Leuven

caption=Gothic buildings seen from Pieter De Somerplein in Leuven Leuven (Louvain) is a flourishing and lively city of about 100,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It's a genuine university city which reflects in the streets. During the academic year (end of September until end of June) the city is full of young people, especially on weekdays. Sometimes it may seem that there are no other people living in the city. Summer in Leuven in general is calmer, although a lot of summer events are organised. The university that was founded in 1425 and has more than 40,000 students is the oldest catholic university in the world. The historic centre is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.

Leuven has a very central location in Flanders, which makes it the ideal starting point to discover the other parts of the nation: Brussels is practically just around the junction and the coast is only a 1.5 hour train ride away and Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liège, Mechelen and Hasselt are nearby.

In recent years Leuven is visited by an increasing number of tourists as a result of the city's efforts in tourism and city renovation. In any case Leuven has everything to appeal to both young and not-so-young: buzzing Halal dining, intriguing and sometimes stunning historic sites and the important and worldwide respected university and two seemingly unending shopping streets are sure to be to your liking.

Leuven Halal Explorer

Begijnhofleuven2005sep2 - Groot Begijnhof, UNESCO legacy

The city has a long and interesting history, being founded probably in the 9th century. It was particularly interesting because of the location, at the river Dijle and close to Brussels. Most of the city was thrashed and burned to the ground by the German invasion in World War I, and was again damaged during World War II. The historic centre itself however has been preserved and historic buildings like the University Library have been restored, partly with foreign relief funds.

Leuven is located just east of Brussels (20 km). It is the capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. This means it houses a lot of administrative services and the Province Building, where the province council is located. Its main industries are technology (due to the University) and soft-drinks. Important companies such as InBev and Imec have their home bases in Leuven.

Leuven contains two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Groot Begijnhof (Grand Beguinage) is part of the Flemish Beguinages. The Belfry on Street Peter's Church is a part of the Belfries of Belgium and France. The University buildings and the Historic Centre are also on Belgium's tentative list to become a World Heritage site in its own right.

Travel to Leuven

Leuven Grote Markt - Grote Markt in Leuven with City Hall.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Leuven

Brussels Airport in Zaventem is the main international airport in Belgium and has many direct international connections to North America, Asia and especially Africa. Brussels has connections to all European capitals and most other major cities.

To get to Leuven from Zaventem, you may take a suburban train to Leuven (13 minutes) for €9.10. It runs every half hour on weekdays and three times per hour on weekends. You may also take buses 616, 651 or 652 from the airport bus station to and from Leuven train station (1,25 hour, €3). Taxis wait at the arrivals area (c.a. 20 mins, depending on traffic, ±€70, ±€45 for pre-booked taxis).

More low-cost carriers arrive at Brussels South Charleroi Airport but travel duration to Leuven is considerably longer (at least 1,5h). You can purchase a special bus+train ticket for €15,80 that will enable you to take the bus from Charleroi airport to Charleroi train station, and from there on to Leuven train station. There is no direct train link between Leuven and Charleroi; you have to switch trains in Brussels. Another possibility is taking the FlibCo shuttle at Brussels Zuid/Midi station which runs every half hour. Pre-booked taxis cost roughly €90. More information on the airport's website.

By car

Leuven can be conveniently reached by car. The E40 highway runs from Brussels via Leuven to Liège, whereas the E314 highway links Leuven with the province of Limburg and with Maastricht and Aachen, at about 1 hour distance. The city has recently installed a Parking Guidance System that guides you to the larger parkings in the downtown. Look for the electronic signs on the city ring road.

It is advised not to start looking for a free parking spot on the street, since it's expensive and the many one-way streets can be a real maze when you're driving.

Note that the speed limit around the city is 50 km/h, or 30 km/h inside the ring road and in certain other areas. Your chances of getting a ticket when crossing the speed limit, even slightly, are close to 100%, especially on the ring road.

