Leuven City Profile

Leuven (Louvain in French, Lowen in German) is the capital of the Belgian province, Flemish Brabant. It is situated on the river, Dijle, and is located about 15 miles from the Belgian capital, Brussels.

Here are some some quick facts Leuven:

Total population: 89, 910 (44, 331 males and 45, 579 females)

According to legend, the red-white-red colors of Leuven’s flag depict the bloodstained shores of the river Dijle, after a battle between the Viking army and German Emperor, Arnulf of Carinthia.

Belgium’s largest as well as oldest university, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven) is located in Leuven. It is considered to be one of the best universities in all of Europe. The university was founded in 1455 and features an extensive library, which was destroyed twice during both the World Wars. It was restored after the war and stands tall today.

Although it is mainly a college town, there are several museums, city parks, art exhibitions, markets, small local flavored shops, restaurants and bars in Leuven that provide entertainment for locals as well as tourists.

Leuven is very popular for its architecture, but most importantly for it’s world famous beer. Stella Artois is a Belgian lager brewed in Leuven by Inbev, the largest brewery company in the world. The brewery and its main offices are located in the northeast part of the city between the railway station and the canal leading to the city of Mechelen. Established in 1366, the brewery didn’t gain international acclaim until 1926. Currently, it produces the most popular brand of beer in the United Kingdom. Stella Artois is also the title sponsor of the Queen’s Club Championships, an annual tennis tournament held in London right before the Wimbledon Championships.

Leuven is also well known for its summer rock festival Marktrock. The word “Marktrock” comes from the Dutch word, markt, which means market. It is a 3-day gala always ending on the 15th of August. The festival draws close to 350,000 people each year and celebrated its 23rd anniversary this year. The official website for Marktrock is http://www.marktrock.be/

It looks like Andy and the US Davis Cup team along with the fans who attend the Davis Cup tie will find plenty to entertain themselves with while visiting the lovely city of Leuven.

Go USA!