Albrecht Rodenbach (1856-1880), born in Roeselare, Belgium, was one of the leaders in the revival in Flemish literature that developed in the late 1870s as a direct challenge to the growth of French influence in Belgian cultural life.
When he went to the University of Leuven, Rodenbach at once began to collaborate with another young poet, Pol de Monte, to promote ideals of a thouroughly Flemish artistic revival through the mobilization of student opinion.
A volume of Rodenbach’s verse, “Eerste Gedichten” (First Poems - 1878) was published before his early death. He also wrote a grandiose verse play “Gudrun”, which did not, however, appear during his lifetime. On Rodenbach’s death, Pol de Monte became the leader of the Flemish movement, which henceforth tended to look more to Germany for its inspiration.