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Europe Belgium Leuven See & do Vaartkom

Overview

Vaartkom

The guide was updated: 2023-10-27

Once the industrial heart of Leuven, today an entirely renovated district with buildings in a modern architectural style. There’s no better place to experience innovation in the city like the Vaartkom.

Useful Information

Address: Vaartkom, 3000 Leuven
Website: www.visitleuven.be/en/vaartkom

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Town Hall

Town Hall

The Town Hall is Leuven's pride and joy. Moreover, it's one of the best-known Gothic town halls worldwide. It took three architects and thirty years to build it. Leuven's 'Hall of Fame' features 236 statues, which were only added to the façade after 1850. Daily guided tour at 15:00 The guide tells you about the construction history of this Gothic gem. You discover the story behind the 236 sculptures on the façade. Afterwards, you visit the foyer, the reception rooms, the large and small Gothic Hall, the wedding hall and the council hall.

Brewery Stella Artois

Brewery Stella Artois

Stella Artois is part of the world’s largest brewery concern, AB InBev, and is still firmly rooted in its home base of Leuven. You can visit the brewery every Saturday and Sunday. Take part in the new interactive guided tour. Experience the brewery in action and enjoy a wonderful Stella Artois after your visit. In short, experience beer in its purest form.

Saint Peter's Church & Dieric Bouts

Saint Peter's Church & Dieric Bouts

This 15th-century church is a classic example of Late Gothic architecture. Outside, you can clearly see the towers have never been completed due to an unstable soil. In 1980, the impressive ambulatory turned into a museum housing numerous statues, paintings and a collection of gold and silver pieces such as reliquaries, monstrances and chalices. The church with belfry was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1999. The church reopened with a new visitors experience. Try the new mixed reality experience or discover the history of the church in one of the guided tours. DIERIC BOUTS 'The Last Supper', painted by Dieric Bouts between 1464 and 1468, is an absolute masterpiece. It is the only painting that is still in its original location. Dieric Bouts was one of the Flemish Primitives and was also known as ‘the painter of silence’.

Oude Markt

Oude Markt

Visiting the Oude Markt is like taking a seat at the longest bar in Europe. Nowhere will you find as high a concentration of restaurants and cafés than on this unique square. No wonder the Oude Markt is the perfect meeting place in Leuven, especially when the weather is good and the numerous pavement cafés are overflowing with people.

Park Abbey

Park Abbey

A marvellous place where you stroll between beautiful, historic buildings (containing the brand-new museum PARCUM).

Museum M Leuven

Museum M Leuven

Do you like contemporary art? Or do you prefer the old masters? Either way, you will find exactly what you are looking for in the M Leuven. Here, you will find masterpieces from both medieval and modern art. In addition, the permanent collection is regularly supplemented by temporary exhibitions.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

This is the oldest botanical garden in Belgium. The university laid out the garden in 1738 for its medical students. Today, this unique place is managed by the city of Leuven. It has created a tropical conservatory, a water and fruit garden and the sunken garden. This, together with the picnic benches, the sea of flowers and art projects, make the Botanical Garden a favourite resting place for inhabitants and visitors.

Great Beguinage

Great Beguinage

This piece of UNESCO World Heritage from the thirteenth century is a charming area of pure tranquillity in the middle of the city. Here you will find a series of streets, squares, gardens and parks, with dozens of houses and convents built in traditional sandstone.

Vaartkom

Vaartkom

Once the industrial heart of Leuven, today an entirely renovated district with buildings in a modern architectural style. There’s no better place to experience innovation in the city like the Vaartkom.

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