Leuven: for culture lovers, beer buffs and foodies 

Leuven is one of the many Belgian jewels. It is of course a city where, Mondays to Fridays, students are very much present all over town. But many generations of students have chosen, after graduation, to build their lives in Leuven. This makes the city today a vibrant place, a city on a human scale, in the heart of Belgium and all its own.

The century-old university town with its historic buildings and young dynamic radiates the 21st century. In the pedestrian streets and one the cozy squares, the students determine the rhythm and atmosphere, the shops, cafés and restaurants provide conviviality and gastronomy, the beer fizzes and the ideas bubble up. Surrounded and intertwined by green, and with its rich varied cultural offering, Leuven is worth a visit all year round.

The students create a young, vibrant atmosphere and a pleasant bustle in the venerable city centre. Thanks to the university, Leuven has been an innovative city of knowledge for centuries. The historic city centre’s beautiful monuments and rich heritage are a great showcase, as are the modern, urban renewal projects. Culture and creativity reign. Moreover, Leuven is home to Stella Artois, a hot spot for beer buffs and gourmands. Plus, it’s a shopping Mecca for demanding shoppers. In short, Leuven has all the advantages of a big city in a charming setting with a small-town feel.

University city: knowledge and innovation

The university has been defining the cityscape for almost six centuries. In 1425 the new university was housed in the clothmakers’ hall. The number of students and faculty grew steadily. The prestige of Leuven’s university was further emphasised by its famous students, like the humanist Erasmus, the cartographer Mercator, and the anatomist Vesalius. It was no surprise that Thomas More had his famous ‘Utopia’ printed here. Numerous colleges in a variety of architectural styles, decorate the city centre. KU Leuven grew into a famous university with a highly attractive appeal. It is one of the oldest universities in the world. Knowledge, innovation, and scientific research are central. Over 100 spin-off companies make Leuven a ground-breaking city in health, high tech, and creativity.

Historic and contemporary

The pride of Leuven is the impressive Gothic Town Hall, with its ornamental towers and 235 statues, making it one of the most famous town halls in the world. The Great Beguinage is a UNESCO world heritage site and an oasis of peace, where the ambience of bygone times shimmers among the cobblestone streets and picturesque houses. These are now inhabited by professors and students. Peace and quiet also permeate Belgium’s oldest Botanical Garden. You will find many historic university-colleges and other buildings, like the former Cloth Hall and the Anatomical Amphitheatre, spread out around the city. The University Library with its carillon tower and impressive reading room stores over 1.5 million volumes. There are also many monumental churches and no less than four abbeys: Park Abbey, Keizersberg Abbey, Saint Gertrude’s Abbey, and Vlierbeek Abbey. For modern architecture head to the museum M Leuven (Stéphane Beel). Or to Vaartkom, the old industrial zone near the canal and harbour is undergoing a complete metamorphosis. Renovated factory buildings have been converted into shops, restaurants, apartments, and office spaces.

Compact, cozy, something for everyone

All of Leuven’s sightseeing stops are either within walking distance or cycling distance from each other. Renting a bicycle is a handy way to take also a ride around the green city periphery. The selection of restaurants and shops is wide and diverse. Head into the streets around the Grote and the Oude Markt for a tasty lunch or dinner. There are plenty of choices, from Leuven’s ‘haute dogs’ to vegetarian dishes, from traditional Flemish specialities to gastronomic cuisine. And you won’t want for a trendy coffee bar. Stroll through the shopping streets, lined with fashionable design shops, unique boutiques, larger chain stores, and any number of speciality shops. You can also come shop here till you drop every first Sunday of the month. Experience the delightfulness of this compact city together with Leuven locals.

For art lovers

Leuven is also a city for art enthusiasts. M Leuven brings together old and new in surprising ways. Leading Belgian architect Stéphane Beel integrated the historic properties and contemporary architecture into a single, sleek whole. The museum brings the visual culture of the past and present together under one roof. The combination of ancient masters and contemporary art, presented throughout the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions, makes M unique in Flanders. Just a little bit up the road, Saint Peter’s Church hides a great many art treasures. An absolute masterpiece is ‘The Last Supper’ by the Flemish Primitive Dieric Bouts. This triptych is still hanging in the chapel for which it was painted almost 600 years ago.