By Rail

Station Leuven - Train Station in Leuven. Leuven Railway Station GPS: 50.881454,4.716000 is one of the busiest of Belgium. There are frequent direct trains to and from:

• Brussels Airport (13 minutes)
• Brussels (Brussels North: 18 minutes; Brussels Central: 24 minutes; Brussels Zuid/Midi: 30 minutes)
• Mechelen (20 minutes), Lier and Antwerp (50 minutes)
• Ghent (1 hour) and Bruges (1 hour 20 minutes)
• The Flemish Coast, with trains to Oostende|Ostend, Knokke and Blankenberge (1 hour 30 minutes) and De Panne (2 hours and 30 minutes)
• Aalst, Sint-Niklaas and Kortrijk to the west
• Aarschot, Diest, Tienen, Sint-Truiden, Hasselt, Genk and Tongeren to the east
• Liège (30 minutes), Verviers (55 minutes) and Eupen (1 hour 15 minutes) in the eastern part of Wallonia
• Mons (1 hour 30 minutes), Nivelles and Soignies in the western part of Wallonia
• Louvain-la-Neuve|Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, where there is a connection with the train to Namur and Luxembourg

Almost all cities can be visited by train through the Brussels North or Brussels Zuid/Midi hub. Thalys and Eurostar trains depart from Brussels Zuid/Midi.

Travel on a Bus in Leuven

There are bus lines from and to the cities around Leuven (Brussels, Tienen, Aarschot, Mechelen, Diest and Wavre). Buses are sometimes faster (and always cheaper) if you want to go to Herentals, Turnhout, Geel or other towns in the Kempen region. Almost all buses are operated by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. The Bus station GPS: 50.882074,4.714760 is located right next to the train station, but many bus lines also have stops on other locations in the city.

FlixBus offers direct connections (once daily), westwards to Ghent, Bruges and Ostend and eastward to Maastricht, Cologne and all the way to Prague.

Best way to travel in Leuven by a Taxi

Licensed taxi's have yellow-and-blue (or the older red-and-white) colors on top. They can be found mostly at the airport. One-way to Leuven usually takes 20' (if traffic isn't dense) and costs about €70.

How to get around in Leuven

Leuven station Martelarenplein - Martelarenplein in front of the Station.

Leuven Fochplein A - Fochplein, next to the St. Peter's Church.

The city has recently installed several new touristic road signs and city maps at several locations, which make getting around in the city a lot easier. Don't be afraid to ask people on the street for information, as they are usually very open and helpful towards tourists - some will even walk you to your destination.

Public transportation

The public transport company De Lijn has a number of bus lines through Leuven. Centre of their network is the Train Station and the stop at the Fochplein. Since distances are not that big, you won't really need public transport unless you're going to Meerdaalwoud, Heverleebos, Campus Arenberg or the hospital Gasthuisberg. There is no subway or tram line.

Walk in Leuven

When arriving in Leuven by train, walk to the Martelarenplein in front of the Station and walk down the Bondgenotenlaan in order to get to the downtown: the Grote Markt (Grand Place) where the tourist information desk is situated. Discover the rest of the historic downtown from there. Note that you can also take the Diestsestraat, which is a pedestrian-only street.

By bike

The city has many special areas for cyclers and most - but not all (beware of police controls) - 1-way roads can be visited in both ways for cycles. It's very easy and comfortable. Make sure to lock your bike to a fixed object or the bike will be stolen. You can also rent bicycles. More information at the Leuven Tourism Board Desk (near City Hall).

By thumb

In the downtown, it will prove quite difficult to get around by thumb, since most streets and squares are car-free. If you want to thumb out of the city, pick a spot on the city ring road and hope for a quick pick-up. Be advised most traffic is local or headed for Brussels. The Koning Boudewijnlaan is a good spot as well, since it leads to the offramp to the E40 (Brussels -Liège) and the E314 (Limburg (Belgium) | Limburg).

Remember to hold up a sign with your final destination, as most people will not 'just' pick up hitchhikers.

Best way to travel in Leuven by a Taxi

Licensed taxis can be identified by the blue-and-yellow/red-and-white symbol and can be found near the Fochplein and the Martelarenplein. Although you probably won't need one, given the perfect railway connection and they're probably the easiest way to get to the Airport, for example at night.

