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Leuven

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"Lowen" redirects here. For Löwen, see Löwen (disambiguation).

Leuven
Municipality
Leuven Town Hall
Leuven Town Hall
Flag of Leuven
Flag
Coat of arms of Leuven
Coat of arms
Location of Leuven
Map
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceFlemish Brabant
ArrondissementLeuven
Government
 • MayorLouis Tobback (sp.a)
 • Governing party/iesSP.A, CD&V
Area
 • Total57.51 km2 (22.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2021-01-01)[1]
 • Total101,032
 • Density1,800/km2 (4,600/sq mi)
Postal codes
3000, 3001, 3010, 3012, 3018
NIS code
24062
Area codes016
Websitewww.leuven.be

Leuven (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈløːvə(n)] ⓘ; French: Louvain [undefined] Error: {{Transliteration}}: no text (help), pronounced [luvɛ̃]; German: Löwen) is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic city and the former neighboring municipalities of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal. It is the 10th largest municipality in Belgium and the fourth in Flanders with more than 99,075 inhabitants (2016). It's predicted that in two years the threshold of a 100,000 inhabitants will be reached.

Leuven is home to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the largest and oldest university of the Low Countries and the oldest Catholic university still in existence.[2] The related university hospital of UZ Leuven, is one of the largest hospitals in Europe. The city is also known for being the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer and one of the five largest consumer-goods companies in the world.

History

See also: Timeline of Leuven
Leuven on the Ferraris map (around 1775)
View over Leuven, late 19th century
Destruction of the university library, 1914

The earliest mention of Leuven ("Loven") is from 891, when a Viking army was defeated by the Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia (see: Battle of Leuven). According to a legend the city's red and white arms depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dyle after this battle.

Situated beside this river, and near to the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important centre of trade in the duchy between the 11th and 14th centuries. A token of its former importance as a centre of cloth manufacture is shown in that ordinary linen cloth is known in late-14th-century and 15th-century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain).[3]

In the 15th century a new golden era began with the founding of what is now the largest and oldest university in the Low Countries, the Catholic University of Leuven, in 1425.[4]

In the 18th century the brewery Den Horen (meaning "the horn") flourished. In 1708 Sebastien Artois became the master brewer at Den Horen, and gave his name to the brewery in 1717, now part of AB InBev, whose flagship beer, Stella Artois, is brewed in Leuven and sold in many countries.

Leuven has several times been besieged or occupied by foreign armies; these include the Battle of Leuven (891), Siege of Leuven (1635) and Battle of Leuven (1831).

Both world wars in the 20th century inflicted major damage upon the city. Upon Germany's entry into World War I, the town was heavily damaged by rampaging soldiers. [5] In all, about 300 civilians lost their lives.[6] The university library was also destroyed on 25 August 1914, using petrol and incendiary pastilles.[7][8] 230,000 volumes were lost in the destruction, including Gothic and Renaissance manuscripts, a collection of 750 medieval manuscripts, and more than 1,000 incunabula (books printed before 1501).[8][9] The destruction of the library shocked the world, with the Daily Chronicle describing it as war not only against civilians but also against "posterity to the utmost generation."[10] It was rebuilt after the war, and much of the collection was replaced. Great Britain (on the initiative of the John Rylands Library, Manchester) and the United States were major providers of material for the replenishment of the collection.[6] The new library building was financed by the National Committee of the United States for the Restoration of the University of Louvain and built to the design of architect Whitney Warren; it was officially opened on 4 July 1928.[11]

Further information: The Rape of Belgium § War crimes

In World War II, after the start of the German offensive, Leuven formed part of the British Expeditionary Force's front line and was defended by units of the 3rd Division and Belgian troops. From 14 to 16 May 1940, the German Army Group B assaulted the city with heavy air and artillery support. The British withdrew their forces to the River Senne on the night of 16 May and the town was occupied the next day.[12] The new university library building was set on fire by shelling on 16 May and nearly a million books were lost.[13]

Climate

Climate data for Leuven (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6) 		6.8
(44.2) 		10.6
(51.1) 		14.4
(57.9) 		18.5
(65.3) 		21.1
(70.0) 		23.5
(74.3) 		23.2
(73.8) 		19.5
(67.1) 		15.1
(59.2) 		9.8
(49.6) 		6.3
(43.3) 		14.6
(58.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8) 		3.5
(38.3) 		6.6
(43.9) 		9.5
(49.1) 		13.5
(56.3) 		16.2
(61.2) 		18.4
(65.1) 		18.0
(64.4) 		14.9
(58.8) 		11.1
(52.0) 		6.8
(44.2) 		3.8
(38.8) 		10.5
(50.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		0.4
(32.7) 		2.7
(36.9) 		4.4
(39.9) 		8.4
(47.1) 		11.3
(52.3) 		13.4
(56.1) 		12.8
(55.0) 		10.2
(50.4) 		7.3
(45.1) 		3.9
(39.0) 		1.4
(34.5) 		6.4
(43.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70.5
(2.78) 		59.5
(2.34) 		65.4
(2.57) 		50.0
(1.97) 		63.6
(2.50) 		70.4
(2.77) 		72.7
(2.86) 		71.3
(2.81) 		64.8
(2.55) 		71.9
(2.83) 		70.6
(2.78) 		76.1
(3.00) 		806.8
(31.76)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 12.6 10.9 12.9 9.9 11.3 10.7 10.4 10.2 10.6 11.1 11.9 12.7 135.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 56 74 119 170 202 197 210 200 143 118 63 46 1,597
Source: KMI/IRM[14]


Economy

Given the presence of the KULeuven, an important European institution for academic research and education, much of the local economy is concentrated on spin-offs from academic research. There are several biotech and ICT companies; Gasthuisberg [nl], the academic hospital and research centre and a large number of private service providers in the medical and legal fields.

