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The Ruusbroec institute is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the scholarly study of the history of spirituality in the Low Countries. Our research is primarily conducted within the disciplines of philology, history and religious studies. In the past, we focused mainly on the Middle Ages and the early modern period, in keeping with the vision of the Ruusbroec Institute’s founders. That research tradition remains very important, although new approaches have emerged in recent years. For example, attention is now also being paid to the appropriation of mystical heritage in the 20th century, the dissemination and reception of religious texts throughout history, and religious ideas and practices in the (post)modern era. The international research project on stigmatics in the 19th and early 20th centuries is a striking example of this. Over the course of its nearly 100-year history, the Ruusbroec Institute has built up exceptional expertise in the editing and study of mystical texts, and in the historical study of devotional iconography and book culture. Since 1927, the Ruusbroec Institute has been publishing the international peer-reviewed journal Ons Geestelijk Erf – Journal for the History of Spirituality in the Low Countries.

The Ruusbroec Institute has a rich academic library on the history of Christian piety, spirituality and mysticism. In addition to contemporary research literature, the library possesses a unique collection of primary sources in this field, such as mystical literature, old prayer books and devotional prints. The history of the Jesuit Order in the Low Countries is also well represented in the collections: after all, it was Flemish Jesuits who founded the Ruusbroec Society in 1925. The Ruusbroec Society’s library is a heritage library recognised by the Flemish government. It works closely with the University Library of Antwerp and is committed to making its heritage collections widely accessible, including through digitisation and exhibitions.

Researchers at the Ruusbroec Institute are actively involved in teaching at the University of Antwerp, offering various courses within the History and Language and Literature programmes. Every year, we organise academic conferences, lectures and summer schools, often in collaboration with other partners. We welcome researchers who wish to conduct research with us for either a short or longer period. In addition, we are happy to share our expertise with groups and organisations outside the university.

The Ruusbroec Institute was founded in 1925 as an independent foundation of the Flemish Jesuits. In 1973, it became part of the UFSIA (University Faculties Saint Ignatius  Antwerp). Since 2003, it has been fully integrated into the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at the University of Antwerp. Close collaboration with the UCSIA (University Centre Saint Ignatius Antwerp) and the Jesuit Heritage Foundation enables a broad academic and societal impact of both our research and our collections.