The Husserl Archives was established in 1938 at the Higher Institute of Philosophy at KU Leuven with the purpose of preserving and publishing the writings of the Austro-German philosopher Edmund Husserl, whose phenomenological thinking is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant philosophical endeavors of the 20th Century.
Since then, the Husserl Archives Leuven have been responsible for editing and making available Edmund Husserl’s estate (Nachlass), which includes unpublished philosophical writings and other documents as well as his complete philosophical library, which can still be visited in the so-called 'Husserlkamer' of the Husserl Archives. Since 2017 Professor Julia Jansen has been the Director of Husserl Archives Leuven.
The Husserl Archives has equally established itself as an internationally recognized research center for the study and practice of phenomenological philosophy at the Higher Institute of Philosophy of the KU Leuven. Since 2021 Professor Stefano Micali has been the Chair of the Research Centre.
If you are interested in the history of the Archives, want to take a closer look at the manuscripts, or be introduced to the spirit of Husserl’s phenomenology, we offer guided tours for visitors. You can visit the Husserl Archives in person in the President’s building of the Institute of Philosophy. In the ‘Husserlkamer’ visitors can learn about the life and work of Edmund Husserl, the suspenseful story of Pater van Breda’s rescue of Husserl’s philosophical estate, and about the history of the archives and its role in the phenomenological movement since its establishment in 1938. Husserl’s complete philosophical library is also on display in the Husserlkamer.
Contact us if you want to know more!