Academies of Belgium

In Belgium, academies are publicly funded learned societies, often divided by academic discipline or linguistic group.

Membership is usually by election and non-Belgians are usually admitted only as corresponding members.

Originating during the Enlightenment, the concept can be traced to the Imperial and Royal Academy of Brussels, which was the first academy in Belgium, founded in 1772 by the Empress Maria Theresa when the country was under Austrian rule.

The principle academies in Belgium are interdisciplinary but divided linguistically.

They are: Collectively, the two academies frequently collaborate under the umbrella organisation of the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium, founded in 2001.