The Benelux Section and Early IRE/IEEE Activity in Europe

In 1959 the IRE approved the establishment of the Benelux Section, covering Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, as well as a Section for Milan, Italy. In September 1960 the Benelux section sponsored the International Symposium on Data Transmission, held in Delft. This was the first international symposium held by the IRE outside North America, and it was the world's first technical conference dedicated to data transmission. The success of the Benelux Section led directly to the establishment of IRE Region 9 (now IEEE Region 8) in Europe. The Benelux Section recently commemorated its 50
^th
anniversary with a celebration in Antwerp.