HECKE

BELGIUM (see also List of Individuals)

\

29.11.1881 Zottegem/B - 11.4.1959 Woluwe/B

\

Albert van Hecke graduated from Ghent University and stayed then at Berlin University to conduct an experimental study on a port project. The result was a book on fluvial hydraulics published in 1909. He was appointed Lecturer at Leuven University in 1907 with courses in general engineering. He was promoted to full professor in 1913. After World War I he returned to his Alma Mater where he was interested in the water distribution techniques. His approach was applied to the city of Mechelen North of Brussels. He was also involved in water supply designs in Kampense. Between the two wars, van Hecke was further interested in politics. He retired from Leuven University in 1952. van Hecke was a Commander of the Order of Leopold, and a Great-Officer in the Order Leopold II. He was also elected to the Crown Order of Italy and held the Herinnerings Medal for active support during World War II.

\

van Hecke was involved in a large study relating to the tidal reach of River Schelt, downstream of Antwerp. However, this project was abandoned because of a poor technical basis. During World War I van Hecke contributed to another work relating to a barrage downstream of the confluence of the two Rivers Ourthes in Eastern Belgium. Once the Germans had attacked Leuven in 1914, van Hecke had to flee and found a stay in Cambridge, UK. There he was at the disposition of the Belgium government for refugees and also visited the USA to ask for assistance against the enemy.

\

_{Anonymous (1928). Internationale Ständige Kommission der Schiffahrtskongresse. Zeitschrift PIANC 3(5): Frontispice. P}

_{François, E., Hecke, A. van (1929). Les tubes en Eternit au point de vue de leurs composition, propriétés et applications. Bulletin Société Belge des Ingénieurs 9(6): 1-6.}

_{Hecke, A. van (1909). La méthode expérimentale appliquée à l'étude de l'hydraulique fluviale et maritime. Uystpruyst: Louvain. Also in Bulletin de l'Union des Ingénieurs sorties des écoles spéciales de Louvain, 179 pages.}

_{Hecke, A. van (1948). Théorie du mouvement des fluides. Université: Louvain.}

_{Lederer, A. (1976). van Hecke, Albert-Charles-Georges. Biographie nationale de Belgique}

_{39: 463-467. Bruylant: Bruxelles.}

_{Smet, P. de (1959). De Heer Albert van Hecke, professor emeritus aan de Faculteit der Wetenschappen en aan de Speciale Scholen. Annuaire 1957-1959 de l'Université Catholique de Louvain 92(3): 193-196. P}