living in leuven from a to z
TRANSCRIPT
Living in Leuvenfrom A to Z
ALSO FOR STUDENTS AT
2
How to use this guide
This guide aims to answer most questions international guests (students, staff and other) of the three institutions of higher education in Leuven might have. The guide consists of three parts:
1. What to do upon arrival and departure2. Where to get help3. City, University and Colleges4. A to Z: alphabetical FAQ on registration,
transportation, housing, daily life, money matters, communication, health and wellbeing, socialising, insurances and safety, language learning...
You can find more detailed or specific information on working, studying and living in Leuven on the city of Leuven website, KU Leuven webportal ‘Life at KU Leuven’ and the ‘International House Leuven’ website.
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Welcome to Leuven!
The city of Leuven and the institutions of higher education that call Leuven their home are pleased to welcome you to this lovely city. The guide to Leuven which is available on paper and online is tailor-made for all international visitors of the Leuven institutions of higher education. It contains some background information about the institutions, Belgium, but mainly aims to be a practical guide to your daily life in Leuven. It can help you navigate the practical, social and cultural challenges you might face during your stay. We hope to answer many, albeit not all, questions you may have. Settling into your new home will feel much less overwhelming than you might think. Leuven will be your city before you know it!
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EMERGENCY HELP 24/7
Check A to Z section for Student Police Officer, Insurances, Doctor, Mental Health, Social Service, Harassment, Discrimination
Ambulance, fire department, police
112
Police Leuven
016 210 610
After hour family doctor
1733With international SIM card
+32 (0)2 524 98 89
Pharmacist
0900 10 500apotheek.be
Emergency medicine UZ Gasthuisberg
+32 (0)16 34 39 00
Campus security
016 32 22 22
Anti poison centre
+32 (0)70 245 245
Emergency number KU Leuven
+32 (0)16 32 22 22
Card Stop (theft/loss bank card)
070 344 344
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What to do upon arrival
TIMELINE STUDENTS
First things first: before/upon arrival
1 Register as a student at your institution
2 Secure/move into permanent housing
4 Open a bank account
5 Get (health) insurance
3 Register at city hall
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TIMELINE STAFF
First things first: before/upon arrival
1 Report to your head of unit/supervisor + if PhD student: register as a student at your institution
2 Secure/move into permanent housing
4 Open a bank account
5 Get (health) insurance
3 Register at city hall
8
Upon departure
De-register at city hall Reclaim your tenancy deposit Cancel your (health) insurance Forward your mail to your home address Return your rental bike Bring used furniture to VITES and large domestic waste to a recycling site Close your bank account Contact the tax administration
Upon departure
Contact your HR adviser/consultant De-register at city hall Cancel your (health) insurance File your tax form Reclaim your tenancy deposit Leave an out-of-office message Forward your mail to your home address Return your rental bike Bring used furniture to VITES and large domestic waste to a recycling site Ship your goods back home Close your bank account (after tax refund and tenancy deposit)
What to do upon departure
TIMELINE STUDENTS
TIMELINE STAFF
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Where to get help
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF QUESTIONS UPON ARRIVAL
Students
Orientation Days of your institutionExchange or programme coordinator, study adviser at your faculty or institution Student Services Pangaea Intercultural Meeting Centre
Staff
KU Leuven: Your HR-adviserUC Leuven-Limburg: The International Relations Adviser at the facultyLUCA School of Arts – Campus Lemmens: International coordinator Campus Lemmens
WHERE TO GO WITH YOUR QUESTIONS DURING YOUR STAY?
CITY HALL
Stad Leuven 016 27 20 00
Foreigner’s office 016 27 21 94
www.leuven.be
FOR STUDENTS
REGISTRAR’S OFFICE
KU LeuvenNaamsestraat 22 bus [email protected]
UCLL University of Applied [email protected]
LUCA School of Arts: campus [email protected]
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FOR STAFF
HR DEPARTMENT
KU Leuven Parijsstraat 72b telephone number of your HR adviser in your KU-Loket [email protected]
UCLL University of Applied Sciences [email protected]
LUCA School of Arts – Campus Lemmens [email protected]
STUDENT SERVICES
KU Leuven & LUCA-Lemmens studentsVan Dale college Naamsestraat 80 www.kuleuven.be/studentservicesleuven
Students at UCLL, University of Applied Sciences www.ucll.be/international/student-services
Students at LUCA-Lemmens Lemmensberg 3
www.luca-arts.be/en/student-support-services
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A B C D E F
1
2
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A B C D E FEDITIE 2020
1
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134
13
STEENGROEVENLAAN
8585
1717
123
93
136
131
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89 90
192
80
133
102
19691
20
135
197191
69
127
71
86
36 190
73
130
132
138
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83
195
231
194
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17 18
Hoge
1000mUniversitaire gebouwen
StudentenresidentiesHoofdontsluiting
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FietsrouteHogescholen
Openbare diensten
5000
23 TIENENNAMEN
TERVUREN
BAR
BAR
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A B C D E F
1
2
3
4
A B C D E FEDITIE 2020
1
2
3
4
134
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STUDENT SERVICES
• Advisors housing culture, environment and mobility D3 76 Zwartzusterstraat 2, 3000 Leuven• Service for students with a disability - Religion & D3 36 Philosophical Diversity contact point - Housing service -
Student Employment Service - Assisted Living accommo- dation - Student Health Centre - Residence management - Social Service - Legal Service - Study advice service Van Dalecollege, Naamsestraat 80, 3000 Leuven
• Residence management reception desk Heverlee C3 94 De Waag, Studentenwijk Arenberg 10, 3001 Heverlee• Residence management reception desk Leuven D3 36 Van Dalecollege, Naamsestraat 80, 3000 Leuven• Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea E4 95 Vesaliusstraat 34, 3000 Leuven
RESIDENCES KU LEUVEN
• Amerikaans College D3 75 Naamsestraat 100, 3000 Leuven• Camilo Torres D2 80 Brusselsestraat 165, 3000 Leuven• Copal D2 72 Tervuursestraat 56, 3000 Leuven• De Snek E1 66 Noormannenstraat 68, 3000 Leuven• De Vesten C3 99 Tervuursevest 107, 3001 Heverlee• De Viking E1 66 Noormannenstraat 68, 3000 Leuven• Don-Boscopeda D4 79 Van Ostaijenlaan 21, 3001 Heverlee• Dondeynehuis D2 72 Tervuursestraat 56, 3000 Leuven• Edith Stein D4 81 Van Belstraat 6, 3000 Leuven• Father Damian Community D3 82 Damiaanplein 9, 3000 Leuven• Groot Begijnhof D3 70 Groot Begijnhof 94-95, 3000 Leuven• Heilige-Geestcollege E3 71 Naamsestraat 40, 3000 Leuven• Holleberg D3 83 Schapenstraat 37, 3000 Leuven• Home Vesalius E4 95 Vesaliusstraat 34, 3000 Leuven• Johannes XXIII C3 85 Tervuursevest 141, 3001 Heverlee• Junior House F4 100 Lipsiusstraat 58, 3000 Leuven• Justus Lipsiuscollege D3 86 Minderbroedersstraat 15, 3000 Leuven• J.L. Vives International Residence D3 68 Damiaanplein 10, 3000 Leuven• Leo XIII-seminarie E4 69 Tiensestraat 112, 3000 Leuven• Loyola International Nachbahr Huis D3 76 Schapenstraat 80, 3000 Leuven• Meisjescentrum E3 96 Vital Decosterstraat 47, 3000 Leuven• Parkstraat 29, 3000 Leuven D4 87• Paus Adriaan VI-college E3 73 Hogeschoolplein 3, 3000 Leuven• Pius X-college C3 88 Tervuursevest 103, 3001 Heverlee• Residence de La Salle D1 131 Mechelsevest 6, 3000 Leuven• Residence Herman Servotte D4 77 Parkstraat 39-41, 3000 Leuven
• Residence Mgr. Cruysberghs E3 78 Minderbroedersstraat 6, 3000 Leuven• Residence Rega F2 102 Sint-Maartenstraat 55d, 3000 Leuven• Residence Wisteria A1 84 Sint-Jansbergsesteenweg 101, 3001 Heverlee• Rijschoolstraat 6, 3000 Leuven E3 97• Rijschoolstraat 17, 3000 Leuven E3 89• Rijschoolstraat 25, 3000 Leuven E3 90• Romero I, E4 91 Blijde Inkomststraat 32, 3000 Leuven• Romero II E4 60 Tiensestraat 115, 3000 Leuven• Sedes Parkstraat D3 92 Parkstraat 23, 3000 Leuven• Sedes Vlamingenstraat D3 98 Vlamingenstraat 87, 3000 Leuven• Sint-Catharina F2 93 Sluisstraat 2, 3000 Leuven• Studax F4 138 Martelarenlaan 40, 3000 Leuven• Studenthouses University Parish E4 69 Tiensestraat 124, 3000 Leuven• Studentresidence Groenveld B2 74 Celestijnenlaan 76-78-80-82, 3001 Heverlee• Studentenwijk Arenberg C3 94 Studentenwijk Arenberg 2-25, 3001 Heverlee• Zwartzustersklooster D3 76 Schapenstraat 80, 3000 Leuven
PRIVATE RESIDENCES
• #94 F2 133 Vaartstraat 94, 3000 Leuven• Campus Artemis C4 134 Groenstraat 264, 3001 Heverlee• Goede Herder Leuven (GHL) D2 132 Minderbroedersstraat 21, 3000 Leuven• Home Thomas Morus C3 119 Tervuursevest 115-116-117, 3001 Heverlee• La Marbrerie D4 137 Naamsestraat 183, 3000 Leuven• Regina Mundi Leuven (RML) D3 130 Janseniusstraat 38, 3000 Leuven• Residence Flamingo E3 126 Ravenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven• Residence Thomas Morus C3 119 Tervuursevest 115-117-119, 3001 Heverlee• Studenten Concentratie Keizersberg F1-F2 123 Mechelsestraat 202, 3000 Leuven• Studentenhuis Lerkeveld B4 128 Waversebaan 220, 3001 Heverlee• Studentenhuis Magnolia E3 127 Blijde Inkomststraat 28, 3000 Leuven• Studentresidence De Kotstones C4 121 Hoveniersdreef 21, 3001 Heverlee• Studentresidence Jan Pieter Minckelers C4 129 Sint-Lambertusstraat 2, 3001 Heverlee• The Flint Vesaliusstraat 45c, 3000 Leuven• The Village E4 135 Blijde Inkomststraat 81, 3000 Leuven Mathildegang 16, 3000 Leuven Burgermeesterstraat 32-46-50, 3000 Leuven
GUESTHOUSING
• De Viking E1 66 Noormannenstraat 68, 3000 Leuven• Youth Hostel De Blauwput F3 47 Martelarenlaan 11A, 3010 Leuven
