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One of Belgium's finest conservatories is based in Leuven: the [[Lemmensinstituut|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.
One of Belgium's finest conservatories is based in Leuven: the [[Lemmensinstituut|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]]. Leuven also has some orchestras, such as the famous {{Ill|nl|Arenberg Orchestra|Arenbergorkest}}.<ref>[http://arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be/ arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be] {{nl}}</ref>
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 [[Cyclocross Leuven]] is a [[cyclo-cross]] race held in January. Leuven also has some orchestras, such as the famous {{Ill|nl|Arenberg Orchestra|Arenbergorkest}}.<ref>[http://arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be/ arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be] {{nl}}</ref>


Leuven also has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers such as [[Stella Artois]], [[Leuvense Tripel]], [[Domus]] 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.
Leuven also has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers such as [[Stella Artois]], [[Leuvense Tripel]], [[Domus]] 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.

Revision as of 18:44, 20 January 2014

Leuven
Municipality
Leuven Town Hall.
Leuven Town Hall.
Coat of arms of Leuven
Coat of arms
Location of Leuven
Map
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, pronounced [ˈløːvə(n)] ⓘ; French: Louvain, pronounced [luvɛ̃], often used in English) is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Brussels, close to other neighbouring towns such as Mechelen, Aarschot, Tienen, and Wavre. The township itself comprises the historical city of Leuven and the former municipalities of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal.

It is home to Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer group and one of the top-five largest consumer-goods companies in the world; and to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the largest and oldest university of the Low Countries and the oldest Catholic university still in existence. It is also home to the UZ Leuven, one of the largest hospitals of Europe.

History

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 city legend, its red-white-red colours depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle.

Situated beside this river, and near to the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became, between the 11th and 14th centuries, the most important centre of trade in the duchy. A token of its former importance as a centre of cloth manufacture is reflected in the typical Leuven linen cloth, known in late-14th-century and 15th-century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain).[2]

In the 15th century, a new golden era began with the founding of the by-now largest and oldest university in the Low Countries, the Catholic University of Leuven, in 1425.

In the 18th century, the Leuven-located 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.

During its history, Leuven was besieged or occupied by foreign armies several times, including the Battle of Leuven (891), Siege of Leuven (1635) and Battle of Leuven (1831).

In the 20th century, both world wars inflicted major damage upon the city. Upon Germany's entry into World War I, the town was heavily damaged by rampaging soldiers. Some German soldiers shot the burgomaster, the university rector and all of the city's police officers.[3] In all, about 300 civilians lost their lives.[4] The university library was also destroyed on 25 August 1914, using petrol and incendiary pastilles.[5][6] 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).[6][7] 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."[8] 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.[4] 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.[9]

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, 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.[10] The new university library building was set on fire by shelling on 16 May and nearly a million books were lost.[11]

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; nl [Gasthuisberg], 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.

Population

There are 101,000 people (2013) currently living in Leuven. The arrondissement of Leuven counted 472,060 in 2007.

The city itself is made up out of the center of Leuven (30.487), Kessel-Lo (28.814), Heverlee (22.318), Wilsele (9.653) and Wijgmaal (3.580).

Student population

Nowadays Leuven is a real "student city", as during the academic year most citizens in its centre are students.

Leuven sports one of the liveliest bar scenes in Belgium. It boasts the "longest bar" in Europe, the Old Market, and dozens of bars and cafés crammed into a central square in Leuven.

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 (Vocational university, literally translated: "high schools"), such as the nl [Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven] (KHLeuven, the Catholic High School Leuven), and the university college Groep T (Group T).

Transportation

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 biker-friendly city. There are also a few car parking lots.

There are numerous buses, primarily from the public transportation 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.

The train station of Leuven is located on the railways 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 Cyclocross Leuven is a cyclo-cross race held in January. Leuven also has some orchestras, such as the famous nl [Arenberg Orchestra].[12]

Leuven also has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers such as Stella Artois, Leuvense Tripel, Domus 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 nl [Sulpitius van Vorst], 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 17th and 18th centuries (among others, Dirk Bouts's 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.[13][14] The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him "the Apostle of the Lepers",[15] 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, causing much outrage in the US. 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.
  • The Irish College of Louvain/Leuven in located in the city, on Pater Damiaanplein. The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe is located on the premises.
  • Leuven, the town hall
    Leuven, the town hall
  • Leuven, view to a street: de Grote Markt
    Leuven, view to a street: 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

Notable people from Leuven

Born in Leuven

Lived in Leuven

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. ^ "Blaeu Atlas (UCLA Library – YRL Reference and Instructional Services)". Library.ucla.edu. 2003-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  3. ^ Michael S. Neiberg, Fighting the Great War: A Global History, Harvard University Press, 2005. p. 15.
  4. ^ a b Public Domain Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ Kramer, Alan (2008). Dynamic Of Destruction, Culture and mass killing in the first world war. Penguin. ISBN 9781846140136.
  6. ^ a b Gibson, Craig (January 30, 2008). "The culture of destruction in the First World War". Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  7. ^ Knuth 2006, p. 164.
  8. ^ Tuchman 1962, p. 321.
  9. ^ The burning of the library of Leuven and the international response, Mark Derez, 2012, University Archives KU Leuven (pp. 9-12)
  10. ^ *Ellis, L. F. (1954) The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940. J. R. M. Butler (ed.). HMSO. London (p. 62)
  11. ^ Derez p. 13
  12. ^ arenbergorkest.ulyssis.be Template:Nl
  13. ^ "'Apostle of the Lepers,' Spanish mystic among 10 to be canonized". Catholic News Agency. www.catholicnewsagency.com. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  14. ^ "Pope Proclaims Five New Saints". Radio Vaticana. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  15. ^ Boeynaems, Libert H. (1913). "Father Damien (Joseph de Veuster)" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. ^ "Kraków - Miasta Bliźniacze". Miejska Platforma Internetowa Magiczny Kraków (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-08-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leuven.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Leuven.
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