One of the best friends of Erasmus was,
brace yourself,
Hieronymus van Busleyden.
In the 16th century, on his deathbed, Van Busleyden instructed his
friend Erasmus to do something remarkable.
Erasmus was to establish the Collegium Trilingue,
or 'college of the three languages'. It was the first college in Europe
where students were taught in Greek, Hebrew and Latin.
This way they could read
the original manuscripts and form their own opinions.
The college had a revolutionary method of teaching,
and produced important scientists like Vesalius and Mercator;
just two of the university's most famous alumni.
The college's popularity inspired students from many other disciplines to enrol,
causing tension in the academic world at that time.
However, a few years later the college would officially integrate into the university.
The Collegium was truly unique. Anyone could come and take classes here at no cost.
Some of the best and most renowned professors taught here.
Best of all: there were no exams or grades.
But today little of the Collegium Trilingue is left.
What a shame.