History

1817. William I of Orange (1772 - 1843) created the University of Liège. He imposed the establishment of animal collections and provided for a "Cabinet of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy of Animals". He personally donated almost 2,000 mollusc shells to the nascent collection.

1835. Jean-Théodore Lacordaire (1801-1871), professor of zoology, Rector of the University and renowned entomologist, enhanced the collections with specimens of birds, mammals, fish, etc.

Evolution and safeguarding

1888. Creation of the Zoological Institute by the illustrious scientist Édouard Van Beneden (1846-1910). He established the zoological collection there, maintaining, enriching and studying it. He developed scientific research in marine biology, oceanography, ichthyology, etc.

1914 et 1940. His successor, Désiré Damas (1877-1959), preserved and saved the zoological collections during the dark days of the two world wars. A professor in Bergen (Norway) and Director of the Norwegian Fisheries Department, he is regarded as the country's first oceanographer.

Foundation

1947. Marcel Dubuisson (1903-1974), Professor of Zoology and Rector of the University, completely renovated the Zoological Institute. He reorganised the zoological collections into a vast 1,000 m2 museum. He greatly expanded research into marine biology, setting up laboratories and creating the Aquarium to keep alive the aquatic animals needed for research.

1962. Inauguration of the Aquarium and Museum to the public on 12 November: "(...) The Museum and Aquarium will be remarkable teaching and research aids, but I feel that they should be open to the public and especially to schoolchildren (...)" (M. Dubuisson).