Objectives

To encourage the study of European history and culture, so that the inhabitants of modern Europe, and in particular those living in what were known as the Low Countries and the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, can develop a healthy confidence in themselves and accelerate the development of the European Union.

Strategy

To encourage collaboration between Universities, historical associations, the state archives, local and regional authorities and private enterprises in the eight European countries where the House of Arenberg once occupied positions of administrative and cultural importance.

For example, the Universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve, the General Archives of the kingdom of Belgium, the State Archives of the Rhineland-Palatinate and Rhineland-Westphalia, the historical societies and the local and regional authorities of Aarschot, Beveren, Enghien, Neufchâteau, Sedan, etc., and of the 52 towns and villages in northern and central Europe with which the Arenbergs were closely connected.

To convince families having archives of their own to join with us in our efforts to find ways of making better and more extensive use of these cultural treasures and to make them accessible to a wide public.

To make the Arenberg Archives more widely known.

Tactics

More than twenty private publications and since 2005 the provision of sponsorship for works of a scientific character throwing fresh light on our past.

Participation in exhibitions through the loan of family possessions, for example the exhibition in Enghien devoted to Charles d'Arenberg (1994) or the exhibition in Leuven devoted to the blind duke Louis-Engelbert (1996).

Installation of a museum in Enghien-Edingen (Belgium).

Organisation of conferences, for example the seminar on "Twenty-five years of French history, 1940-1965" with Commandant Hélie Denoix de St Marc (1998), the lecture on 'The European challenge' with former Prime Minister Mark Eyskens (2002) or the lecture on ' Europe, quo vadis ? with former Prime Minister of Belgium Jean-Luc Dehaene (2004)

The Arenberg History Prize 'Duke d'Arenberg', first awarded in 1992. European prize Arenberg-Coimbra, first awarded in 2007

College of Europe – Arenberg Foundation prize, since 2013

Since 2002, organisation of concerts (Lauenen, Berner Oberland)

Socio-cultural events such as the Jubilee (360 years) of the old duchy of Arenberg (Eifel), in 2004.

Studium Arenbergense asbl, Enghien

Finances the Centre's operating expenses

Members of the supervisory committee:

President:

• H.S.H Duke d'Arenberg (Leopold)

Directors and associate members:

• H.S.H Prince Henri d'Arenberg
• H.S.H Prince Etienne d'Arenberg
• H.S.H Prince Pierre d'Arenberg
• Mr Clément Crohain, former mayor of Enghien †

Arenberg-Stiftung, Essen-Heidhausen (Germany)

Finances history-related publications

Members of the board of the Arenberg-Stiftung:

• Dr. Elsbeth Andre, managing director, Landeshauptarchiv Koblenz, Koblenz
• H.S.H Duke d'Arenberg (Leopold), president
• Prof. dr. Heinz-Günther Borck, Koblenz, scientific adviser
• Mr Oliver Heise, managing director, Stiftungsmanagement, Deutsches Stiftungszentrum Gmbh im Stifterverband, Baedekerstrasse n,°1, D-45128 Essen
• Dr. Martina Wiech, managing director Abt. Rheinland, Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Duisburg