What to see in Leuven

50.878970|4.700712|zoom=14 Universiteitsbibliotheek - University Library on the Ladeuzeplein.

You can get more information about these sites and more at the Leuven Tourism Board Desk, situated on the Grote Markt, near City Hall. While the most important old-looking buildings (Town Hall, Gothic Church, etc.) are indeed from Medieval times, most of the common houses that look old are actually (non faithful) reconstructions of buildings that were destroyed in the first World War; these buildings carry a stone-carved sign with the coat of arm of Leuven and the indicaation "1914".

• Town Hall - Stadhuis - Grote Markt 9 50.8789, 4.7012 - A richly decorated gothic building on the Grote Markt. The belfry is..

- The small port of Leuven Jachthaven. a port located at the end of the canal connecting Leuven and Mechelen. In this area a lot of industrial sites are being transformed in expensive apartments. It is the home of Stella Artois.

• University Library - Universiteitsbibliotheek - Mgr. Ladeuzeplein 21 50.877974, 4.707384 ☎ +32 16 32 4660 - A beautiful building, a valuable collection. Also has an interesting, huge sculpture of a dead beetle (Totem, by Jan Fabre) on a needle in front of it.

• Fonske Rector De Somerplein GPS 50.8793 ,4.7023. The "fountain of wisdom"
• Lakenhal 50.877836, 4.700491 - The administrative centre of the K.U.Leuven.

• Groot Begijnhof - Grand Béguinage - 50.872, 4.697 South of the Grote Markt - This beguinage and the larger of the two in the town, is..

• St. Gertrude Church - Sint-Geertruikerk - Halfmaartstraat 50.884114, 4.699018
• St. Gertrude Abbey - Sint-Geertruiabdij - 50.883690, 4.698881
• Klein Begijnhof 50.884759, 4.698898 - The small beguinage.

• If you follow the river Dijle northwards from Brusselsestraat (near the Grote Markt) towards the area of the Klein Begijnhof, you will see a few Bruges-like scenes as the river passes by buildings.

• Park Abbey - Abdij van Park - Abdij van Park 7 50.864440, 4.717083 ☎ +32 16 40 01 51 - 1 km south of the city. On Geldenaaksebaan pass under the railroad bridge and then to the left.

• Collegium Trilingue, near the Vismarkt
• The Law Court (Gerechtshof), in the Rijschoolstraat.
• St.Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk), UNESCO world legacy on the Grote Markt.

Castle Arenberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven adj - Castle Arenberg.

• Castle of Arenberg Kasteel van Arenberg GPS 50.863,4.683. A château in the suburb of Heverlee, now a campus of the University of Leuven.

• British Military Cemetery De Jacht - Engels Militair Kerkhof - Bierbeekpleindreef 50.848459, 4.706380 - 5km south of the city

• Old Market (Oude Markt), filled with restaurants
• Botanical Garden (Kruidtuin) There are picnic tables in the South East corner on your left from the entrance gate.
• War Monument for those who have fallen in WWI and WWII, on the Martelarenplein.

• Monday - Monday - Museum - 50.8788, 4.7046 - The city museum, located at the Vanderkelenstraat, close to the Ladeuzeplein and the Bondgenotenlaan. It has a permanent collection of medieval and modern art, and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. Tickets give you access to the museum in the cellars of the St.Peter's Church.

• Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein are two adjacent squares with a mixture of modern and older buildings. In a corner of Herbert Hooverplein is a monument depicting people travelling by hot air balloon.

• Keizersberg Abbey Mechelsestraat 202 50.888610, 4.696482 end of Mechelsestraat, on top of the hill with Leuven's own "statue of Liberty", a 15 meters high statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city from the park surrounding the abbey.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Leuven

St-Pieterskerk-Leuven - St. Peter's Church on the Grand Place.

Culture and Landmarks

• Visit the historic centre and the University buildings and the St. Peter's Church on the Grand Place. Information and guided tours can be found at the Leuven Tourism Board Desk.
• Leuven has a cultural organization called 30CC that organizes all kinds of cultural activities around the year, for example in the City Theater on the Bondgenotenlaan. Less frequent during summer.
• A City Tour Bus leaves for sightseeing around the city from the Fochplein, situated right next to the Grand Place and City Hall.