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• Leuven City Hostel F3 48 Ravenstraat 37, 3000 Leuven• Residence Herman Servotte D4 77 Parkstraat 39-41, 3000 Leuven
KU LEUVEN UNIVERSITY SERVICES
• University Administration and Central Services E3 1 Krakenstraat 3, 3000 Leuven• Rectoral offices E3 4 Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven• Central library E3 5 Ladeuzeplein 21, 3000 Leuven• ICTS - The Central IT Office A4 12 de Croylaan 52b, 3001 Heverlee• Admission Office E3 37 Atrechtcollege, Naamsestraat 63 bus 5401,
3000 Leuven• University Reception Desk & KU Leuven Shop E3 4 Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven• Registrar’s Office E3 4 Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven
KU LEUVEN FACULTIES AND INSTITUTES
• Faculty of Canon Law E3 192 Sint-Michielsstraat 6, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation
Science (FaBeR) C3 222 Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Heverlee• Faculty of Bioscience Engineering B4 213 Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee• Faculty of Business and Economics D3 194 Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences C1 215 Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Medicine C1 215 Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Engineering Technology, Campus Group T E4 20 Andreas Vesaliusstraat 13, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Engineering Science B3 207 Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, 3001 Heverlee• Faculty of Arts E4 196 Blijde Inkomststraat 21, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences E4 197 Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Law E3 192 Tiensestraat 41, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Social Sciences E4 195 Parkstraat 45, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies E3 190 Sint-Michielsstraat 4, 3000 Leuven• Faculty of Science B4 199 Geel Huis, Kasteelpark Arenberg 11, 3001 Heverlee• Institute of Philosophy E4 191 Mercierplein 2, 3000 Leuven• Leuven Language Institute E4 224 Dekenstraat 6, 3000 Leuven
UNIVERSITY RESTAURANTS
• Alma I E4 60 Tiensestraat 115, 3000 Leuven• Alma II E4 195 Van Evenstraat 2c, 3000 Leuven• Alma III C3 2 Studentenwijk Arenberg 1, 3001 Heverlee• Alma De Moete B3 62 Celestijnenlaan 200P, 3001 Heverlee• De Spuye, kantine Universitair Sportcentrum C3 63 Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Heverlee
• Alma Het Academisch Kwartier E3 192 Tiensestraat 41, 3000 Leuven• Faculty Club D3 64 Groot Begijnhof 14, 3000 Leuven• Alma Gasthuisberg C1 216 Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven• Alma Pauscollege E3 73 Hogeschoolplein 3, 3000 Leuven• Alma Groep T E4 20 Andreas Vesaliusstraat 13, 3000 Leuven• Alma ESAT2 B4 199 Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Heverlee
UNIVERSITY COLLEGES IN LEUVEN
• UC Leuven-Limburg, Faculty of Management and Technology C4 25
Geldenaaksebaan 335, 3001 Heverlee• UC Leuven-Limburg, Faculty of Teacher Education C4 25-26 Hertogstraat 178, 3001 Heverlee • UC Leuven-Limburg, Faculty of Health Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven C1 27• UC Leuven Limburg, Faculty of Social Work Groeneweg 151, 3001 Heverlee B1 28• LUCA School of Arts, campus Lemmens D1 23 Lemmensberg 3, 3000 Leuven• Vlerick Bussiness School, Campus Leuven E3 231 Vlamingenstraat 83, 3000 Leuven
HOSPITALS
• Regional Hospital H. Hart Leuven D4 140 Naamsestraat 105, 3000 Leuven• University Hospital Gasthuisberg C1 216 Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven• University Hospital Sint-Pieter E2 142 Brusselsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven• University Hospital Sint-Rafaël E2 217 Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven
PUBLIC SERVICES
• Fire Department B1 153 Terbankstraat 20, 3001 Heverlee• Immigration and Visa Services (Stadskantoor) F4 163 Van Overstraetenplein 1, 3000 Leuven• Fietspunt-Leuven station F4 163 Van Overstraetenplein 1/001, 3000 Leuven• Leuven Police Department E3 157 Grote Markt 8, 3000 Leuven• Local and Federal Police E4 158 Philipssite 4, 3001 Heverlee• Town Hall E3 157 Grote Markt 9, 3000 Leuven• Leuven Train Station F4 167 Martelarenplein 16, 3000 Leuven• STUK Arts centre D3 43 Naamsestraat 96, 3000 Leuven• VELO C3 181 Hollestraat 1, 3001 Heverlee• CM Health Insurance F3 365 Leopold I-straat 34, 3000 Leuven
PARKING IN LEUVEN
• Periphery parking (free) Parking Bodart, Tervuursevest 165 pl. C3 Sport Centre (Stade), Tervuursevest 100 pl. C3
Tervuursevest near viaduct 55 pl. C3-D3• Periphery parking (paid) Parking Philipssite 1245 pl. D4 Parking Station Leuven, Martelarenplein 385 pl. F4
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FIRST
MENTIONED IN
884
The Institutions
STUDENTS
City of Leuven
KU LEUVEN
+ 100.000
60.432 10.579
INHABITANTS
Mayor MOHAMED RIDOUANI
5 communities: Leuven, Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal
Its population has a high average level of education, due to the presence of the institutions of higher education
FOUNDED IN 1425
High standards of education and research: KU Leuven is currently ranked 45th in the Times Higher Education World Rankings (2020) and was named Europe’s most innovative university four years in a row (2016-2019)
Subdivided into three groups: Humanities Group, Science, Engineering and Technology Group and the Biomedical Group
CAMPUSES IN 10 BELGIAN CITIES, INCLUDING BRUSSELS, GHENT AND ANTWERP.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (18%)
Oldest university in the Low Countries
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The KU Leuven Association is an open and dynamic network linking university colleges across Flanders and Brussels with KU Leuven. Together, they hold a prominent and influential position in Flemish and European Higher Education. The Association members strengthen each other by exchanging expertise and pooling resources, which enables them to improve the quality of their teaching and research. www.associatie.kuleuven.be/eng
STUDENTSSTUDENTS
One of the major universities of applied sciences in Flanders
5 Faculties: Management, Technology, Teacher Education, Health and Social Work
Operating on 4 campuses in and around the city of Leuven, in addition to the Limburg campuses
UC LEUVEN-LIMBURGLUCA SCHOOL OF ARTS – CAMPUS LEMMENS LEUVEN
KU LEUVEN ASSOCIATION
51014.000 86INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Students are referred to as the
MOVING MINDS:BRINGING IDEAS INTO ACTION
FOUNDED IN 1879
Developed into a complete Conservatory which offers training in a wide range of disciplines: Bachelor/Master in Music: Composition, Conducting, Music Education, Music Therapy, Instrument/Voice, Jazz, Bachelor/Master in Drama
In 2012 the Lemmens institute became a member of LUCA School of Arts as campus Lemmens Leuven. LUCA School of Arts joins Art Faculties on different locations in Leuven, Ghent, Genk and Brussels
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A. Academy of Arts
The Municipal Academy of Fine Arts (SLAC) offers classes in arts: drawing and painting, photography, advertising and sculpture, digital art, graphics, ceramics and textile, lace-making or cross-curricular projects. Courses are taught in Dutch.
www.slac.be/academie
ACCO Bookshop
ACCO bookshop offers a wide range of required and recommended material. The institutions of higher education cooperate with ACCO (The ‘Academic Cooperative’) to print and sell syllabuses and textbooks at reasonable prices. The bookshop also offers a wide range of required and recommended reading material, dictionaries, scientific books, novels, office and computer supplies, stationery, etc. If you are staying in Belgium for a while, you may find it worthwhile to buy a share in ACCO.
See: Syllabuses and textbooks
www.acco.be
A-Z
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Agora Learning Centre
AGORA is the KU Leuven Libraries learning centre (without an in-house library), open 363 days per year, most days until midnight, with multiple learning spaces for over 500 users. The centre can only be used by students and staff of KU Leuven. In addition to silent study spaces, the learning centre offers a coffee lounge, 21 bookable group work rooms, 2 video editing rooms and a multiple use open zone. AGORA supports students’ learning by providing video cameras, audio recorders, projectors, speakers and web conference sets. Students and staff can borrow a laptop or iPad for indoor use.
See: ICT, Libraries, Study Places, University Library
bib.kuleuven.be/english/agora
Alma University Restaurant
The university restaurants serve meals at subsidised low prices. Reduced prices only with student/staff card. There are 8 restaurants and food corners, spread over all Leuven campuses. You can check the daily menu online or on the Quivr app.
www.alma.be/en broodjes.alma.be (sandwiches) www.kuleuven.app/studentlife/dining www.quivr.be/home www.facebook.com/AlmaKULeuven/
Ambulance
Dial 112 for an ambulance. It will take you to one of the Leuven hospitals. Do not go to the hospital yourself, unless your family doctor/student doctor referred you or you are in a life threatening situation. Visit a GP for less urgent medical problems.
See: Doctor, Hospital, Insurances, Student Health Centre
Arenberg
KU Leuven Campus in the Leuven suburb Heverlee that hosts the following faculties: Architecture, Science, Engineering Science, Bioscience Engineering, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences. The campus is situated around Arenberg castle (Faculty of Architecture) and its park.
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Arts
STUK Arts Centre hosts both a grand café and is a house for dance, image and sound. You can visit STUK for a drink and a meal or just enjoy the concerts, watch a film or a dance performance. You get a discount on entrance tickets with a KU Leuven Culture card.
OPEK is a culture venue for dance, theatre, visual arts, literature and photography. There is a café and outdoor seating near the water. You get a discount on entrance tickets with a KU Leuven Culture card.
