12 of the best things to do in Leuven, Belgium

Although it’s often overlooked in favor of the bigger, shinier cities of Brussels and Bruges, Leuven has so much to offer. It’s known as Belgium’s university town, and as such it’s been a center for academia and culture for centuries.

Only 25 km / 15.5 miles from Brussels, Leuven has long been a popular destination for day-trippers from the country’s capital. Once upon a time, its role in the cloth trade made it one of the most important cities of the region. You can still see the grand cloth hall in the center, alongside the stunning university buildings, outlandish town hall, and iconic university library.

Check out this list of things to do in Leuven to plan your own getaway there.

 

Fun things to do in Leuven, Belgium

1. Admire LeuvenCity Hall

You can’t miss the Stadhuis or Leuven City Hall, even if you tried. It’s probably Leuven’s most impressive building. A fine example of Gothic architecture, construction on this extravagant building began in 1439 and wasn’t completed for 30 years. The Stadhuis has beautiful turrets and a flurry of flags, as well as numerous niches on the façade containing 236 little statues.

Amazingly, the building survived World War II by the skin of its teeth – a bomb did fall on it, but didn’t explode and merely grazed the building’s façade.

A structure to go and marvel at, or even take a guided tour which happens every afternoon for a small fee.
 

2. Relax in the Botanical Gardens

Did you know that Leuven is home to the oldest botanical garden in Belgium? This peaceful haven of calm was founded in 1738 for the University of Leuven. Originally intended as a herb garden for the university’s school of medicine, the botanical garden of Leuven is now a much larger affair that makes a gorgeous spot for winding down.

There’s an outdoor area where you can find interesting plants and flowers alongside topiary bushes and bees and chickens. The indoor greenhouse accommodates the more exotic flora with subtropical and tropical species alongside cacti and water plants. The best thing is that it’s all available to see for free.
 

3. Check out Leuven’s Shopping scene

Leuven has a varied shopping scene to keep you busy! The two main city shopping streets are the Diestsestraat and the Bondgenotenlaan that run parallel to each other, near the train station. This is where you’ll find all the main high street stores, with a few upmarket boutiques peppered between.

For a more bespoke shopping experience, you might want to check out the Mechelsestraat, Vismarkt, and the Parijsstraat. In these areas, there are more independent and locally-run shops with a bit more quirk.

The markets deserve a mention here too, as Leuven has some wonderful weekly markets. There’s the Thursday flower market on the Brusselsestraat to satisfy your nose, and the Friday general market to satiate your wallets.

On Saturday there is an artisanal market (found on the Brusselsestraat, the Pensstraat, and the Parijsstraat) as well as an antique fair at the Mathieu de Layensplein.

As you see, there are plenty of options if you want to go shopping in Leuven.
 

4. Walk around Park Abbey

Just south of Leuven is the old Park Abbey – the best-preserved abbey in all of Belgium. It was constructed in the 12th century at the wish of Duke Godrey II (also known as “the Bearded”). The abbey grounds are 42 hectares / 104 acres and are made up of pathways, ponds, meadows, avenues of trees, and even some farmland.

The history of the abbey and its grounds is pretty interesting. It was a Norbertine abbey – a religious order of the Catholic Church. It began life with just a small church at its core, which gradually expanded and flourished, at one point reaching 2,472 hectares / 6108 acres in size.

It’s been through highs and lows throughout history, from the religious wars of the 16th century to the French Revolution and beyond. Today there are only a couple of elderly canons still living at Park Abbey.

The grounds are open to the public and there are some beautiful routes for walkers or cyclists. There are also guided tours on Sunday afternoons.
 

5. Visit the beguinages of Leuven

If you visit the Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands) you’re sure to come across béguinages. These are medieval enclaves where communities of religious women (but not nuns) used to live.

There are two beguinages in Leuven – known as the Grand Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof) and the Small Beguinage. Both are utterly charming and well worth a wander through the historic cobbled streets. They both date back to the 13th century.

The Groot Begijnhof is now part of the 13 Flemish beguinages in Belgium that together are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you're wondering what to see in Leuven, this is something you shouldn't miss.
 

