Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Off the beaten path in Leuven, Belgium

With no lack of Belgian history (or beer), this university town's worth your stop.

Lucky students get to reside in these 13th century houses at the Unesco world heritage site of The Great Beguinage in Leuven, Belgium
Lucky students get to reside in these 13th century houses at the Unesco world heritage site of The Great Beguinage in Leuven, Belgium

Leuven, Belgium, might look like a small town on a map, but visiting, we found a captivating city filled with students, rich history, and great places to eat and have a locally brewed beer.

It's only a short stroll from local brewery Domus to Leuven's gothic city hall.

For centuries, Leuven relied on a steady influx of students to Leuven University for its culture; as a result, the city center has always been full of things to do for younger visitors like my sister and I. We visited the city in early September and spent three days being amazed by its history and its cuisine.

Getting around

The great thing about most Belgian cities is their size. We stayed at a hotel near the train station, and it took us only a ten-minute walk to wind up in the city center. From there, we walked everywhere: almost everything in Leuven's city center is within walking distance.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Students enjoy the September sun in front of Leuven Town Hall.

What to do

There's plenty to see in this town if you're into history. A great way to spend an hour or so on a Saturday afternoon is to visit the famous gothic city hall, which alone makes a trip to the city worthwhile. You can catch a tour at the local tourist office for only a couple of Euros. In our case, our guide turned out to be a lovely lady of about eighty years old. She gave us a brief history of the great city hall with its rich exterior (in Dutch, French and English!). She threw in a bonus by showing our group the inside of the building: the lavishly decorated salons where Leuvians can get married and the former mayor's office.

Besides the many old universities and churches like St. Peter's Cathedral, another awesome piece of history is the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Great Beguinage. A short walk from the city center, this 13th-century neighborhood is a contrast from the rest of the city. These cobblestone streets are quiet; the little parks, bridges and old houses breathe an otherworldly kind of relaxation. Though in former centuries, beguines (pious women who didn't belong to a religious order and needed accommodation) lived there, nowadays lucky foreign exchange students get to reside in these cute little houses (top).

Where to eat and drink

For great food and beer, go to the Muntstraat when the weather allows outside dining. We were lucky when we visited: the small alley, filled with small bistros, restaurants and cafés, had chairs and tables lined up outside. Though this little street with its charming waiters might feel like a tourist trap at first, the street is actually popular among locals, too.

A great way to get to know the Belgian beer culture is offered by Domus, a small brewery just off the centrally located Grote Markt. If you're traveling with eight people or more, you can take a tour of the brewery. Otherwise, just have a seat in the cozy tavern, enjoy a snack and try their very own Domus beer. If you like a better view of the square, just sit down at any of the many cafes lining the perimeters – they all serve an abundance of Belgian beers in all imaginable sizes, flavors and colors.

A bit farther north of the city center, De Blauwe Schuit (The Blue Barge) offers a nice getaway from Leuven's hustle and bustle. Enter through an archway into a quiet courtyard for a lunch or aperitif. Don't be scared - as we were - by the house-peacock Joske. He strolls around the courtyard surprising guests. We were kind of startled when he just showed up at our table begging for our peanuts, but because he's quite friendly to customers, we actually grew fond of the quirky bird walking around a bar.

For a great time at night, turn your attention to the Oude Markt, just a five-minute walk from the Grote Markt. Here bars of all imaginable sorts line the square, which students lovingly call the "longest bar in the country." This place is full of fun every night. On weekdays, it's filled with students; on weekends, it's mostly tourists looking for a place to have a great evening.