BAC Art Lab: Are you an artist looking for a studio space? BAC ART LAB KU Leuven provides room for artistic experiment. Visual and audio-visual artists, designers and performers are welcome. All students and staff can apply.
See: Academy of Arts, Culture, Culture Card, Culture Office, Film, Music, Music- Dance and Drama College, Theatre
www.stuk.be www.opek.be www.kuleuven.be/culture/bacartlab www.mleuven.be/en www.hetdepot.be/ www.30cc.be/en
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B. Bank account
A bank account can in most cases only be opened after arrival in Belgium and after registration at city hall. The procedure on how to open a bank account can differ from bank to bank. When leaving Belgium, don’t close your bank account before the last payment of your salary/scholarship has been transferred to you, the deposit of your house/flat/room has been returned to your account or - if the case – before you you have received the tax rebate.
www.kuleuven.be/money-matters www.internationalhouseleuven.be/finance-tax-insurance/
Belgian ID
See Identity card, Registration at City Hall, Residence Permit
Bicycle
Rental and repair: Both students and staff can rent a safe, fully equipped and registered second-hand or new bicycle with a solid lock at the sheltered workshop VELO. Repairs and in some cases replacement are included in the price. Other bike rental organisations in Leuven are Blue Bike and Swapfiets.
(STAFF) Company bicycles: KU Leuven staff members paid a salary or scholarship by KU Leuven can apply for a free company bicycle provided through 2WD.
Parking: It is important to station your bicycle in designated parking places. If not, the police can remove your bicycle and take it to the police depot. You will have to pay to get it back. Mind: the police will label your bike first, as a kind of warning, then, after a while, remove it.
Repair: Throughout the city you can find Velo Fix Stations, where you can repair your bicycle on your own and free of charge. Online you can find where they are situated. Or you can go to the Bicycle Repair Workshop (Fietsatelier) to fix your bicycle for free with the assistance of bicycle technicians.
Bicycle theft is very common in Leuven. Get a good lock to secure your bicycle to a fixed object. It is best to lock your rear wheel to the frame. You can have your bicycle engraved with an ID number.
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If your bicycle gets stolen, report the theft immediately. Filing a bicycle theft report can be done via the police office (or online), the Fietscentrale, Velo, your faculty office or Pangaea Intercultural Meeting Centre.
See: Blue Bike (bicycles at railway stations), Company bicycle (2WD), Cycling (cycle routes), Fietsatelier (bicycle repair workshop), Theft (Police), Traffic Rules, Velo (bicycle workshop)
www.kuleuven.be/transportation www.police-on-web.be
Blue-bike
All main train stations in Belgium provide the service of bicycle rental to get from the train station to your destination and back.
www.blue-bike.be
Buddy Programme
KU LEUVEN: All incoming international students and staff can apply for a local buddy. There is both a junior track for bachelor and master students as well as a senior track for doctoral students and staff. Local buddies are both Flemish peers as well as expe-rienced international students and staff members who have been in Leuven for a while.
UCLL: As soon as you are accepted as an international UCLL student, you will receive a link to ‘buddy up’.
See: Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea
www.kuleuven.be/buddy www.ucll.be/international/student-services/get-buddy
Bus
Buses in Leuven all pass by the railway station. For information about timetables, bus lines and tickets you can consult the website or app or go to the ‘Lijnwinkel’ (in front of the Leuven railway station). The ringroad buses run on a continuous loop in both directions of the ring road. (line 600 and 601). Friday and Saturday night buses are free as of 23:00.
See: Bus Pass
Flanders: www.delijn.be/en Brussels: www.mivb.be Wallonia: www.infotec.be
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Bus Pass
(STUDENTS) With the student bus pass, students can use the bus within the Leuven area. It is valid for an entire academic year and you can purchase it upon or after registration at KU Leuven, UCLL or LUCA-Lemmens. To use the student bus pass, you need a MOBIB card. The MOBIB card is not a ticket, but a medium on which you can upload all your possible tickets. So it is like a bank card that allows you to store your tickets. You can find specific information about the MOBIB card on the website of De Lijn.
(STAFF) As a KU Leuven staff member paid a salary or scholarship you can apply for a discounted bus pass via KU Loket. For more information, please check the website or contact your HR adviser.
See: Bus
www.delijn.be/en www.kuleuven.be/transportation
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C. Campusroam
This is the wireless network for KU Leuven and LUCA-lemmens staff and students as well as registered visitors. Where available, it is highly recommended to use campusroam.
See: Eduroam, Internet, Wi-Fi
Career
See: Student Career Center
Cars
Driving: Leuven has a circulation plan for motorised vehicles in order to reduce unnecessary fuelled traffic and become a climate-neutral city. You can find public charging points (‘publieke laadpunten’) for electrical cars online. You can also take part in a local or commercial car sharing plan (‘autodelen’).
Parking in Leuven is quite expensive and limited in time and space. In the city centre you can either use an underground city car park or park your car in the street and buy a ticket at a nearby machine (cash or by phone) If there is no ticket machine, the area is reserved for local residents. As an inhabitant you can apply for a parking permit for your zone at City Hall. There are also special parking bays for disabled people (display badge) and shoppers (shop & go). Outside the city centre parking is either free and unlimited or free but limited in time. In that case you need to put a blue parking disc in front of your windshield. You can buy a parking disc in shops. Under certain conditions staff can use a KU Leuven carpark. You can find more information on the policy online.
See: Circulation Plan
www.kuleuven.be/transportation
Change of address
See: Moving
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Child Care
To apply for child care, you need to register via the online central day care system. You can find detailed information at:
www.kinderopvangleuven.be/en/home www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family/
day-care-facilities www.internationalhouseleuven.be/children/enrollment-in-day-care-centres
KU Leuven Day Care Centres offer day care at a subsidised price for children of KU Leuven students and staff. You can find all information at:
admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/english/day_care_centres
For babysitting services, you can contact the student career center or make use of the ‘Gezinsbond’ (the union for families). The Gezinsbond babysitters have been screened beforehand and are insured. Prices are fixed per hour. Parents pay a small annual fee to the Gezinsbond.
www.gezinsbond.be/en
See: Family (children), Schools
Circulation plan
The city of Leuven has a circulation plan with circulation loops and one way streets for motorised traffic within the Leuven ring road. The plan prevents cars from driving in certain areas, keep this in mind when using a car in Leuven.
See: Car
www.leuven.be/circulatieplan
City tax
City tax is a tax on second residences. Private landlords owe this tax to the city of Leuven, but can charge this to the tenant. This must be mentioned in the contract and is only applicable if January 1st is included in your rental period. However, If you are staying in Leuven for more than 90 days and you register at city hall, you do not need to pay this tax. Don’t forget to give your landlord a proof of your registration at the city hall. If you wrongfully did pay this tax, please contact the Housing Service. Housing Service (STUDENTS) or Huurdersbond (STAFF)
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See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/info-for-tenants/city-tax https://huurdersplatform.be/hb/vlaams-brabant/#!3881
Civil Liability Insurance
See: Insurances, Insurance Office KU Leuven
CLT (The Language Centre)
CLT is a public language centre for adult education (CVO in Dutch) associated with KU Leuven. CLT offers a wide range of language courses: regular and summer courses, in 23 different languages (including Dutch as a foreign language). Communication in authentic contexts is central to CLT’s approach. The school has more than 7 500 students and over 100 nationalities. Apart from learning a new language or enhancing your skills, it is a good way to get to know new people.
See: Language Learning
www.clt.be
Company Bicycle 2WD
(STAFF) KU Leuven staff members who receive a salary or scholarship from KU Leuven can apply for a free company bicycle (normal, electrical, foldable) for professional and personal use. This bicycle is called 2WD and has a KU Leuven logo. Repairs are included.
See: Bicycle, Cycling
admin.kuleuven.be/td/intranet/2wd/en/2wd
Counselling
See: Mental Health, Lifestance Network
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Culture
Leuven is quite a vibrant city with an extensive cultural offer both by the university and the city. Moreover, Brussels and Antwerp are closeby.
For the KU Leuven cultural offer, please check the section Culture Office and Culture Card section.
30CC is the name of the city of Leuven cultural centre. It offers an extensive selection of theatre and comedy, world music, dance, song and cabaret, classical music and opera, literary events, family entertainment and much more. You get a discount off the entire programme with a KU Leuven Culture Card.
See: Arts, Culture Office, Culture card, Arts, Music, Film, Theatre
www.kuleuven.be/culture/staff www.30cc.be/en www.leuven.be/leisure-sports-and-culture
Culture Card
(STUDENTS) Students enjoy significant discounts at all major cultural hotspots in Leuven with a KU Leuven Culture Card. You also get free access to the UUR KULTUUR programme of performances, concerts and workshops by top Belgian artists. Every week, you can win free tickets on Facebook and Instagram. The KU Leuven Culture Card is available for all students, unfortunately not for staff.
www.kuleuven.be/culturecard
Culture Office
The KU Leuven Culture Office is located at STUK arts centre, offers the KU Leuven Culture Card, organises the ‘UUR KULTUUR’ programme and supports the University Ensembles, Interfaculty Theatre Festival and CampusToneel.
Want to organize a cultural activity? The Culture Office can help you with rehearsal spaces, communications and financial support. You can contact them via [email protected]
See: Arts, Culture, Culture Card, Film, Music, Theatre
[email protected] www.kuleuven.be/culture
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CVO Volt (adult education)
Adult education centre, recognised and funded by the Flemish government, offers a wide range of courses, such as administration, IT, visual arts and language courses. CVO Volt has campuses in Leuven, Tienen and Landen. Courses are open to all. Language classes: Dutch as a foreign language, German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.
See: Language Learning
www.cvovolt.be
Cinema
See: Arts, Film
Cycling schools
In cooperation with the Cycling School of Leuven, KU Leuven provides cycling lessons for all students and staff. One course of 6 lessons on Saturday mornings includes learning how to cycle, cycling in the city traffic, elementary bicycle repair and a few recreational cycling tours to practice.
See: Bicycle, Cycling, Traffic Rules
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/pangaea/activities/get-to-know-belgium/cycling-in-leuven
Cycling
Cycling is very popular in Leuven, both as an everyday means of transport as well as on a recreational level. There are many cycle paths, highways and routes.
