Learning outcomes

Subject-Specific Skills


  • Knowing and understanding the law: through mastery of legal norms, legal sources, and relevant case law, as well as through the analysis of clauses and legal documents. Analyzing sources in Dutch and learning the legal vocabulary specific to the subject in that language are also part of the intended learning outcomes;
  • Applying the law: by solving case studies and, where relevant, critically assessing judicial decisions;
  • Reflecting on the law: by questioning legislative choices in light of, on the one hand, the students’ concrete professional practice and, on the other hand, societal developments;
  • Opening up: by examining the links between property law and other legal disciplines (tax law, contract law, patrimonial law, etc.) as well as non-legal disciplines.


Cross-Cutting Skills


  • Demonstrating a sense of synthesis, precision, and discernment;
  • Creating connections between different branches of positive law;
  • Conducting a rigorous and reasoned analysis of judicial solutions, while adding a personal and critical perspective;
  • Building a structured, well-supported, and convincing argument;
  • Improving knowledge of Dutch by including subject-specific vocabulary in the course material;
  • Projecting oneself into concrete situations, designing relevant examples, and identifying the advantages and disadvantages of different solutions.

Goals

The course aims to enable students to understand and grasp the societal and economic issues related to the appropriation of goods, ownership rights, and other rights in rem.

Content

The course is divided into eight sessions, corresponding to eight three-hour teaching blocks.


The first four sessions will be taught by Candice Roussieau and will follow this outline:

  • Introduction
  • Classification of property
  • Ownership
  • Co-ownership
  • Usufruct


The last four sessions will be taught by Alexander Vandendries and will follow this outline:

  • Emphytéose (long-term leasehold)
  • Superficie (building rights)
  • Acquisition and extinction of real rights, possession, and land registration
  • Easements and neighborhood disturbances

Table of contents

I. Introduction and key concepts of property law

II. Classification of property

III. Ownership

IV. Co-ownership

V. Usufruct

VI. Emphytéose

VII. Superficie

VIII. Acquisition and extinction of real rights, possession, and land registration

IX. Easements and neighborhood disturbances

Exercices

The practical exercises will take the form of interactive discussions and case studies carried out during class.

Teaching methods

The course is delivered in the form of lectures combined with more interactive teaching methods. The professors will propose case studies to which the subject matter can be applied. The material will also be illustrated through case law and practical legal documents. Finally, the course is intended as a space for discussion on societal issues raised by the choices made by the legislator.

Assessment method

Assessment takes the form of a written exam, which takes place in June and/or in August.

The language of the assessment is French (questions and answers).

The questions are designed to assess whether the student has integrated the intended learning outcomes.

The exam will consist of ten true/false questions to be justified, and two open questions, one of which will be a case study.

For the exam, students may use their Code BAC as well as any legislation made available on Webcampus by the professors. These documents may only contain cross-references from article to article. No other documents are permitted.

Since mastering the Dutch terminology of basic property law is considered essential, students are reminded that the exam may include questions containing one or more Dutch terms, the translation of which will have been provided by the instructors in the course materials. According to this rule, the question “comparez les droits d’emphytéose et d’usufruit” could appear on the exam in the following form: “comparez les droits d’erfpacht et de vruchtgebruik.”

Sources, references and any support material

The sources for the course are the Code BAC as well as any legislation uploaded by the professors on Webcampus.

The course materials consist of PowerPoint presentations and case law decisions uploaded by the professors on Webcampus. To help students deepen their understanding of the subject, the instructors will also make available on Webcampus various doctrinal contributions, the consultation of which is optional.

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Law (Evenings and Weekends Schedule) Standard 0 3
Bachelor in Law (Evenings and Weekends Schedule) Standard 3 3