Events

• Zythoos Bierfestival

2023 Event | April |28 |month= 29 |Leuven - Belgium Over 100 soft drinks

• Visit the summer events Beleuvenissen (Every Friday in July), Hapje Tapje (First Sunday of August), Marktrock (weekend of August 15) and Leuven Kermis (Leuven Carnival) )(September). The last weekend of July or the first weekend of August, Monday museum hosts a festival in cooperation with the cultural centre and Het Depot.
• Beleuvenissen is a musical and cultural festival on the squares in the downtown.
• Hapje Tapje is the one day in the year all restaurants put stalls outside to promote their goods.
• Leuven Kermis is a carnival situated on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein (just next to it).
• Visit the Jaarmarkt (Year Market) the first Monday of September: The entire downtown is transformed into one big market. Cattle is also sold in the streets surrounding the Sint-Jacobsplein, 500m from the Grote Markt, which is quite the spectacle. Schools in Leuven are closed for this occasion, so expect a lot of visitors.

Autumnforest - Meerdaalwoud in Oud-Heverlee.

Green

• Have a picnic in the Sint-Donatuspark in the downtown, 50m from the Ladeuzeplein.
• Visit the Kruidtuin or botanical garden on the Kapucijnenvoer, a side-street of the Brusselsestraat. The garden was founded in 1738 and is the oldest in Belgium.
• Make a walk or have a bike ride in Meerdaalwoud or Heverleebos and the green lungs of the city in the suburbs Heverlee and Oud-Heverlee easily reachable by bike or bus (15 minutes). Many good walking paths. Some parts of the forest are still untouched. For more information have a look at Ad's Path, describing many different possibilities for fun activities and how to reach them by public transport with the artwork (wood sculptures) made by Ad Wouters as the central theme.
• Take a boat trip down the Vaart and the Leuven-Mechelen channel. Step aboard in the small port in Northern Leuven, 500m from the train station.

Markets

• Visit the market every Friday on the Ladeuze- and Hooverplein, flea market every Saturday in the vicinity of the Grote Markt (Mechelsestraat), and flower market in the pedestrian-only part of the Brusselsestraat (the street leading away from the Grote Markt), every Saturday as well.
• Visit the Christmas market and shop for Christmas gifts, taste local specialties and drink a glass of Glühwein or brandy. Annually in December (2010: 10–19 December) on the Ladeuze- and Hooverplein.

Other

Stella Artois brewery Leuven - Stella Artois brewery.

• Visit Inbev's main Belgian soft drink factory (Vaartstraat 94, ph 0032 (0)16 247 111, fax 0032 (0)16 247 497), which produces such famous names as Stella Artois, Vieux Temps and Leffe Radieuse.

• Sports - Can be trainingd in the city Sports Centre, with a swimming swimmingpool (including small subtropic part with slides, private secluded sauna, steambaths and jacuzzi), fitness centre, squash courts and more.

• Cheer on the Leuven teams:

• Oud-Heverlee Leuven - Football Club

• Bears Leuven - Basketball Club

• Leuven Chiefs - Icehockey Team

• Leuven Lions - American football team

Study in Leuven

• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the oldest Catholic University still in existence in the world (founded in 1425).
• Group T
• Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Leuven

Leuven Diestsestraat A - The end of the Diestsestraat, near St. Peter's Church.

Shopping in Leuven is easy: you can pick one of the two primary streets both starting at the Train Station and ending at the Grand Place, near City Hall and St. Peter's Church. Stores usually close around 6PM, and at 8PM on Thursday. Supermarkets are usually open until 8PM, 9PM on Friday.

• The Diestsestraat is the most important shopping street in Leuven. It has been recently changed to be for pedestrians only for the total length of the street (about 1 km!). This street also has two small shopping malls, one of them housing the Kinepolis movie theatres.
• Look for smaller shops around the Brusselsestraat, Mechelsestraat and the Parijsstraat.
• The Bondgenotenlaan also features a lot of shops, but is also the primary street between the railwaystation area and the centre.
• Leuven has a lot of clothing stores, jewellers, some fine bookshops and of course a few chocolatiers where you can buy genuine Belgian Chocolate.
• Seasonal sales provide discounts up to 70% in January and July. Expect the city to be extremely busy, especially on week-ends.