See: Bicycle, Places To Visit
www.vlaanderen-fietsland.be/routeplanner/locaties/leuven
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D.Deposit
It is common practice to pay a deposit when you rent a room or a flat. Generally, the deposit amounts to one or two months’ rent for a student contract and two or three months’ rent for other contracts. The law requires this deposit to be paid into an account, regular or blocked, depending on the housing contract. The deposit can only be used to compensate for damage to the rented property caused by the tenant or by third parties to whom the tenant has granted access. The deposit can never be used to pay the last months’ rent, so it is very important to pay the rent until the end of your stay. When leaving Leuven indefinitely, don’t close your bank account before the deposit has been returned to your account. It can take up to 3 months after the end of the agreement.
See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kot, Rental Contract, Rental Problems, Room
Disability Office
The Disability Office supports students with a physical disability, a hearing or visual impairment, a chronic illness, learning disabilities as dyslexia and dyscalculia and developmental disorders as autism spectrum disorder and AD(H)D amongst others. Contact the disability officer of your faculty to apply for the disability student status. If needed, you will be able to use accommodations during the year and for exams. Because of the early deadline, please make an appointment as soon as possible.
See: Student Services
KU LEUVEN: www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studentswithadisability
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studentswithadisability/contact-campus-leuven
UCLL: www.ucll.be/studentsupport
LUCA: [email protected] www.luca-arts.be/en/special-needs-students
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Discrimination
Belgium has a coordinated network of anti-discrimination centres that work to prevent and remedy all forms of discrimination based on sexual preference, disability, age and ethnicity in housing, employment, education, and public services. If you are a victim of discrimination in Leuven yourself, you can contact the local Leuven centre, which is called ‘Meldpunt Discriminatie’.
KU LEUVEN also has a helpdesk for unacceptable behaviour: admin.kuleuven.be/thema/gg/behaviour/helpdesk
UCLL:- (STUDENTS) www.ucll.be/international/student-services/student-
support/personal-support- (STAFF) designated co-worker or counsellor on campus, list via intranet.
LUCA:- (STUDENTS) www.luca-arts.be/en/confidential-advisor- (STAFF) contact the institution’s confidential adviser via
Doctor
KU LEUVEN: (STUDENTS) If you have any problems or questions concerning your health, KU Leuven students can visit one of the general practitioners of the Student Health Centre. If you need specialist help, they will refer you. Doctors are available every working day during office hours. Please make an appointment first.
All: You are free to choose a family doctor yourself. Check whether the GP is conventionalized or not, the rates of non-conventionalized GP’s are usually higher.
When you feel ill after office hours or on weekends or bank holidays and you cannot wait to see a doctor, call 1733 (or 32 2 5249889) which is the number of the GP on call. The Emergency Room is meant for life threatening situations only.
See: Ambulance, Hospital, Insurances, Mental Health, Student Health Centre
www.kuleuven.be/health www.internationalhouseleuven.be/social-security-healthcare/how-to-
choose-a-doctor
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E. Ecoteams
To make KU Leuven more sustainable on the work floor there are Ecoteams, a group of committed colleagues and students who raise awareness or pick up ideas within the university community and take action or help shape the university policy.
See: Green Office, Sustainability
www.kuleuven.be/duurzaamheid/sustainability/ecoteams/ecoteams
Eduroam
If your home institution uses eduroam, you will also be able to connect via your home institution’s account. Eduroam (education roaming) is the secure, world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community.
See: Campusroam, Internet, Wi-Fi
KU LEUVEN: (STUDENTS AND STAFF) upon registration, you are automatically assigned an email address. If you want to change your official name in the address because you consider it too long or difficult, you can turn to your ict department with your request. All official correspondence from your institution will be emailed to this address.
See: Internet, Wi-Fi
KU LEUVEN: owa.student.kuleuven.be
UCLL: www.webmail.ucll.be
LUCA: - (STUDENTS) mail.student.luca-arts.be- (STAFF) owa.groupware.kuleuven.be
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F. Family (children)
A majority of babies go to a day care centre or childminder until they are 2.5 years old. After that children attend school until the age of 18. Children’s health is monitored through ‘Kind en Gezin’, a public Health institution until the age of 2,5. During schooling years another public health institution takes over, called CLB (Centrum voor leerlingenbegeleiding)
See: Child Care, Housing, Human Resources Department (staff), Schools, Social Service (STUDENTS), Vaccinations
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family www.internationalhouseleuven.be/children
Family (partner)
In case you wish to bring your partner and/or child(ren), you need to start the family reunification procedure, a lengthy procedure. The International House Leuven, KU Leuven and several companies have developed a range of activities to help international partners integrate (professionally and socially) in Leuven.
See: Housing, Human Resources Department (STAFF)
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/immigration-residence www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family
Family Matters
In case of birth, death or marriage, you are required to turn to the city hall’s Registry Office for information and advice. The municipal authorities in Belgium only recognise civil marriages, not religious marriages.
See: Human Resources Department (STAFF), Social Service (STUDENTS)
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family/family-support-and-benefits
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Fietsatelier (Bicycle repair workshop)
Place to repair your bicycle for free yourself, assisted by a bicycle technician.
See: Bicycle, Velo
www.facebook.com/fietsatelierKUL/
Film
Kinepolis Leuven (7 cinema halls) offers a wide range of box office movies. Cinema ZED (3 cinema halls) is an arthouse cinema, screening primarily films from the indie circuit, including a considerable number of European films in languages other than English or Dutch. All films have subtitles (= OV). Only small children’s films are dubbed (‘Nederlands’) or are shown in both versions at different times. Cheapest tickets with a KU Leuven Culture Card.
See: Arts, Culture, Culture Office
www.kinepolis.be www.cinemazed.be/en
Financial support (only UCLL)
See: Personal support (UCLL)
Fire insurance
See: Insurances
Food
See: Alma university restaurants, Markets, Shops, Supermarkets, Veggiebag
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Foreigners’ Office (‘loket niet-Belgen’)
After your enrolment at your educational institution or after signing your contract,you will need to start your registration procedure at the Foreigners’ Office in thecity hall of your place of residence. In case you are going to live in Leuven, carefullycheck their webpage for further instructions first since a different procedure mightapply (f.e. STUDENTS with a visa)
See: Registration at city hall
Online appointment via www.afspraak.leuven.be/services#
www.leuven.be/city-administration www.leuven.be/en/applications-and-documents
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G. Gasthuisberg
Campus hosting both the university hospital with the same name as well as teaching facilities and laboratories of the KU Leuven faculties of Medicine and pharmaceutical sciences and the UCLL Health faculty of nursing, nutrition and dietetics and midwifery.
See: Hospital, UCLL
Green Office
At the Green Office for KU Leuven, students meet sustainability. They organise events, campaigns, projects and activities to make the university more sustainable. Their goal is to show everyone that keeping the planet healthy is important and easy. Anyone interested in sustainability is welcome at the Green Office.
See: Ecoteams, Fietsatelier, Sustainability, Veggie Bag
www.greenofficeforkuleuven.be
Groceries
See: Supermarkets, Markets, Shops, Veggie Bag
Guesthousing
If you did/could not assure permanent housing before arrival you can book guesthousing where you can stay while you look for a permanent place to live. KU Leuven has a limited amount of university accommodations for staff members, guestrooms for short stays or the first few days in Belgium as well as studio’s, apartments and houses for longer stays.
See: Housing
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/find-housing/students/guesthousing
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H. Harassment
If you are confronted with unacceptable behaviour (bullying, violence, sexual harassment, etc.) within the university community, you can always turn to a designated staff member who will listen to you and assist you in the utmost confidentiality.
KU LEUVEN: - (STUDENTS) www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/health/
confidential-advisor-for-ku-leuven-students/- (STAFF) admin.kuleuven.be/thema/gg/behaviour/helpdesk
UCLL:- (STUDENTS) www. ucll.be/international/student-services/student-
support/personal-support- (STAFF) designated co-worker or counsellor on campus, list via the intranet.
LUCA:- (STUDENTS) www.luca-arts.be/en/confidential-advisor- (STAFF) contact the institution’s confidential adviser via
Health
See: Ambulance, Doctor, Hospital, Insurances, Mental Health, Mind Mates, Student Health Centre
Health Insurance
See Insurances, Insurance Office KU Leuven and Medical costs
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Hospital
Leuven has two hospitals: The university hospital with different branches, the main site being Gasthuisberg, and the regional hospital Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis in the centre of town. As a patient you are either referred to a hospital by your GP or brought in in case of emergency. The Emergency Room is only for life-threatening situations.
See: Ambulance, Doctor, Gasthuisberg, Insurances
www.uzleuven.be www.hhleuven.be
Housing
(STUDENTS) Most students find housing on the private market. Only 20% of the total housing offer available is in university residence halls. We recommend to look for housing via Kotwijs, the KU Leuven Housing database for all students looking for housing in Leuven. It is the most reliable site to search for housing as all published student houses have a Kotlabel. You can do this from abroad or upon arrival. If you prefer to secure accommodation upon arrival, don’t forget to book a hotel or guesthouse for the first week(s). Once you have arrived in Leuven, you can visit the Housing Service for advice on finding permanent accommodation.
(STAFF) Most staff members find housing on the private market, through online platforms or a real estate agency. Rental contracts on the private market mostly have a rental term of 3, 6 or 9 years. KU Leuven has a limited amount of university accommodations for staff members (guestrooms for short stays or the first few days in Belgium, and studio’s, apartments and houses for longer stays).
(STUDENTS + STAFF) The KU Leuven housing offer for families with children is very limited. Moreover, the university does not provide guestroom facilities for families with children.
When you move to a different address during your stay in Belgium, you must report your new address within eight days to the city hall of your place of residence.
See: City Tax, Deposit, Guesthousing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Insurances, Kot, Kotlabel, Kotwijs, Rental Contract, Rental Fraud, Rental Problems, Residence Room
www.kuleuven.be/housing www.kotwijs.be
Housekeeping
See: Food, Laundry, Shops, Waste
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Housing Service KU Leuven
(STUDENTS) If you have any questions or need help to find housing, all students of all institutions can contact the KU Leuven Housing Service. The Housing Service can also help you with the translation of your contract, your rental issues and can mediate between you and your landlord if necessary.
