Leuven
More than just a place to sleep.
Leuven, the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant, is located just 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Brussels. The city has been home to the oldest university of the Low Countries, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, since 1425. Leuven has all it takes to seduce the demanding tourist: small alleys, public squares, bars, cafés and a large variety of restaurants, old architecture, impressive monuments and trendy boutiques.
For the culturally minded, the M-Museum is a must-see with its surprising mix of old and contemporary art. Major landmarks include the impressive town hall in Gothic style, the Grand Place with the Sint-Pieters church, the lively Muntstraat, ...
Leuven is also renowned for its nightlife and is considered the ‘beer capital’ of Belgium. Not coincidentally, the worldwide Anheuser-Busch Inbev brewery is headquartered here. Many important technology companies (e.g. IMEC) saw the light of day largely as spin-offs from the academic community.