• Tartufo - Louis Melsensstraat 14 50.88073, 4.70898 One block north of Bondgenotenlaan ☎ +32 16 23 06 42 - A small, independent Chocolates shop that specializes in truffles in both conventional and unconventional flavors. Cash only.

Halal Food & Restaurants

MuntstraatLeuven-01 - The Muntstraat, with a lot of cosy restaurants.

In general, you'd have to really make an effort to find a horrible meal in Leuven. Almost all restaurants are tasty and relatively affordable (for Belgium), given the student population. Many Belgians enjoy French fries and Snacks in a Frietkot if they're looking for a quick and affordable bite. Try fresh North Sea Mussels, during their season (roughly August–March). Every year, you'll see the big signs announcing their arrival in front of some Halal restaurants. Smoking is not allowed in restaurants.

The more common, bigger restaurants can be found right next to City Hall on the Grote Markt.

Look for cheaper restaurants on the Oude Markt (Old Market) as that's where the student population mostly enjoys their meal. It has many smaller restaurants (the Old Market is sometimes called the longest bar in Europe), but all of them stop serving food after 22:00.

There are many good eateries and a great atmosphere (eating outside during the Summer is a can't-miss!) in the Muntstraat, very different styles from classical French Belgian cuisine to "Mexican", Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese and (Japanese). Consult the brand new website for more information. But these restaurants of this street are quite overpriced.

Parijsstraat has some Halal restaurants with a nice atmosphere.

The Martelarenplein houses a lot of restaurants just a stone's throw away from the train station.

The cheapest choice are student cantines called Alma, which serve quite decent food for the whole meal less than €7-10 (two in the centre, one in the campus and many small ones). Students of KU Leuven get a discount, which makes each meal €5 cheaper.

• Pyramid Naamsestraat 29 50.877393, 4.700625 is nice and affordable Pizzas & Halal Kebab place. This place is students' popular for its delicious and affordable Pizzas, which cost only €5!

• Cafe Leffe Bondgenotenlaan 20 50.879436, 4.704633

Good food and as you would expect excellent selection of soft drinks.

• De Klimop - Martelarenplein 5 50.880758, 4.714115 ☎ +32 16 22 86 21 - Good Belgium food (menu also in English) with tables inside and outside on the square opposite the main train station

• La Vignette - Martelarenplein 8 50.881257, 4.713853 ☎ +32 16 20 03 32 Classic Belgium

• PepeNero - Muntstraat 19 50.878077, 4.702985 ☎ +32 16 22 24 25 Very good Italian

• Brasserie De Abdijmolen - Abdij van Park 4 50.864152, 4.714839 ☎ +32 16 62 96 00 - In an old abbey you will find a modern furnished restaurant serving excellent Belgium dishes.

Plaine Werchter 2010 - Rock Werchter.

In Belgium and the legal drinking age in bars and cafés is 16 for soft drinks and 18 for spirits.

Festivals

Attend the nearby and world renowned Rock Werchter music festival in late June/early July, or Marktrock in the downtown, around August 15.

Bars and Clubs

Oude Markt Leuven - Oude Markt, with over 45 restaurants.

Leuven is truly a soft drink city, with the world's largest brewery Inbev being founded here. Try the many tasty soft drinks, but beware, some have much higher alcohol levels than in the rest of the world! Bars are mostly entrance-free and prices are relatively low.

• You can visit the many bars around the Old Market every night, but expect a lot more ambiance on Wednesday and Thursday during the Academic Year, when the student population is in the city (late September - early December and early February - end of May).
• The area around the Tiensestraat, where there are bars owned by student organisations:

• Huis der Rechten - Tiensestraat 53 50.877223, 4.704718 for law students

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• Politika - Tiensestraat 55 50.877222, 4.704836 for social science students

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• Recup - Tiensestraat 51 50.877290, 4.704733 for psychology students

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• Dulci - Naamsestraat 34 50.877273, 4.700442 for economics students

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• Fakbar Letteren - Blijde Inkomststraat 1 50.877355, 4.708023 for linguistics students

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• Délibéré - for the industrial engineers

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Regulations have become stricter in the last few years and visitors of these bars may be requested to provide proof that they are KU Leuven students.