See: Housing, Kotlabel, Kotwijs, Rental Contract
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/contact www.kotwijs.be
Human Resources Department
(STAFF) As an internationally oriented university, KU Leuven welcomes a large number of international staff members. The international employment team of the HR Department guides international staff through all the arrangements they need to make in order to join KU Leuven.
admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/english
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I. ICT support
For ICT-related questions, you can contact your local IT service. KU Leuven has on and offline helpdesks (PC-lab in Agora Learning Centre, Gasthuisberg, Arenberg).
See: Agora Learning Centre, Internet
KU LEUVEN: www.kuleuven.be/icts/english
UCLL: [email protected]
LUCA: [email protected]
Identity card (ID)
The plastic electronic card you receive upon a successful registration at city hall is your official residence permit which will be your identity card in Belgium. This is an extremely important document you are required to carry with you at all times. You can travel abroad, but always check whether you need a visa and whether your Belgian identity card/residence permit is still valid for your return-trip to Belgium, especially for trips outside the Schengen Area. Outside of Belgium, the residence permit is only valid in combination with your passport. Do not forget to extend your identity card/residence permit in time. In case of loss: report immediately to the police in person. You will receive a duplicate.
See: Registration at City Hall, Residence Permit
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/immigration-residence
www.kuleuven.be/english/admissions/travelling/idcard
Illness
See: Doctor, Hospital, Insurances, Student Health Centre
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ILT (KU Leuven language institute)
ILT is the KU Leuven language institute. ILT’s mission is fourfold: teaching, testing, revising and translating. The institute offers specific language courses and individual tutoring in writing assignments within degree programmes as well as language courses in Dutch as a foreign language for staff, (exchange) students and external participants with a secondary school certificate or higher. ILT also offers proficiency tests for English and Dutch, organises language certification for staff, does revision and translation of articles and tests for KU Leuven staff
See: Language Learning
www.ilt.kuleuven.be
Insurances
Fire Insurance: Depending on your contract and the type of your residence (a room, apartment or house) you will already have a fire insurance policy, or you will have to take one out. Mind that personal belongings are never included in a standard cover. Make sure that you know what insurance you have at home and what you still need to take care of.
See: housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, rental contract
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/fire-insurance-and-fire-safety-regulations
Health Insurance: All residents of Belgium are required by law to be covered by a health insurance policy. Without insurance coverage, the costs of medical care can quickly spiral out of control. Belgian health insurance funds are called ‘ziekenfonds’. This is not taken care of by your institution or HR.
See: Medical Costs
(STUDENTS) www.kuleuven.be/english/services/insurances
(STAFF) admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/english/international_staff/first_steps_upon_arrival
www.riziv.fgov.be/nl/professionals/andere-professionals/ziekenfonds/Paginas/contacteer-ziekenfondsen.aspx#.WehvDMtMRD8
Hospital Insurance: (STAFF) Most salaried staff members get a free hospital insurance. It offers additional cover for medical costs due to hospitalisation or serious illness which are only partially covered by health insurance.
admin.kuleuven.be/sab/vz/associatienet/en/hospital-insurance
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Civil liability insurance: You are insured by your institution for damage you cause to others during official study/work related activities in Belgium as well as abroad. You are also insured by your institution for physical damage you suffer during official study/work related activities and during the journey to and from these activities, in Belgium as well as abroad.
See: Insurance Office KU Leuven
KU LEUVEN: admin.kuleuven.be/sab/vz/en
UCLL: intranet.ucll.be/en/node/2388
LUCA School of arts: www.luca-arts.be/en/insurance-international-students-luca
Third-party liability insurance for private life covers the physical and material damage you (or the members of your household or your pets) accidentally cause to others in your private life throughout the world. E.g. when you cause an accident while cycling. Non-EEA students are obliged to join the KU Leuven insurance.
We strongly recommend staff members and EEA-students, who don’t have an insurance private life from their home country which also applies in Belgium, to take this insurance to avoid unexpected high costs.
- (STUDENTS) Your institution provides a third party liability insurance at an advantageous price. (Non-EEA students = obliged upon registration - EEA students = strongly recommended upon registration).
- (STAFF) Staff members can take out this insurance with a bank or private insurance company.
See: Insurance Office KU Leuven
admin.kuleuven.be/sab/vz/en
Insurance Office
The office takes out the necessary insurances for students and staff.
- (STUDENTS) Students should report accidents as soon as possible. The office will file the claim with the relevant insurance company on your behalf and help you to follow up your claim.
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See: Insurances
KU LEUVEN: admin.kuleuven.be/sab/vz/en
UCLL: intranet.ucll.be/en/node/15713
LUCA School of arts: www.luca-arts.be/en/insurance-international-students-luca
Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea
In the spirit of hospitality and intercultural understanding, Pangaea aims to create a home-away-from-home for internationals. Students and staff alike organise or support connecting opportunities and activities within the Leuven university community. Pangaea has a lively meeting place on the KU Leuven Social Sciences Campus where international and Belgian students and staff can get together in an informal setting.
See: Buddy Programme, Language Learning, Meeting Opportunities, Orientation Days, Student Services
www.kuleuven.be/pangaea
Internet
To get connected, you need to activate your KU Leuven account. With your username and password, you can access all online KU Leuven tools and platforms (Toledo, KU Loket) from whatever device.
See: Campusroam, Eduroam, Email, Housing, Kot, KU Loket, PC, Toledo, Wi-Fi
www.kuleuven.be/icts/english/wifi
International House
City of Leuven and Leuven Mindgate host this information, knowledge and service centre for internationals and their families in the Leuven region. The International House offers a wide variety of information sessions and meeting opportunities for all international people in Leuven.
www.internationalhouseleuven.be
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Introduction Week (UCLL and LUCA School of Arts)
UCLL: Twice a year UCLL organises a welcome and enrolment week for new international students.
www.ucll.be/international/exchange-programmes/welcome-days-exchange-students
LUCA: At the beginning of the academic year, LUCA School of Arts, Campus Lemmens organises an introduction week.
www.luca-arts.be/nl/international
See: Welcome Activities, Orientation Days (KU Leuven), Student Welcome
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J. Job
See: Student Career Center, Working as a student
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K. Kot (colloquial word for student room)
(STUDENTS) Most students will be staying in a ‘kot’, this is a single room meant for 1 person, with a shared bathroom and kitchen. In Belgium we don’t have the custom of sharing a room. Basic furniture will be provided, but you will need to purchase bedding yourself and in some cases also a mattress.
See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kotlabel, Kotwijs
Kotlabel
Houses with the green or blue K-label at the façade have been checked by the housing service (blue) or the city of Leuven (green) on quality of living, fire safety, quality of the contract and student-friendliness. Check the KU Leuven housing database ‘Kotwijs’ for labelled rooms.
See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kot, Kotwijs
Kotwijs
Kotwijs is the KU Leuven housing database for all students of all institutions. It is the most reliable site to search for student housing.
See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kot, Kotlabel
www.kotwijs.be
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KU Loket
KU Loket is the personalised administrative portal for each student or staff member of the KU Leuven Association.
(STUDENTS) Students can access their personal data files and all necessary study programme tools as: ISP (Individual Study Programme, i.e. the application that allows students to register courses, approvals etc), IES (Individual Examination Schedule), the Study Progress File with information about your exam results and study progress. You can also change your personal data in this portal.
(STAFF) Staff can consult (and change in some cases) their personal data in the Human Resources Database. It is most frequently used for booking annual leave and days off or to apply for reimbursement of expenses.
See: Educational System, Studying
KU LEUVEN AND LUCA: www.kuleuven.be/kuloket
UCLL:- (STUDENTS) intranet.ucll.be/en/student, - (STAFF) intranet.ucll.be/en/employee
LUCA: www.studloket.luca-arts.be
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L. Language Learning
ILT and CLT are KU Leuven linked language schools. CVO Volt is a public school for adult education.
See: ILT, CLT, CVO Volt, Pangaea Intercultural Meeting Centre
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/language-learning www.internationalhouseleuven.be/languages
Laundry
If there is no washing machine in your apartment or student house, you can use one of the private laundry rooms in your neighbourhood. Most KU Leuven residence halls have their own laundry room, with a token operated washing machine and dryer.
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/advisorsresidential/index.html
Legal Aid
(STUDENTS) The Student Legal Service provides information and assistance on legal matters in civil and criminal law. Make an appointment first.
(STAFF) Staff members are expected to request assistance from existing public services or a legal counsellor for private matters. Justitiehuis offers low threshold legal advice. CAW Leuven is an organisation where to ask any question of a practical, legal or financial nature or where to turn to in crisis situations.
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/student-legal-services www.justitiehuizen.be/leuven
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LGBTQI
There are different opportunities to meet the LGBTQI community in Leuven and to participate in different associations for both students and non-students. UniQue the Rainbow House hosts different local organisations which advocate for LGBT rights in the region and Café Rocco, where the local community socialises. Leonardo LGBT International is the English-speaking group which organises different social events throughout the year. KU Leuven’s LGBTQI InfoPoint is there for you if you have concerns or questions in this regard as a student.
See: Student Services
[email protected] www.kuleuven.be/diversiteit/diversity/LGBTQI www.leonardo-lgbt.be www.unique-rbh.be
Libraries
Every campus and/or faculty has its own library for multiple use: research, group work or study. Your student or staff card gives you automatic access to all libraries of your institution and their various services.
The public libraries ‘de Bib Leuven’ in Leuven offer similar services, though with a different collection on loan: novels in Dutch, French, English, German, Spanish and Italian, also non-fiction works (books and DVDs) and a diverse collection of comic books and graphic novels. You can read newspapers, weeklies and other periodicals (in Dutch and other languages) and consult more than 3.000 international titles via Pressreader. Membership is cheap and easy and additionally gives you free access to dalton.be, a streaming site for documentaries.
See: Agora Learning Centre, Studying, University Library
KU LEUVEN: www.bib.kuleuven.be/english
UCLL: www.ucll.be/international/student-services/libraries
LUCA: www.bib.kuleuven.be/luca/bibliotheeklemmens www.leuven.be/bibliotheek
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Lifestance Network
The KU Leuven Lifestance Network is a network of international representatives of many religious and non-confessional lifestance communities and groups active in and around Leuven and its university. The Network is home to a vibrant multi-faith campus ministry and community. The main goal is to encourage and engage in innovative collaboration in the service of the human community and its environment. The network favours open and fair dialogue based on mutual understanding and respect and thus hopes to play a role in peace-building and fostering harmony among religions and non-confessional lifestance communities.
See: University Parish, Religion, Religion and Philosophical Diversity Contact Point
www.kuleuven.be/up/lifestance
LOKO International
LOKO International is the umbrella Student Association representing all Student Associations/unions on Campus Leuven. LOKO International operates within LOKO and represents the ever growing share of international students in Leuven and supports international students in starting an association and/or in requesting subsidies for activities.
www.loko.be/en
LUCA School of Arts – Campus Lemmens Leuven
The school offers training in a wide range of Bachelor and Master degrees in Music (composition, conducting, music education, music therapy, instrument/voice, jazz) and in Drama (acting/creating, writing for performance). After obtaining the master’s degree, students can opt to specialise in a particular discipline (ManaMa). There are LUCA School of Arts Faculties in Leuven, Ghent, Genk and Brussels with degrees in Music and Drama, Architecture & Construction, Arts, Interior Design, Design, Film & Photography. The institute’s facilities include concert halls, theatres, ballet studios, multimedia rooms, a library and a number of rehearsal studios. The institute has theatre and interdisciplinary performances both at campus Lemmens and OPEK. There are concerts, introductions to concerts, masterclasses, special projects which involve the preparation and performance of musical masterpieces, choirs and orchestras, specialised student ensembles for classical and contemporary music, chamber orchestras and a big band.
www.luca-arts.be www.luca-arts.be/nl/international-office
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M. Markets
At a traditional local outdoor market you can buy fresh products, local delicacies as well as household items
See: Supermarkets, Shops, Veggie Bags
www.leuven.be/markten
Medical Costs
In general, up to 75% of your medical expenses will be reimbursed by your health insurance company. When you go to a doctor, you pay the bill and in return you get a receipt (a certificate of care) that you have to hand in to your health insurance fund to get reimbursement. (STUDENTS) In cases of serious medical problems or hospitalisation, having serious consequences for your financial situation, you can contact the Social Service.
See: Insurances, Social Service
Meeting Opportunities
(STAFF) KU Leuven offers a wide range of opportunities to get to know other people in Belgium, through sports, culture, workshops and activities etc.
The International House offers a wide variety of information sessions and meeting opportunities for all international people in Leuven.
See: Academy of Arts, Arts, Buddy Programme, Culture, Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea, Language learning, LOKO International, Music, PhD Society, Religion, Sports, Student Associations, Student Societies, Volunteering.
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/meeting-people-and-leisure www.internationalhouseleuven.be/living-in-leuven/connecting-with- other-people
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Mental Health
(STUDENTS) KU Leuven and LUCA-Lemmens students dealing with personal or psychological problems can turn to the Student Health Centre for professional help. The therapists and psychiatrists run various training and therapy sessions adapted to the individual needs of the student. English-speaking therapists are available.
For UCLL students: the student service on your UCLL-campus offers you a sympathetic ear and, if you want, they will look for the appropriate solution together with you. Contact the student service on your campus.
(STAFF) Staff dealing with mental health problems can turn to their HR adviser or HR consultant or the KU Leuven network of confidence. Outside KU Leuven, CHS Belgium offers a 24/7 helpline in English for the international community. Staff can also go to their GP for referral, contact a private therapist or go to CAW, the public mental health centre (free first aid, confidential and non-committal).
See: MindMates, Student Health Centre, Student Services
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/health www.cawoostbrabant.be admin.kuleuven.be/thema/welzijn/en/intranet# www.chsbelgium.org/
MindMates
Students struggling with emotional or mental health problems can turn to MindMates. At MindMates you can find someone to talk to. Students who are interested in helping to break through the taboos linked with Mental Health can turn to MindMates. There are workshops, a buddy program, an event team.
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/health/mindmates
See: Mental Health, Student Health Centre
www.mindmates.be/en
Movies
See: film
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Moving
Whenever you change your address, make sure to report your new address to all official services. This does not happen automatically:- within eight days to the city hall of your place of residence- If you are moving to another city in Belgium, you also need to contact the
Foreigners’ Office of your new place of residence your institution and other relevant offices
See: Registration at city hall
https://www.leuven.be/en/applications-and-documents
Music
Enjoy playing music or singing in a group? Join one of the University Ensembles. KU Leuven students and/or staff members have priority, but others are welcome to join as well, if there are open spots. There are several options: Arenberg Orchestra, Capella Academica, Interfak Big Band (IBB), Leuven University Choir (LUK), the Pati Pati Solidarity Choir, University Concert Band (UHO), University Symphony Orchestra (USO). All of them regularly perform in Leuven and abroad. If you want classes, you can check out the city of Leuven Music College.
See: Academy of Arts, Arts, Culture, Culture Office, LUCA-Lemmens
www.kuleuven.be/english/culture/diy/ensembles
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N. O. Ombudsperson
The student ombudsperson mediates between students and lecturers in cases of dispute and decides whether an examination can be postponed. If you have problems of any kind during the exams, you can contact him/her by mail or phone. Each faculty also has a student counsellor you can always go to.
The doctoral ombudsmen deal with problems related to the doctoral project or doctoral supervision and with questions regarding psychosocial wellbeing of PhD students
The staff ombudsperson deals with reports of unfair treatment or procedures and requests for psychosocial interventions.
See: Study Advice
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studysupport/ombuds.html admin.kuleuven.be/thema/welzijn/en/intranet/Who_to_go_to/
type-question
UCLL: More information at intranet
LUCA: [email protected]
Orientation Days (KU Leuven)
(STUDENTS) Twice a year KU Leuven organises a welcome and enrolment week for new international students. The programme aims to ease the integration of international students at the university and in the city of Leuven offering a whole range of activities: information sessions on living and studying in Leuven, meeting opportunities with peers and an extensive cultural programme.
See: Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea, Student Welcome
www.kuleuven.be/Pangaea
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P. Pangaea, KU Leuven Intercultural Meeting Centre
See: Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea
Partying (stewards)
Leuven has a young population. So, there are a lot of cafés and parties. However, this does not mean that anything is allowed. Everybody’s night rest has to be respected from 10pm until 6am. During student parties, students act as stewards to make sure partying students respect the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood at night. You can recognize them easily: they wear red jackets with steward marked on the back. Without these stewards the city of Leuven does not allow parties. Treat them with respect, they are fellow students who make partying possible.
Belgians from the age of 15 on, are required by law to always have their ID on them. The same applies to you. The police can in certain situations ask for your ID, this does not mean that you will get a fine
See: Police, Student Associations, Student Police Officer, Student Societies
PC
Purchase: Interesting deals for all students and staff can be found at the campus shop. Rental: (STUDENTS) ICTS operates a PC rental service (only KU Leuven and LUCA-
Lemmens students) Free indoor use: Both in libraries and Agora Learning Centre as well as designated
open access PC-rooms. Support: by the ict service of your campus
See: Agora Learning Centre, ICT Support, Libraries
www.campusshop.be
Personal support
See: Student Services
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Pharmacy
You can go to any pharmacy to buy pharmaceutical products. If you have a prescription from a doctor, the pharmacist charges you only the non-insured amount (about 40% of the real cost). You can recognise a pharmacy by its green neon cross.
See: Doctor, Insurances
www.internationalhouseleuven.be/social-security-healthcare/how-to-choose-a-pharmacist
PhD Society
The PhD Society aims to promote interaction among doctoral students, both international and Belgian. Activities cover academic, social, and career aspects of a doctoral student’s life. The PhD Society is always on the lookout for enthusiastic doctoral students to join one of the committees and participate in events. The Postdoc Society is created within the existing structure of the PhD Society Leuven. The two societies cooperate closely and collaborate to complement each other.
See: Meeting opportunities
www.phdsociety.be
Places to study
See: Agora Learning Centre, Libraries
Places to visit
Leuven and its surroundings are well worth a visit both from a cultural as nature point of view. For the Leuven cultural highlights you can go to the tourist office and explore the sights by yourself or download the App ‘Leuven Walk’.
If you are looking for a place to relax, you can go to one of the small parks in the city centre or have a walk in the nearby parks: Park Abbey (Heverlee), Vlierbeek Abbey & Kesselse Bergen (Kessel-Lo), Arenberg Castle and Park (Heverlee), Provinciedomein (Kessel-Lo), Meerdael Forest (Heverlee), Zoet Water (Oud-Heverlee). If you feel like discovering Leuven and its surroundings by bike, check out the marked cycle routes
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See: Cycling, Orientation Days
www.visitleuven.be/en www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/en www.bucketlistflemishbrabant.be www.visitflanders.com/en www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/tourism
Police
For urgent police matters call the Leuven police emergency number or go to the police headquarters at the Philips site. For non-urgent matters, please make an online appointment first.
You are encouraged to report any incidents to the local police. Police at the Leuven police headquarters are available 24/7.
See: Bicycle, Identity Card, Safety, Student Police Officer, Traffic Rules, Registration at city hall
www.politie.be/5388/
Postal Services
B-post is Belgium’s leading postal operator for domestic mail and parcels. You can consult and order their services online, in post offices or in ‘postpunten’ (in supermarkets and at specific news agents). You can find locations of post offices, ‘postpunten’ and red letterboxes in your neighbourhood online.
www.bpost2.be
Postdoc Society
See: PhD Society
Psychological problems
See: Disability Office, Mental Health, MindMates, Student Health Centre, Student Services
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Q. R. Recycling sites
You need to bring all waste which is not/cannot be picked up at your doorstep, to a recycling site: for glass and batteries there are many recycling points across the city. There are three recycling sites that take all waste, also small dangerous waste, old electrical appliances, asbestos and candles. You can only access the recycling centre with your electronic ID-card or with a temporary access card (to be applied for at the Sanitation Department in the Registry Office ‘Stadskantoor’).
See: Waste
www.leuven.be/containerparken
Refugee contact point
The KU Leuven refugee contact point provides information on possibilities within KU Leuven for refugee students: tuition fee, scholarship, housing, buddy programs, … Also people supporting a refugee student can ask the contact point for advice and support.
