28 / 11 / 2019
The festivities for VLIZ its 20th birthday were kicked-off in the football stadium of KVO Ostend (Photo: Jurgen de Witte) - Watch all pictures of the event
We write 1 October 1999. That day VLIZ is officially established – with the support of the Flemish Government, the province of West Flanders and the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). The institute is temporarily based in Ostend in a former caretaker's house of the maritime company Valcke, and Jan Mees becomes the director. A year later, a ten-person counting ‘crew’ is working at the young institute that aims to promote and support the marine sciences in Flanders.
They fully committed themselves with the highest dedication, responsible for a wide range of duties and always in service to anyone with a fascination for coast and sea. Later, at the InnovOcean site and in the Marine Station Ostend, they developed a wide range of services to support the more than 1500 marine scientists in our country: coordination, contact point, oceanographic data management, marine library, science communication, research infrastructure ...
Since then the institute has continued to grow and is breaking boundaries: both in scope and strength, as well as in its range of tasks, workforce and available infrastructure. Twenty years after its inception, the VLIZ staff has increased tenfold, we own a state-of-the-art research vessel (RV Simon Stevin) and three unique marine robots, alongside many other highly specialized equipment. Also we are ready to build a brand new home. Today VLIZ has grown to a full scientific institution, anchored nationally and internationally in numerous networks and projects.
We have constantly pushed the boundaries of innovation. Occasionally we have managed to break those boundaries. Our field of action now covers the world's oceans. In the temporal dimension there are hardly limitations. The government granted us an extension of our mandate, so we are able to focus heavily on multidisciplinary top research, well-founded policy advice and support the 'blue economy'.
Key is always to build a sustainable world, working from a professional but warm science based institute. A world that offers future generations every opportunity in which the seas and ocean get the attention they deserve.
To celebrate this birthday with its network, VLIZ organizes various activities during the entire festive year 2020. The kick-off was given on Thursday evening 28 November with a festive session in Ostend. Other activities will be announced on our website and various news channels. Follow us!