Other bars filled with young people are

• Café Belge - Oude Markt 35 50.877909, 4.698998 ☎ +32 497 10 72 06 - Has a wide variety of Trappists, abbey soft drinks and special soft drinks. In the day it is a normal cosy bar, during nighttime the bar is more filled with a younger and more progressive crowd.

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• De Giraf - Oude Markt 38 50.877957, 4.699037 - If you are a fan of shots, this is one of the places to be. With over hundreds of kinds of shots going from classics like a B52 to dared combinations like a Chilly Willy (drink at your own risk!), this is a perfect place to get a little buzz going. De Giraf has been mistakenly associated with a left-wing crowd but when you enter you will immediately notice that this is a sad cause of prejudice.

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• Lapaz - Tiensestraat 73 50.877030, 4.705430

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• The Seven Oaks - Hanengang 3 50.878572, 4.703780 - Located somewhat strangely in an alley, but with a great atmosphere and nice music. Lots of students. "Party hour" varies, but usually Seven Oaks is a safe bet after twelve if you want to have fun.

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• Alegria - Oude Markt 31 50.877644, 4.698741 ☎ +32 16 20 11 07 - Very popular with college kids and high school students alike.

• Domus - Tiensestraat 8 50.878632, 4.703015 ☎ +32 16 20 14 49 small home brewery and tavern and the organic juice they brew is only sold there for consumption.

Most parties take place in clubs in the downtown (and require a small entrance fee, €2-€4):

• Club Montraal - Naamsestraat, 100m from City Hall

• Lido - Bogaardenstraat 33 50.878325, 4.709118 Right next to the Ladeuzeplein ☎ +32 16 23 23 83
• Musicafé - Muntstraat 5 50.878297, 4.702165 ☎ +32 16 20 06 41
• Albatros | Brusselsestraat 15 50.879479, 4.699497 100m from City Hall ☎ +32 16 22 31 09

Larger venues are situated outside the downtown, and have a slightly higher entrance fee (€5-€9) and none-alcoholic drinks cost a bit more.

• Club Room - about 8km from the downtown in the suburb Herent - Open on Friday and Saturday, offering theme evenings such as a friendly evening every first Friday of the month. Take a taxi or a nightbus.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Leuven

Leuven - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Leuven, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Leuven. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Leuven and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Leuven. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Leuven. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inLeuven: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Leuven.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Leuven: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Leuven, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Leuven.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Leuven, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Leuven, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Leuven and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Leuven, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Leuven, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Leuven without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Leuven is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Leuven.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Leuven is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Leuven, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Leuven Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Leuven

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

• Youth Hostel Blauwput - Martelarenlaan 11 50.882735, 4.717726 - From €19,50 per day The Hostelling International youth hostel in Leuven. It's very modern and new, with a bar, a lounge, a terrace during summer.

• Leuven City Hostel - Ravenstraat 37 50.878535, 4.708984 - Beds from €18 Independent backpackers hostel in the centre. Nice and cosy, small hostel. Including breakfast and free coffee/hot Chocolates all day. Free Wifi Internet available. Shared and superior Muslim friendly rooms available.

• Many Bed&Breakfasts can be found on the official tourist site - Relatively low price (starting from €30)
• The Cube Hostel | Brusselsestraat 110, 3000 Leuven
• Hotel La Royale - Martelarenplein 6 50.880940, 4.714037 ☎ +32 16 22 12 52 From €50 per day Cosy hotel with relatively affordable rooms, in front of the station.

• Begijnhof Congres Hotel - Tervuursevest 70 50.871049, 4.695438 ☎ +32 16 29 10 10 From €115 per day Luxurious business hotel near the Grand Béguinage. More suitable for businessmen.