Because it is the capital of the region of Flemish-Brabant, many governmental institutions are located in Leuven, as well as the regional headquarters of transport corporations such as De Lijn. As the largest and one of the oldest Flemish cities in the immediate vicinity, with a large range of cafés, restaurants, cultural institutions and shopping neighbourhoods, Leuven also attracts people from nearby cities and villages.

Leuven is the worldwide headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest beer company in the world. InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the entire north-eastern part of the town, between the railway station and the canal to Mechelen.

Demographics

As of 2016, the population of Leuven was 99,075. The arrondissement of Leuven counted 494,189 in 2014.

The city itself is made up out of the center of Leuven (30,313), Kessel-Lo (29,147), Heverlee (22,521), Wilsele (9,786) and Wijgmaal (3,592).

Student population

Nowadays Leuven has a large student population, mainly concentrated around the city centre. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven; University of Leuven) is the oldest Catholic university still in existence in the world, and the largest university in Belgium. There are also a number of hogescholen (technical universities, literally translated: "high schools"), such as the KHLeuven (the Catholic High School Leuven).

Transport

Within the city and its immediate surroundings most distances can be covered on foot or with a bicycle. Several streets are off-limits to vehicle traffic and within the city centre road speed regulations prescribe 30 km/h (19 mph) as the maximum speed limit, making it a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city. There are also a few car parking lots.

There are numerous buses, primarily from the public transport company De Lijn, that connect the city with the region while providing travel options within the city center. The so-called Ringbus follows the ring road of the city. Except for long distance routes (such as to other cities) and other irregular bus services, most buses come by every 10 minutes. Buses 616, 652 and 651 connect Leuven with Brussels Airport.

Leuven railway station is located on the NMBS railway lines 35 (Leuven - Aarschot - Hasselt), 36 (Brussels - Liège), 36N (Schaarbeek - Leuven), 53 (Schellebelle - Leuven), and 139 (Leuven - Ottignies). In Bierbeek, south-west of Leuven, lies the beginning of HSL 2, the high-speed railway towards Liège.

Politics

Mayor

The current mayor of Leuven is Louis Tobback, a socialist prominent on the national level, formerly minister of internal affairs and leader of the socialist faction in the lower chamber of the Belgian parliament, among other positions held. The governing coalition consists of SP.A (16 out of 45 seats in the municipal council) and CD&V (9 seats). The opposition is composed of N-VA (9 seats), Groen! (7 seats), open VLD (3 seats) and Vlaams Belang (1 seat).

Culture

One of Belgium's finest conservatories is based in Leuven: the Lemmens Institute, which is described as "Faculty of Music, Performing Arts and Education". It is known for its Music Therapy Education and its Wordart-Drama Education.

Leuven is well known for its summer rock festival, Marktrock. The main football club of the municipality is Oud-Heverlee Leuven, successor of K. Stade Leuven. The city's prime basketball team are the Leuven Bears. They play their home games in the SportOase. Leuven also has some orchestras, such as the famous Arenberg Orchestra [nl].[15] The Cyclocross Leuven is a cyclo-cross race held in January.

In September 2009 the 'M - Museum Leuven' opened in Leuven. It is a museum for both contemporary and historical art located near het Ladeuzeplein. It has hosted exhibitions by international artists such as Angus Fairhurst, Sol LeWitt, Roe Ethridge and Charles Burns as well as Belgian artists like Ilse D'Hollander, Jan Vercruysse, Antoon Van Dyck and Freek Wambacq.

Leuven also has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers such as Stella Artois,[4] Leuvense Tripel, Domus[4] and Keizersberg. It also has several bars priding themselves in offering a wide variety of local and international beers, including a bar that claims to offer more than 3000 different beers.

The Higher Institute of Philosophy is famous worldwide for the archives of the German philosopher Edmund Husserl.