Though less famous than Bruges and far smaller than Brussels, Leuven – with its great food, great people and an amazing story to tell – is definitely worth your visit.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss

“This is a top-notch production.”
Next Article

Morricone Youth, Berkley Hart, Dark Entities, Black Heart Procession, Monsters Of Hip-Hop

Live movie soundtracks, birthdays and more in Balboa Park, Grantville, Oceanside, Little Italy
Lucky students get to reside in these 13th century houses at the Unesco world heritage site of The Great Beguinage in Leuven, Belgium
Lucky students get to reside in these 13th century houses at the Unesco world heritage site of The Great Beguinage in Leuven, Belgium

Leuven, Belgium, might look like a small town on a map, but visiting, we found a captivating city filled with students, rich history, and great places to eat and have a locally brewed beer.

It's only a short stroll from local brewery Domus to Leuven's gothic city hall.

For centuries, Leuven relied on a steady influx of students to Leuven University for its culture; as a result, the city center has always been full of things to do for younger visitors like my sister and I. We visited the city in early September and spent three days being amazed by its history and its cuisine.

Getting around

The great thing about most Belgian cities is their size. We stayed at a hotel near the train station, and it took us only a ten-minute walk to wind up in the city center. From there, we walked everywhere: almost everything in Leuven's city center is within walking distance.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Students enjoy the September sun in front of Leuven Town Hall.

What to do

There's plenty to see in this town if you're into history. A great way to spend an hour or so on a Saturday afternoon is to visit the famous gothic city hall, which alone makes a trip to the city worthwhile. You can catch a tour at the local tourist office for only a couple of Euros. In our case, our guide turned out to be a lovely lady of about eighty years old. She gave us a brief history of the great city hall with its rich exterior (in Dutch, French and English!). She threw in a bonus by showing our group the inside of the building: the lavishly decorated salons where Leuvians can get married and the former mayor's office.

Besides the many old universities and churches like St. Peter's Cathedral, another awesome piece of history is the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Great Beguinage. A short walk from the city center, this 13th-century neighborhood is a contrast from the rest of the city. These cobblestone streets are quiet; the little parks, bridges and old houses breathe an otherworldly kind of relaxation. Though in former centuries, beguines (pious women who didn't belong to a religious order and needed accommodation) lived there, nowadays lucky foreign exchange students get to reside in these cute little houses (top).

Where to eat and drink

For great food and beer, go to the Muntstraat when the weather allows outside dining. We were lucky when we visited: the small alley, filled with small bistros, restaurants and cafés, had chairs and tables lined up outside. Though this little street with its charming waiters might feel like a tourist trap at first, the street is actually popular among locals, too.

A great way to get to know the Belgian beer culture is offered by Domus, a small brewery just off the centrally located Grote Markt. If you're traveling with eight people or more, you can take a tour of the brewery. Otherwise, just have a seat in the cozy tavern, enjoy a snack and try their very own Domus beer. If you like a better view of the square, just sit down at any of the many cafes lining the perimeters – they all serve an abundance of Belgian beers in all imaginable sizes, flavors and colors.

A bit farther north of the city center, De Blauwe Schuit (The Blue Barge) offers a nice getaway from Leuven's hustle and bustle. Enter through an archway into a quiet courtyard for a lunch or aperitif. Don't be scared - as we were - by the house-peacock Joske. He strolls around the courtyard surprising guests. We were kind of startled when he just showed up at our table begging for our peanuts, but because he's quite friendly to customers, we actually grew fond of the quirky bird walking around a bar.

For a great time at night, turn your attention to the Oude Markt, just a five-minute walk from the Grote Markt. Here bars of all imaginable sorts line the square, which students lovingly call the "longest bar in the country." This place is full of fun every night. On weekdays, it's filled with students; on weekends, it's mostly tourists looking for a place to have a great evening.

Though less famous than Bruges and far smaller than Brussels, Leuven – with its great food, great people and an amazing story to tell – is definitely worth your visit.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Big swordfish, big marlin, and big money

Trout opener at Santee Lakes
Next Article

At 4pm, this Farmer's Table restaurant in Chula Vista becomes Acqua e Farina

Brunch restaurant by day, Roman style trattoria by night
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader