Leuven

Overview

With its almost six hundred year old university (1425) and its open campus the city of Leuven is infused with an unmistakably student-oriented character. The place is swarming with more than 25.000 students, keen scholars and partygoers alike, the latter having taken over the longest bar in the world, as the locals have affectionately nicknamed the Old Square or Oude Markt with its selection of over 60 cafés. This university town on the banks of river Dyle is also endowed with a number of historic architectural landmarks, by far the most outstanding of which are Sint-Pieterskerk (Church of St Peter) and the imposing Stadhuis (town hall), on the Grote Markt. There is a lovely Ice Rink to visit if you so desire in this town. It is called 'Ijs Baan' It is only 7 euro for a day of fun. Leuven is the home of Stella Artois beer. You can use the 'De Lijn' bus system to get to Leuven from Brussels. (Leuven is smaller and cooler than Brussels but the small towns of Tervuren and Kraainem are cooler still)

History