Buildings and landmarks

  • The Town Hall, built by Sulpitius van Vorst [nl], Jan II Keldermans, and, after both of them died, Matheus de Layens between 1439 and 1463 in a Brabantian late-Gothic style. In the 19th century, 236 statues were added to the exterior, each representing a prominent local scholar, artist or noble from the city’s history. The reception hall dates from 1750.
  • The St. Peter's Church (1425–1500) was finished by Jan Keldermans and Matheus de Layens. During the Second World War the church was damaged; during the restoration a Romanesque crypt from the 11th century was found. In the church itself there are several paintings from the 15th to 18th centuries (among which, Dirk Bouts' famous painting of the last supper) and the grave of Duke Henry I of Brabant. The 50-metre-high tower — which was meant to be 169 metres high, but was never completed — is home to a carillon. The tower was included in UNESCO's list of Belfries of Belgium and France in 1999.
  • Saint-Anthony's Chapel, Pater Damiaanplein, from the 17th to the 20th centuries, contains the tomb of Father Damien, the "leper priest" of Molokai, who was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday October 11, 2009.[16][17] The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him "the Apostle of the Lepers",[18] and elsewhere he is known as the "leper priest". The Catholic priest's remains were returned in Belgium with great fanfare in 1936, after having been originally buried on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai where he had served the outcast lepers until his death.
  • The Linen-hall, in an early-Gothic style, with baroque addition, is today the University Hall.
  • The Church of Saint Michael was built in the typical Jesuit Baroque Style.
  • The Church of Saint Quinten incorporates remains of a Romanesque church built in the 13th century.
  • The University Library on the Ladeuzeplein was built by the American architect Whitney Warren. It was a gift from the American people to Leuven after World War I, during which the Germans burned down the original library. The tower houses one of the largest carillons in the world.
  • Totem is a statue at the centre of the Ladeuzeplein; it is a work of the Belgian artist Jan Fabre. Featuring a 23-metre-high needle impaling a giant jewelled beetle, the statue towers over the square in front of the university library.
  • There is a neo-Romanesque Abbey on the Keizersberg ("Emperor's Mountain"), where there once stood a 12th-century ducal castle, which was demolished in the 17th Century.
  • The Large Beguinage is one of the world's best remaining examples of its architectural type. It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998.
  • There are several other smaller churches and chapels throughout the town.
  • "Fonske" is a statue near the centre of town. Its full name is Fons Sapientiae, Latin for "fountain of wisdom". The statue represents a university student who, while reading a book, lets wisdom flow into his head as liquid from a glass. Just like Manneken Pis in Brussels, Fonske is, from time to time, dressed in costumes appropriate for specific occasions.
  • The 'Oude Markt' or "Old Market" square located in the center of Leuven features a vibrant social scene the center of which displays a lifesize statue of 'De Kotmadam', or "The Landlady" resting on a bench.
  • Lerkeveld is a famous Jesuit abbey, and headquarters of the Jesuits in Belgium.
  • St Anthony's College, Leuven was located in the city, on Pater Damiaanplein. The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe is now located on the premises.
  • Sint-Donatus Park contains remains of the medieval city wall
  • Leuven, view of the Brusselsestraat from De Grote Markt
    Leuven, view of the Brusselsestraat from De Grote Markt
  • Leuven, the university library
    Leuven, the university library
  • Leuven, Fonske
    Leuven, Fonske
  • Jacquemart at the Collegiate church in Leuven
    Jacquemart at the Collegiate church in Leuven
  • City hall
    City hall

Notable people from Leuven

Born in Leuven

2

Lived in Leuven

2

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Belgium

Twin towns/Sister cities

Leuven is twinned with:

Friendly relations

Besides these, Leuven has friendly relations with:

References

Bibliography
  • "Louvain", chapter from George Wharton Edwards's 1911 book, Some Old Flemish Towns. (Wikisource)
  • Knuth, Rebecca (2006). Burning Books and Leveling Libraries: Extremist Violence and Cultural Destruction. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
  • Tuchman, Barbara (1962). The Guns of August. New York: Macmillan.
Notes
  1. ^ Statbel, Wikidata Q12480, retrieved 2 June 2022
  2. ^ "History of KU Leuven". kuleuven.be.
  3. ^ "Blaeu Atlas (UCLA Library – YRL Reference and Instructional Services)". Library.ucla.edu. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc (January 2009). Fodor's Belgium. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4000-0881-0.
  5. ^ Michael S. Neiberg, Fighting the Great War: A Global History, Harvard University Press, 2005. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Louvain" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  7. ^ Kramer, Alan (2008). Dynamic Of Destruction, Culture and mass killing in the first world war. Penguin. ISBN 9781846140136.
  8. ^ a b Gibson, Craig (30 January 2008). "The culture of destruction in the First World War". Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  9. ^ Knuth 2006, p. 164.
  10. ^ Tuchman 1962, p. 321.
  11. ^ The burning of the library of Leuven and the international response, Mark Derez, 2012, University Archives KU Leuven (pp. 9-12)
  12. ^ *Ellis, L. F. (1954) The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940. J. R. M. Butler (ed.). HMSO. London (p. 62)
  13. ^ Derez p. 13
  14. ^ "Climate data Leuven" (PDF). KMI/IRM. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  15. ^ arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be Template:Nl
  16. ^ "'Apostle of the Lepers,' Spanish mystic among 10 to be canonized". Catholic News Agency. www.catholicnewsagency.com. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Pope Proclaims Five New Saints". Radio Vaticana. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  18. ^ Boeynaems, Libert H. (1913). "Father Damien (Joseph de Veuster)" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  19. ^ "Kraków - Miasta Bliźniacze". Miejska Platforma Internetowa Magiczny Kraków (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leuven.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Leuven.
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