Von Bissing university

In the late 19th century, however, the emerging Flemish Movement (Vlaamse Beweging) increasingly challenged the use of French in majority Dutch-speaking Flanders.

[2] In German-occupied Belgium, Governor-General Moritz von Bissing sought to make the territory easier to govern by exploiting pre-war linguistic divisions.

Von Dyck strongly believed that the university would defend Germany's strategic and military interests, describing it as "a mighty fortress, a trusty shield and a weapon for us Germans.

[6] It faced opposition from current students at Ghent University, and also was condemned by a petition signed by 38 leading Flemish public figures including Louis Franck delivered before its opening.

[2] This, however, did not stop the continuation of the Flamenpolitik by the German administration, which led to the creation of the Council of Flanders (Raad van Vlaanderen, or RVV; a quasi-independent Flemish government) in February 1917.

Von Bissing University featured in the Belgian 2014 miniseries In Vlaamse Velden [nl] ("In Flanders' Fields") produced by VRT.