This paper, part of a series of studies on higher education in different countries, traces the origins of higher education in Belgium to the 1970's. From 1835-1876, Belgium universities were shaped by polarization bewteen Catholics and liberals, uncertainty about the basic institutional patterns in higher education, and the legislative intrusion of the state in higher education. The Higher Education Law of 1876 inaugurated a withdrawal of the state from the affairs of the universities, and the challenge of German Science placed an emphasis on research and scholarship. From World War I to 1960, the importance of the Flemish language increased in the universities, the principle of state financing of the private universities was established, and the state universities progressively won greater administrative autonomy from the state. The evolution and influence of higher technical education, the university expansion problem from 1960-65, the expulsion of the French from Louvain, the rebellion against the traditional university, and construction of the new order from 1969-71 are covered. Higher education enrollment stabilization in the 1970's, the difficulty of the first candidature, upgrading of technical education, the uncertainty of university-state relations, recurrent education, part-time university education, education for nontraditional students, and establishment of an open university are discussed. (SW)