[email protected] www.kuleuven.be/refugees
Registration at city hall
Upon arrival in Belgium, it is mandatory for EEA and non-EEA students, staff members and visitors to register at the town or city hall of their place of residence in Belgium, as soon as possible. If your place of residence is Leuven, you are required to register at the Foreigners’ Office of city hall in Leuven, called ‘Stadskantoor’. You cannot start this procedure before you have enrolled at your educational institution or before you have signed your contract. The registration procedure differs, depending on your nationality (EEA or non-EEA), student/staff status and the length of your stay. After your registration at both your educational institution and the city of Leuven and if you are renting on the private market, your neighbourhood police officer will visit you at your Belgian address to check whether you live there.
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You do not need to stay home, just make sure your name is on the doorbell and letter-box. The card you receive upon a successful registration is your official residence permit.
See: Foreigners’ Office, Identity Card, Residence Permit
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/immigration-residence www.leuven.be/city-administration
Registration at your institution (students)
Institutions send specific information on what to do.
See: section What to do upon arrival and departure (p. 6-7)
KU LEUVEN: www.kuleuven.be/registration
UCLL: www.ucll.be/international/degree-programmes/registration-degree-programmes
LUCA: [email protected]
Religion
KU Leuven wants every student and staff member to feel completely at home and caters to a diverse range of religions and life stances. In addition to various places for worship, you can find a place for quiet reflection on each campus.
See: Lifestance Network, Religion and Philosophical Diversity Contact Point, University Parish
www.kuleuven.be/reflection
Religion and Philosophical Diversity Contact Point (students)
KU Leuven has a contact point for students for advice on whether a partial or final exam can be rescheduled because of a religious holiday or if you have questions about the combination of your studies at KU Leuven and your religion or if you are experiencing difficulties with your studies due to your religion. Feel free to get in touch!
See: Religion, University Parish, Lifestance Network
www.kuleuven.be/religion
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Rental Contract
(STUDENTS) Some landlords use the model contract of the Housing Service for student housing. Without adjustments, you are sure you will sign a good contract. Other landlords have their own contract. In case you don’t receive a translation, it is best to pass by the Housing Service where an adviser will translate the contract for you. Contracts will not be translated by mail. Be aware that a signed contract, once started, can only be ended before the expiry date in very specific circumstances.
There are several types of contracts:- (STUDENTS) A student contract with a term of 10, 11 or 12 months or a short
term: It is advisable to use the KU Leuven modal rental contract, which is recognisable by the logo of KU Leuven. The KU Leuven model contract is there for all KU Leuven, UCLL, LUCA-Lemmens students. If the landlord insists on his own type of contract, please drop by the Housing Service before you sign it.
- (STAFF) A short term contract (3 years or less) or a long term contract (of 9 years with possibilities to end the contract sooner).
Supplementary expensesIf the cost of heating, electricity, water, telecommunication facilities/services is not included in the rent, the contract should clearly state how these costs will be calculated. There are different possibilities:- To pay a monthly advance for the costs, on top of the cost of the rent. At the end
of the agreement, a settlement of the total costs is made, taking into account the advance payments. If each housing unit is equipped with an individual electricity and gas meter, the tenant and the landlord should make a note of the meter reading at the beginning and at the end of the rental term.
- To pay a fixed monthly or yearly amount. In this case no calculation will be made at the end of the contract.
- To have an individual contract with the gas, electricity and water companies. In this case the tenant will receive and pay the invoices directly from and to the company. This usually applies to studio’s, apartments and houses.
See: City Tax, Deposit, Guesthousing, Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Insurances, Kot, Kotwijs, Kotlabel, Rental Contract, Rental Problems, Residence Halls
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/info-for-tenants/contracts
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Rental Problems
(STUDENTS) The Housing Service can help you with your rental issues and can mediate between you and your landlord if necessary.
(STAFF) For legal support on rental issues, you can turn to the huurdersbond.
See: Deposit, Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kotwijs, Rental Contract, Rental Fraud
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/contact huurdersplatform.be/hb
Rental Fraud
To avoid Internet fraud, look for housing via official channels, like Kotwijs, the KU Leuven Housing Service database (STUDENTS). On other housing websites and social media, you might encounter Internet fraud: so-called landlords convince you to transfer a considerable amount of money to a foreign bank account to secure a room or apartment in Leuven. After the money is transferred, the landlord disappears and does not respond to any further communication. The money you transferred is gone. If you have doubts about the practices of a landlord, contact the Housing Service before transferring any money or signing a contract. If you are a victim of fraud, immediately file a formal declaration with the Police Officer(s) for Student Affairs or the police station.
See: Deposit, Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kotwijs, Rental Contract, Rental Problems
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/info-for-tenants/internet-fraud
Residence Halls
Residence halls are run by KU Leuven or a cooperation between KU Leuven and private partners. Only 20% of the rental market for students are KU Leuven rooms. The offer for staff in the residence halls is even more limited. For more information on conditions and application procedure, contact KU Leuven Housing Service.
See: Housing, Housing Service KU Leuven, Kotwijs, Kotlabel
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/housing-leuven/housing-options/residence-halls
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/housing/find-housing/staff
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Residence Permit
Anybody coming to Belgium and living here for a while will receive a document upon registration at city hall. Depending on your country of origin (EEA or non-EEA), your status (student, staff or family) and the length of your stay, the name of this provisional residence permit will differ (annex 3, annex 8, annex 15, annex 19, annex 49) After a police check at your Belgian home address (only if you are staying more than 90 days), you will receive a Belgian id-card, i.e. your residence permit. This card is not unlimitedly valid. Make sure to start the procedure for renewal well beforehand. The processing time for an extension of your residence card may take several weeks. Check the websites below for the exact procedure. You are required to carry your residence permit with you at all times.
See: Identity Card, Registration at city hall
www.kuleuven.be/registration www.kuleuven.be/english/admissions/travelling/idcard www.internationalhouseleuven.be/registration-immigration
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S. Safety
Leuven is a very safe city, also at night. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the local police. The Leuven Police is available 24/7. You can also talk to the city guards, neighbourhood workers (‘gemeenschapswacht’). Their task is to inform and encourage people to take care of their neighbourhoods, raise awareness, spot damage to public places, report neighbourhood frustrations, … to prevent problems. You can recognise the city guards by their purple jackets.
The student police officer is always available if you want to ask questions or report problems. Dial 016/210 900.
On KU Leuven campus you can contact the campus service or in case of emergency, campus security.
See: Discrimination, Harassment, Security on Campus, Student Police Officer, Traffic Rules
admin.kuleuven.be/td/en/fd/bws/safety-tips-student-rooms [email protected]
Second-hand shops
See: Shopping, Shops
Security on campus
KU Leuven: In cases of an emergency or an accident on campus, you must call the 24-hour KU Leuven emergency number for a fast and efficient intervention of the right services (police, fire department, medical assistance). Dial 016/322 222.
LUCA: During office hours you can contact the front desk in case of emergency. Dial 02/477 15 00. After office hours dial 016/322 222
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Schools
Education in Belgium is organised by the regional government for children between 2.5 until 18 years of age. In Flanders there are three types of educational networks: GO! Education is the official education by the Flemish community, schools run by municipal or provincial authorities and government-aided private education. This last network mainly consists of catholic schools and alternative method schools (Freinet, Steiner, Montessori, etc.). All these schools get funding from the government and deliver equally high standards. Within this public system there are no tuition fees. Dutch is the language spoken in Flemish schools. In Leuven, only the International School Leuven (ISL) has English as its instructional language. You can find a detailed overview of the Belgian school system and Leuven schools as well as how to enrol on the website of the city of Leuven.
See: Child Care, Family (children), Vaccinations
www.leuven.be/en/node/2655 www.internationalhouseleuven.be/children www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family/school
Shops
Food:- Local shops (Baker’s, butcher’s) are usually open from 9 or 10 am to 6 or 8 pm. - Organic food (‘bio’): supermarkets, specific shops and food teams sell both
locally grown and/or organic products. Check out The Food Hub, Biotoop, Origin’O, de Karwij, Content (no packaging)
- Night shops are open after 6 pm. until late at night and offer a limited selection of food, but they are rather expensive.
See: Markets, Supermarkets, Veggie Bag
Non-Food:- Second-hand shops: Leuven counts a number of thrift stores and second-hand
shops where you can find cheap clothes or furniture to decorate your room or apartment. VITES (household items, furniture and clothing) is a sheltered workplace, sustainability and social workplace. They recycle, upcycle and sell 2nd hand household items at a good price. There are also a number of commercial 2nd hand shops.
www.dekringwinkel.be/vites
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- Maakba(ar): Leuven citizens volunteer to repair or upcycle your used goods or teach you how to do so yourself. You can find them in their own place or visit one of their pop-up repair cafés or workshops.
www.maakbaarleuven.be
See: Shopping
Shopping
Leuven does not have a shopping mall, shops are scattered throughout the city. The most important shopping streets are the Bondgenotenlaan, Diestsestraat, Mechelsestraat and Parijsstraat. Shops are closed on Sundays, except for the 1st Sunday of the month.
See: Markets, Shops, Supermarkets
www.visitleuven.be/en/shopping
Social Service
(STUDENTS) The Social Service wants to ensure that every student can study without worry: any practical, legal or financial question related to your stay as a student in Leuven is welcome here. You can contact them with questions about social security, insurances, child allowance, accidents, consumer problems, … The Social Service also lends a sympathetic ear if you are a student experiencing personal or emotional difficulties. The consultation is free of charge and confidential. No appointment is needed.
(STAFF) Staff members are expected to request assistance of existing public services in these matters, contact your HR adviser if you need more information on who to contact.
See: HR Department, Student Services, Support
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/money-matters www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/wellbeing-safety/well-being-
for-students
Special Needs
See: Disability Office, Student Services
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Sports
Sports card: With a sports card you can enjoy more than 75 different sport activities at the KU Leuven Sports Centre and the UCLL Sports Hall. You can join group sessions, you can use the facilities such as a running track, an outdoor athletics track and a swimming pool and you can make reservations on in- and outdoor sports fields. The sports card is valid for a whole academic year or you can choose to get a Summer Sports card, which is valid from 1st of June until the 30th of September. You can upgrade your sports card with a fitness membership, which gives you entrance to Univ-Fit, the fitness centre of KU Leuven.
Competitive sports: If you want to do competitive sports or join a KU Leuven team, you will need to be selected. Check the KU Leuven sports website to know how to.
