history

The RSSB was founded on March 10, 1937 in Brussels as Société Belge de Statistique (association sans but lucratif). Its nineteen founding members were leading Belgian personalities from government, academia, industrial sectors, the army, and the church.

The first president of the Society was A. Julin who was at the same time president of the International Statistical Institute. At the beginning the number of “titulaires” (recognised members) was limited to 75 and the number of honorary members to 10. This constraint was cancelled in 1947, and the Society grew very quickly. In 1965, under the presidency of R. Dereymaeker, the society officialised also its Dutch name Belgische Vereniging voor Statistiek.

In the mid-1970s and 1980s the activities of members of the Society followed a general tendency to internationality in academia and were more visible in the United States and other countries than in Belgium itself. Following suggestions of P. Dagnelie and J.J. Droesbeke, and combined efforts of M. Hallin and J. Beirlant, this changed in the early 1990s under the consecutive presidents J. Teugels and M. Hallin who revived the Society’s character of a primarily National Society.

In 2017, under the presidency of T. Bruss, the Society received royal favor of King Philippe of Belgium, and the Society became the Royal Statistical Society of Belgium (RSSB). Its official names in the national languages French and Dutch are now “Société Royale Belge de Statistique (SRBS)” and “Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Statistiek (KBVS)”, respectively.

Chronology of RSSB executive boards

2023-2025

President: G. Haesbroeck (ULiège)
Vice-President: G. Molenberghs (UHasselt)
Secretary: T. Verdebout (ULB)
Treasurer: Z. Shkedy (UHasselt)

2020-2022

President: T. Loeys (UGent)
Vice-President: G. Haesbroeck (ULiège)
Secretary: K. Barbe (VUB)
Treasurer: Z. Shkedy (UHasselt)

2017-2019

President: T. Bruss (ULB)
Vice-President: T. Loeys (UGent)
Secretary: K. Barbe (VUB)
Treasurer: A. Verhasselt (UHasselt)
Editor: H. Thijs (UHasselt) & S. Vanbelle (UMaastricht)

2014-2016

President: S. Van Aelst (KULeuven)
Vice-President: T. Bruss (ULB)
Secretary: T. Loeys (UGent)
Treasurer: A. Verhasselt (UHasselt)
Editor: H. Thijs (UHasselt) & S. Vanbelle (UMaastricht)

2011-2013

President: M. Remon (FUNDP)
Vice-President: S. Van Aelst (UG)
Secretary: G. Haesbroeck (ULg)
Treasurer: R. Braeckers (UHasselt)
Editor: H. Thijs (UHasselt) & S. Vanbelle (UMaastricht)

2008-2010

President: P. Janssen (UHasselt)
Vice-President: M. Remon (FUNDP)
Secretary: G. Haesbroeck (ULg)
Treasurer: M. Aerts (UHasselt)
Editor: O. Thas (UG) & S. Vanbelle (ULg)

2005-2007

President: A. Albert (ULg)
Vice-President: P. Janssen (UHasselt)
Secretary: G. Haesbroeck (ULg)
Treasurer: M. Aerts (UHasselt)
Editor: O. Thas (UG) & S. Vanbelle (ULg)

2002-2004

President: N. Veraverbeke (LUC)
Vice-President: A. Albert (ULg)
Secretary: G. Haesbroeck (ULg)
Treasurer: G. Molenberghs (LUC)
Editor: M. Hubert (KUL) & P. Lambert (UCL)

1999-2001

President: L. Simar (UCL)
Vice-President: N. Veraverbeke (LUC)
Secretary: A. Albert (ULg)
Treasurer: G. Molenberghs (LUC)
Editor: P. Dagnelie (FSAGx)

1996-1998

President: J. Beirlant (KUL)
Vice-President: L. Simar (UCL)
Secretary: A. Albert (ULg)
Treasurer: G. Molenberghs (LUC)
Editor: P. Dagnelie (FSAGx)

1993-1995

President: M. Hallin (ULB)
Vice-President: J. Beirlant (KUL)
Secretary: I. Gijbels (UCL) & L. Simar (UCL)
Treasurer: F. Rogiers (UG)
Editor: P. Dagnelie (FSAGx)

1991-1992

President: J. Teugels (KUL)
Vice-President: M. Hallin (ULB)
Secretary: I. Gijbels (UCL) & L. Simar (UCL)
Treasurer: F. Rogiers (UG)

History of RSSB annual meetings

2023 Louvain-la-Neuve (UCLouvain)
2022 Brussels (VUB)
2021 Liège (ULiège)
2020 postponed in 2021 due to COVID (ULiège)
2019 Sint-Truiden (UHasselt)
2018 Ovifat (ULB)
2017 Leuven (KULeuven)
2016 Namur (UNamur)
2015 Antwerpen (UA)
2014 Louvain-la-Neuve (UCLouvain)
2013 Gent (UGent)
2012 Liège (ULg)
2011 Hasselt (UHasselt)
2010 Spa (ULB)
2009 Vossemeren Lommel (KUL)
2008 Wepion (FUNDP)
2007 Antwerpen (UA)
2006 Houffalize (UCL)
2005 Oud-Turnhout (UG)
2004 Vielsalm (ULg)
2003 La Roche-en-Ardennes (ULB)
2002 Kerkrade NL (LUC)
2001 Oostende (KUL)
2000 Herbeumont s/Semois (UCL)
1999 Nieuwport (UG)
1998 Houffalize (FUNDP)
1997 Mol (UIA)
1996 La Roche-en-Ardennes (UMH)
1995 Houthalen (LUC)
1994 Spa (ULg)
1993 De Haan (KUL-ULB)