• Novotel Leuven Centru, - Vuurkruisenlaan 4 50.885844, 4.710510 ☎ +32 16 93 90 01 From €115 per day. Modern hotel about 250m from the station. Easily accessible by car.

• IBIS Leuven - Brusselsestraat 52 50.880437, 4.696629 ☎ +32 16 29 31 11 From €65 per day. Cheaper hotel about 100m from the Grand Place.

• Hotel New Damshire - Schapenstraat 1 50.875891, 4.697797 ☎ +32 16 74 52 45 From €108 per day Cosy, somewhat business-like hotel about 100m from the Oude Markt in a quiet street.

• Park Inn Leuven - Martelarenlaan 36 50.881347, 4.717273 ☎ +32 16 60-10-00 Primarily a business hotel connected to Leuven Central Station via a pedestrian bridge. Modern well furnished, reasonable breakfast. Public parking under the hotel.

• Theater Hotel - Bondgenotenlaan 20 50.879333, 4.704613 ☎ +32 16 22 28 19 From €99 per day. Small and somewhat luxurious hotel, 100m from City Hall and the Stadsschouwburg (Theatre Hall).

• Hotel Binnenhof - Maria-Theresiastraat 65 50.878755, 4.712168 ☎ +32 16 20-55-92 From €90 per day Comfortable hotel 300 meters from the train station and in the neighborhood of the Ladeuzeplein and the arts faculty.

• Klooster Hotel - Onze Lieve Vrouwstraat 18 50.879203, 4.695724 ☎ +32 16 21 31 41 Modern high quality hotel just outside the downtown, nearby the old market. Situated within an old cloister.

Stay Safe

Leuven is a very safe and clean city, with very low crime records.

In general and there are no unsafe spots in the city best avoided. The streets are safe, even at night, although you better avoid public gardens at night. Even though most of them have closing hours which vary throughout the seasons. Of course, it is advised to take the precautions Muslims are urged to take everywhere (e.g. to avoid pickpocketing). If you have a bike, make sure it is secured with a decent lock as students tend to 'borrow' bicycles. Similarly, jackets left unattended in bars may be at risk.

The downtown police station is located next to City Hall at Grote Markt. Don't hesitate to walk in if you have questions. Police usually patrol by vehicle and on foot, and most of the times anonymously instead of walking around in uniform (especially at night). Try to avoid the area around Sint-Maartensdal and De Bruul (located in between Brouwersstraat and Pereboomstraat). There are also some spots in the suburb Kessel-Lo which are better avoided at night.(Casablanca and Vredespleintje)

Beware that police are especially harsh on traffic violations (also the ones made on a bike!), violent behavior and public disturbance.

Note that Belgium and the Netherlands have different drug regulations! Smoking pot (marihuana) is officially not allowed, although it is tolerated when done indoors. An adult can never have more than needed for 'personal use'. Expect any more to be confiscated if they are found by police and you risk being penalized.

Useful phone numbers:

• Police: 101
• Emergencies: 112 (can be used from mobile phones).
• Local police: 016210611 (+3216210611 from abroad).

Leuven is a student city, and therefore has had a history of minor vandalism (garbage being thrown around, throwing organic juice cans) and public drunkenness. Lately, this situation has improved when talks between local residents, student organizations and police were installed. Stewards now keep things organized and make sure the party is kept inside instead of in the streets. It is therefore advisable to keep a low profile in the streets at night, as police and stewards will act.

Medical Issues in Leuven

University Hospitals Leuven Gasthuisberg - UZ Leuven, late 2008.

Leuven has two larger hospitals. The Academic Hospital UZ Leuven Gasthuisberg is the largest hospital in Belgium and is located just along the ring road. The Regional Hospital Heilig Hart is located in the downtown. As always, dial 112 when you are in distress. You will be taken to either of both hospitals.

For smaller health problems, Belgians usually go to their family doctor, who are often in a group training in city areas. Ask your hotel, hostel or guide for information on the nearest doctor. Going to the Emergency Room for small health problems will not only cost you, it will also take longer to get help (~45 minutes).

Leuven literally has a pharmacy at every corner. You can not buy medication in a supermarket.

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