The Association

When RWTH Aachen University opened its doors in 1870, the first Luxembourg students enrolled. After these early students joined various associations, including the “Verein der Chemiker und Hüttenleute” (VChH), the AVL – Akademischer Verein d’Lëtzebuerger – was founded in October 1897. For further reading, see “Rull de Waak”, available on aachen.lu.

Over this long period, student life has evolved, and with it the association life of AVL. Today, AVL has a stable membership of around 200 members. The committee is elected annually and usually consists of 7 to 11 members.

As a non-profit association, AVL aims to bring Luxembourg students in Aachen together and foster exchange among them. The goal is to ensure social interaction alongside studies and create friendships that last beyond university life. The committee also maintains regular contact with other student associations and ACEL, the national umbrella organization, to provide a diverse yearly programme in and outside Aachen.

This starts with “Student for a Day”, organized in cooperation with ACEL, giving pupils insight into student life. They can experience the chosen city and ask questions about studies.

Once students decide to study in Aachen, AVL serves as an initial point of contact. This happens during the traditional “Welcome Evening”, where members and future members meet at Café Kaktus to get to know each other over a Luxembourg beer.

To preserve long-standing traditions, new students, also called “Sales Bleus”, can register for a “baptism”. They take part in various challenges and get to know each other better. Before this takes place, a traditional “auction” is held where experienced students are assigned as godfather or godmother, supporting the newcomers in their first steps.

Staying traditional, AVL has maintained contact with other associations such as Leuven, Louvain, and Brussels for many years. Therefore, an annual football tournament is organized, the “Tournoi de l’ambassadeur”. A tradition states that the winning team hosts the event the following year.

Sports activities are organized throughout the year, including volleyball, football, basketball, and badminton. These activities also prepare members for the annual “Tournoi de Noël” in Luxembourg, organized by ACEL, where AVL has achieved several top rankings and won trophies. Additionally, a relay race is organized each year where members carry a baton from Aachen’s town hall to a municipality in Luxembourg.

To maintain contact with alumni, a “match against Ancien” is organized annually, where former members can show they can still compete with current students.

Many student associations once had singing groups, but traditional songs are becoming less popular among younger generations. Despite not always being perfect, the "AVL-Chouer" (formerly “Männerchouer”) remains a proud tradition, offering members the chance to sing songs such as “Kätchen Kätchen” or “De gekachten Kéis”.

A major highlight is the cultural trip, where members travel together to a selected city for a few days. The goal is to offer diverse and interesting experiences, from visiting remarkable buildings to company tours for engineering enthusiasts. Naturally, nightlife and networking with local student associations are also part of the experience.

Like most Luxembourg student associations, AVL organizes an intercircle event to foster connections. Each year, around 100 participants gather in Aachen for a “Café Rally”, a city-wide game involving questions and challenges to determine the winning team.

Aachen remains a popular destination for future engineers and scientists. Each year, AVL invites companies and organizations from Luxembourg to the popular “Ponttorfeier” in Aachen. Members can meet employers and learn about career opportunities in a unique setting.

Overall, AVL is a very active student association with a rich and interesting history. Its many diverse activities are shaped both by traditions linked to the university and Luxembourg, and by the young and dynamic nature of Aachen, where students make their university life unique and memorable.