Saint Verhaegen

Saint Verhaegen (French: Saint-Verhaegen; Dutch: Sint-Verhaegen), commonly shortened to Saint-V (in French), Sint-V (in Dutch), or St V, is an annual student celebration held on 20 November in Brussels, Belgium, to mark the founding of the Free University of Brussels in 1834. The name is a reference to Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the university's founder, who ironically is not a saint and promoted free inquiry; it was chosen in parody of Saint Nicholas festivities at the rival Catholic University, reflecting the event's freethinking and humanist spirit.

First held in 1888 as a protest against the then-academic authorities, Saint Verhaegen has grown into a central element of Brussels' student folklore, combining an official commemoration and a large parade through the city. Organised by the French- and Dutch-speaking Brussels Student Associations, it brings together students, alumni, staff and professors from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). A festive tribute to freedom of thought and expression and a platform for social critique, the festivities also include side activities organised by student societies and attract thousands of participants.

Since 1931, a different theme (illustrated with a medal) has been chosen for each edition, usually responding to current events and taking a liberal/anti-clerical approach. Since 2019, Saint Verhaegen has also been listed as intangible cultural heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region.