The home of Stella

While in Leuven, be sure to enjoy a refreshing pilsner or regional beer at a pleasant sidewalk café or in one of the many authentic pubs. The first Stella was brewed here in 1926, at De Hoorn brewery. Today, Stella Artois, now a part of AB Inbev, the world’s largest brewery concern, is still firmly rooted in its hometown Leuven. You can tour the brewery during the weekend while it’s in full operation. The contrast with home brewery Domus Brauhaus, where the beer flows straight from the brew-kettle to the tap, couldn’t be greater. You will find several artisanal breweries in the Leuven periphery that are also definitely worth a visit. During the annual Leuven Beer Weekends in April, Leuven does its name as Belgian’s beer city even prouder. For three consecutive weekends, you can enjoy beer festivals, workshops, surprising tasting sessions, and interesting brewery tours. It’s a must for every beer buff.

Centrally located, easily accessible

Leuven lies right in the centre of Belgium, around 30 km to the east of Brussels. Trains will bring you comfortably from the neighbouring countries straight to the heart of our city. There’s a regular train running from Brussels National Airport (Zaventem) that will bring you to Leuven in under 15 minutes. And no matter where you drive across the Belgian border, you’re always just a stone’s throw from Leuven. You can also quickly and easily travel from Leuven to other Flemish cities.

• 14 min by train from Brussels Airport
  less then 2 hrs from Rotterdam, Lille, Paris, Cologne
  less then 3 hrs from London, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt

Town Hall

The town hall is Leuven’s pride and joy. Moreover, it’s one of the best-known Gothic town halls worldwide. It took three architects and thirty years to build it. Leuven’s ‘Hall of Fame’ features 235 statues, which were only added to the façade after 1850. The Saint Peter’s Church is located directly opposite the Town Hall.These days the town hall merely has a ceremonial function after the city’s administrative services moved in 2009. But you are very welcome to take a guided tour and/or visit the tourist information center if you have questions (situated on the side of the town hall).

Oude Markt

Paying a visit to the Oude Markt is like pulling up a chair at the longest bar in Europe, because nowhere else can you find as many catering establishments in one place as on this unique square. No wonder the Oude Markt is Leuven’s meeting place par excellence, particularly in warm weather when the numerous terraces quickly fill up.

University Library & Tower

If you want to learn more about the university library’s turbulent history and its impact on the city, you have to climb the five floors of the library tower. A photo exhibition takes you to five significant periods in the library’s history. After the fifth floor, you reach the balcony where you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the city.

Everybody knows the sound of the Liberty Bell, the bass bell that weighs seven metric tons and sounds the hour every day. But there are also 63 other bells. Discover the carillon concerts, tower visits and more.

Botanical Garden

Leuven’s botanical garden is the oldest one in Belgium. The university of Leuven created this garden for its students of medicine in 1738.

Botany enthusiasts can enjoy the diverse plant collections. The 450 m² greenhouse complex boasts countless herbaceous, medicinal, aquatic and potted plants as well as a variety of tropical and subtropical species. Exhibitions take place regularly in the orangery, the gatehouse and in the open air.

Great Beguinage

The beguinage dates from the 13th century. The community had about 360 beguines in its heyday in the 17th century. It consists of a series of alleys, courtyards, gardens and parks with dozens of houses and convents built from traditional sandstone. It is currently inhabited by students, foreign visiting professors and staff of the oldest Catholic university in Europe. The Great Beguinage was listed as UNESCO world heritage in 1998. You can visit it free of charge. Of course: it is a full part of the city!

The Perfect MICE decor 

Leuven is the perfect background for an out-of-the-box mice event. Everything which we have described in this article, is within walking distance. There is plenty of accommodation, but you should be warned: Leuven is very popular with associations these days, and events should be booked well in advance. The hotel offer is very good, but hotels tend to fill up quickly. Capacity is growing, though.