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Here is Mr Pieter De Somer, he's known as
the founding father

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of the present day Dutch-speaking
University of Leuven.

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In May of 1968 students started to revolt.

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They wanted to be taught in their own language

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and demanded the French-speaking Walloons
to leave Leuven.

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Riots broke out and the students got their way.

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The University split into a Dutch and
French-speaking institute

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with the latter moving to a newly raised city
called Louvain-la-Neuve;

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French for 'new Leuven'.

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Pieter De Somer was the first rector of
the Dutch-speaking university.

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He was very popular with the students
and left his legacy in many ways.

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In 1989, a few years after his death,

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this auditorium was named after Pieter De Somer.

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This is one of the university's largest lecture halls and can seat over 800 people.

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Classes take place here on a daily basis.

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Did you know that Pieter De Somer helped improve

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the first Belgian production of penicillin
and the polio vaccine?

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Not only was he a renowned scientist,

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but he was a successful entrepreneur as well.

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Now you can see how important this
auditorium is to students of Leuven.

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Well, on to the next spot.