement in the restoration of the Leuven Library after its destruction during World War I.

From left to right: Barbara Van Nevel, Honorary Consul of Belgium Patrick Van Nevel, Dr. Jan Wouters of KU Leuven, Ambassador Dirk Wouters, Dr. Thomas Schwartz, and Archivist Craig Wright

Dirk Wouters served as Belgian Ambassador to the United States from 2016-2020. Prior to that, he had a distinguished career with roles in the Belgian government, European Union, and United Nations. His work involved such areas as new technology, economics, treaties, and the establishment of the International Criminal Court. Currently, he is an advisor to the Belgian Royal Family, organizing trade missions abroad, and has created a new American-Europe Fund at the University of Leuven, where he is an adjunct professor on Transatlantic relations and sits on the board of governors.

Patrick Van Nevel, Honorary Consul to Belgium, played an integral part in assisting the Hoover Presidential Foundation in organizing the event. A Belgian native and Quad Cities resident, Van Nevel communicated with our Belgian visitors to ensure a successful event.

Professor Dr. Jan Wouters gave a presentation in Figge Auditorium titled The Restoration of the Leuven Library after World War I and the Role of Herbert Hoover. The library and its 300,000 books were destroyed when German troops set fire to the building during their occupation of Belgium during World War I. After its reconstruction had started, lack of funding slowed the work, and Herbert Hoover got involved in the efforts and worked to ensure proper funding to complete the structure.

At the Birthplace Cottage from left to right: Dr. Jan Wouters of KU Leuven, Honorary Consul of Belgium Patrick Van Nevel, President and CEO of the Hoover Presidential Foundation Mundi McCarty, Barbara Van Nevel, Park Ranger Rand Becker

Our Belgian visitors took a guided tour of the Museum by Dr. Thomas Schwartz, Director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and a tour of the Birthplace Cottage by Park Ranger Rand Becker of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Archivist Craig Wright displayed photographs and documents relating to the story of the library at KU Leuven. Their official tour concluded with a Belgian flour sack discussion and display by Curator Marcus Eckhardt.

Afterward, Russell Ganim, Dean of International Studies at the University of Iowa, hosted a reception for the visiting dignitaries and UI faculty with Belgian ties. Faculty members each shared how they were connected to Belgium. The time was then spent on a discussion on Transatlantic relations.