6. Grab a drink at the longest bar in Europe

Have you even been to Leuven, Belgium if you haven’t had a drink at the Oude Markt? Famously known as Europe’s longest bar, the Oude Markt is actually a square that is just full to bursting with bars and restaurants all clustered together and joined up. Music and food in abundance, the Oude Markt is the place to go for a taste of Leuven’s nightlife.
 

7. See iconic art at the M-Museum

The M-Museum underwent a large extension and refurbishment in 2009 and today it is a top cultural hub for Leuven. The museum’s permanent collection houses Flemish Masters alongside other historical works of art from Leuven’s past. The temporary exhibitions at the museum are always worth checking out, focusing on major international visual art exhibitions alongside a year-round schedule of theater, music, and dance performances.
 

8. Do a tour of the University Library

Leuven is a student town and has been a center of knowledge and academia ever since the 15th century. Today, Leuven’s university is the largest in Belgium and is considered the oldest Catholic university in the world. There are several stunning university buildings to go and gawp at throughout the city, but the University Library (Universiteitsbibliotheek) should absolutely make your list of best things to see in Leuven.

The original library contained around 300,000 books. Tragically, this was destroyed in World War I. It was rebuilt in the 20s and the new structure is built in the traditional Flemish Renaissance style.

You can visit the building at certain times and there’s an audio guide to give you a tour of this building, including a wartime exhibition and a fantastic balcony with amazing views across Leuven.
 

9. See how Stella Artois is made

If you’re a beer-drinker (and even if you’re not!) it’s likely that you’ll have come across Stella Artois, one of the most well-known lagers in the world. Well, Leuven is where it all began. The Stella Artois brewery is about 1 km / 0.6 miles north of the train station and offers guided tours where you can see how this pilsner beer is created today.

The modern brewery is hi-tech and automated, but the beer producers originally began work here in 1366 with Den Hoorn brewery. This eventually was taken over by Sébastien Artois in 1717.

It’s not just Stella Artois that Leuven offers, however – there are plenty of top microbreweries and craft brewers to discover in the city if that’s your thing. There’s even the Leuven beer festival that takes place in April and May.
 

10. Get a breath of fresh air at Heverlee Woods

If the city gets a bit much for you (or you stayed out too late on the Oude Markt the night before) then Heverlee Woods will make the perfect place to escape to. It’s a 2050 hectare / 5065-acre forest full of stunning shady walking routes and picnic spots. The woods are found just outside of Leuven but easily accessed from the city center by bus or train. From the woods, you can head directly into the neighboring Meerdaal forest for an even bigger walk or afternoon of mountain biking.
 

11. Take a look inside St. Peter's Church

St Peter’s Church (St-Pieterskerk) is the striking Brabantine-Gothic church that stands in the heart of Leuven on the Grote Markt, across from the town hall. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 15th century and although it does have a belfry, it was intended to be much higher than it is but soft soil under the foundation limited the architects’ dreams.

It’s a beautiful building, but the real treasures are inside. Here you can see pulpits, rood screens, and some masterpieces from the 15th and 16th centuries. This includes two famous works of art by Leuven artist Dirk Bouts.
 

12. Pay your respects to the Shrine of Father Damien

One of the most moving of Leuven attractions to visit is a crypt in the heart of the city. This is the resting place of an extraordinary man called Father Damien, who was designated “The Greatest Belgian of All Time” in 2005.

Father Damien devoted his life to caring for people with leprosy on the Hawaiian isle of Molokai. He worked as a missionary at a leper colony up until his death in 1889 (aged 49) from the disease itself.

His crypt is held in the Chapel of St Antony (the Sint-Antoniuskapel) where you can see depictions telling his interesting life story. In 2009, Father Damien was officially made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
 

There you have it – a few ideas for places to visit in Leuven to get you started on your trip to the city.

One final thing that should really be on the list of Leuven sightseeing is the city’s beloved statue – Fonske (real name: Fons Sapientiae which is “source of wisdom” in Latin). This little man is depicted pouring water (or is it beer?) into his open head while studying a book… If that doesn’t sum up the city of Leuven, I don’t know what does!
 

That's it for this post. I hope this list gave you a better idea of what to do in Leuven and will help you plan your own trip there.
 

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