LOKO: The student umbrella association LOKO has a sports section. They organise student events, like the immensely popular 24 hour relay race, a race between student associations.
Leuven: Also the city of Leuven has a large offer of sports both for adults and children, as well as sports facilities you can use. As a Leuven citizen you get discounts at the swimming pools.
See: Bicycles, Cycling, LOKO
www.kuleuven.be/sport/sports www.leuven.be/vrije-tijd/sport www.leuven.be/sportclubs
Stadskantoor (City Hall)
The new city hall near the railway station where you can find all administrative services (civil services, foreigners, mobility, education, sport, childcare,….) for the municipalities with postal code 3000, 3001, 3010, 3012 and 3018. The old City Hall on Grote Markt only has a ceremonial function.
See: Register at City Hall
www.leuven.be/en
Student Associations/unions/representation
KU Leuven is home to many different student organisations. As an international student you are more than welcome to join in or start and create your own association. The umbrella student association LOKO International can support you in both. There are three types of student associations: ‘kringen’ (student societies/unions linked to a study
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programme or faculty), thematic student associations (focus on a specific need or interest) and international student associations (uniting people from a specific country/region). Check the Pangaea-website to find a list of them all.
See: LOKO International, Student Societies, Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea
www.loko.be/en/societies
Student Career Center
KU Leuven students can contact the Student Career Center if you have any questions regarding student jobs, volunteer work, internship, transition to the job market, entrepreneurship.
See: Student Services, Working as a Student
www.kuleuven.be/studentcareercenter/en
Student Health Centre
KU Leuven: The Student Health Centre is staffed by a team of doctors and psychologists with extensive experience in student related health issues, both physical and mental. Consultations are by appointment only. House calls are possible on request, in case of serious illness. The Student Health Centre is for KU Leuven and LUCA-Lemmens students only.
See: Doctor, Mental Health, Mindmates, Student Services
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/health
Student Job
See: Working as a Student
Student Police Officer
The student police officer is always available if you want to ask questions or report problems. You can reach her via email or when she and her colleague Gil hold office at the different campus locations, in Campus Arenberg and in Pangaea, on Tuesday at noon.
See: Arenberg, Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea, Police, Safety
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Student Room
See: Kot
Student Welcome
Each year on the second Wednesday of the academic year the city of Leuven and the university and colleges welcome students with a festival to kick off the academic year in a festive way. The Ladeuzesquare becomes a festival venue with free concerts, an interactive infomarket and drinks and bites to eat.
See: Introduction Week, Orientation Days
www.studentenwelkom.be/en
Student Services
KU Leuven and LUCA-Lemmens: Information, advice, coaching, mediation, training for individual students or groups concerning studying in general and/or with a disability, student jobs, transportation, religious matters, discrimination, legal matters, well-being or health and housing. Student services are confidential, non-judgemental and free of charge.
UCLL: Student services welcome any student in need of a listening ear or a helping hand. You are welcome to stop by for advice on your financial situation and your personal situation. You can experience difficulties during your studies for different reasons. Our Student Services offer both academic coaching and personal support.
See: Disability Office, LGBTQI, Social Service, Student Career Centre, Student Health Centre, Study Advice Centre, Study Help
KU LEUVEN: www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studentservicesleuven
UCLL: www.ucll.be/international/student-services/student-support/personal-support
LUCA-Lemmens: www.luca-arts.be/en/student-support-services
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Student Societies (‘kringen’)
Student unions/societies, called ‘kring’, represent your needs at faculty level, give members discounts and other advantages, organise a shop (‘cudi’) for syllabuses and textbooks, run the faculty bar and host social and cultural activities.
See: LOKO International, Student Associations, Syllabuses and textbooks
www.loko.be/en/societies
Study Advice Centre
The Study Advice Service of KU Leuven acts as the central information point on study-related matters for all students. Students are welcome throughout their student career. You can turn to this service for: information and personal advice on study programmes, postgraduate study programmes and assistance through individual guidance or by signing up for various sessions on topics: effective study approach, study planning system, writing a masters’ thesis, presentation techniques, passing exams.
See: Student Services, Study Help
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studyadviceservice
www.ucll.be/international/student-services/student-support
Study Help
The study advisers of your faculty are your first contact within your study programme. You can find the contact details of your study adviser on your faculty website. You can consult them for all study-related matters on your current study programme. For counselling on study choice or for enhancing your skills in study approach, you can turn to the Study Advice Centre. With all questions on your learning agreement and the signing of documents from your home university, you can turn to your exchange coordinator.
See: Disability Office, Ombudsperson, Study Advice Centre
LUCA-Lemmens: www.luca-arts.be/en/learning-path-counselling
Study Places
See: Agora Learning Centre, Libraries
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Supermarkets
Supermarkets are open every day except Sundays, usually from 8 or 9 am until 7 or 8 pm. On Friday nights most supermarkets are open longer. Only a limited number of smaller supermarkets are open on Sundays and bank holidays.
Among the cheapest are Aldi, Colruyt and Lidl. Others are Carrefour, Delhaize, Match and Spar. Bioplanet and Origin’O only sell organic products.
See: Markets, Shops, Veggie Bag
Sustainability
Sustainability and in particular CO2 reduction are spearheads within the KU Leuven and city of Leuven policy. The city of Leuven commits to being carbon neutral by 2030. To make this ambitious plan work, the city, KU Leuven and different partners have joined hands for projects on energy-efficient renovating, sustainable mobility, renewable energy, local agriculture, nature etc. Anybody, individual or organisation, can join. You can also join the KU Leuven Green Office (STUDENTS) and ecoteams (STAFF + STUDENTS) to help change behaviour and raise awareness. At home you can do your bit by using energy rationally (lights, heating, cooking, doing dishes, leaking taps, printing…)
See: Ecoteams, Green Office, Veggie bag
www.kuleuven.be/sustainability www.leuven2030.be
Syllabuses and textbooks
Student societies organise a textbook service (‘cudi’) for syllabuses and textbooks at reduced prices. Other syllabuses and textbooks you can find at ACCO’s bookshop at reasonable prices.
See: ACCO, Student Societies
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T. Taxes
(STUDENTS) If you are registered in the Belgian national register on the first of January, you are considered to be a Belgian tax resident and you have to file a Belgian income tax return for the previous year, even if you don’t have an income in Belgium. You will receive detailed information on what to do via your KU Leuven mail when due.
If you need assistance in filing your tax return, contact the Federal Tax Administration. The Leuven Office is on the Philips site.
(STAFF) The HR department of KU Leuven and International House Leuven both provide information on how to file your Belgian tax return. The Federal Tax Administration or a tax consultant can be contacted if you need extra assistance. The Leuven office of the Federal Tax Administration is on the Philips site.
See: Working as a student
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/money-matters/taxes/filing-your-personal-income-taxes-in-Belgium
www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/housing-leuven/contracts/tax-on-second-residences
Tax on second residences
See City Tax
Taxi
You can find taxis in front of the railway station, the university hospital Gasthuisberg and in front of the Court House (Ferdinand Smoldersplein) If no taxis are available, you’d best call one of the taxi companies of Leuven to book a taxi.
www.kuleuven.be/transportation
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Textbooks
See: Syllabuses
Theatre
The student umbrella association LOKO organises a festival called the Interfaculty Theatre Festival in which different student theatre companies compete. CampusToneel is the resident theatre company of KU Leuven. Students, staff and alumni perform in its productions (in Dutch). A KU Leuven Culture Card gives you a discount off all performances.
International students can join Janus International Theatre Group, an amateur theatre group that was founded by international students and is supported by Pangaea. Everybody is welcome to join.
International students and staff can join or go and enjoy the Leuven-based amateur Theatre Company Trivial Muffins. The international cast aims to bring faithful renditions of classic plays.
See: Academy of Arts, Arts, Culture, Culture Card, Culture Office Pangaea Intercultural Meeting Centre, Culture, Culture card, Arts, Academy of Arts, LUCA-Lemmens
! Janus International Theatre www.trivialmuffins.com www.campustoneel.be www.iftf.be
Thermometers
Thermometers have Celsius degrees. They are larger than the Fahrenheit ones and are usually placed in the armpit. Readings from the armpit will be one degree lower than those taken orally. Always tell the doctor which method you used. The average temperature of a healthy person is 37°C, fever starts at 38,5°C.
Third Party Liability Insurance for Private Life
See: Insurances, Insurance Office KU Leuven
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Toledo
Toledo is the central web-based e-learning environment where students have access to a broad variety of online course materials. Toledo also offers several communication channels between students and staff members.
See: KU Loket
KU LEUVEN: www.toledo.kuleuven.be/english UCLL: intranet.ucll.be/en LUCA: www.toledo.luca-arts.be
Telephone
The Country Code for Belgium is ‘32’. The code for Leuven landlines is ‘16’. Connection to the Belgian telephone and mobile networks often remains the most cost-effective solution. Mobile telephones are widely available in specialised shops and large retail outlets. There are various payment formulas, including pre-paid cards and subscriptions. To find a Belgian phone numbers (both landlines and mobile numbers): search 1207, international numbers: search 1204.
Traffic Rules
Distances are very short in Leuven. You will get far just by walking. Pedestrians crossing the street at a zebra crossing have priority over all others, cars and bicycles. Mind: the red paths are meant for cyclists.
The Leuven traffic police is very strict, so make sure to avoid these common traffic violations:- Cycling without bicycle lights. Your bicycle needs to have lights, white in front
and red in the back. Police can stop you at any time for checks on your brakes and lights. Holding your mobile phone as a front light will mean a double fine for not having lights and using a phone while cycling.
- Using the phone whilst cycling. You need to have both hands ready on the breaks.- Running a red light. Red light means stop, always, also for pedestrians or when
turning right.
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- Cycling in a pedestrian zone. In pedestrian zones you cannot ride your bicycle between certain hours.
- Cycling in a one way street. Leuven has a lot of one way streets, these also apply to bicycles.
- Not giving priority to traffic coming from the right. In the absence of traffic lights or other specific signs, you always have to give priority to traffic coming from the right, also when you are on a bicycle and there is a car coming from the right.
- Parking your bicycle outside a bicycle parking. You cannot block the pavement with your bike.
- Cycling under the influence of alcohol.
www.kuleuven.be/transportation/pdf/cycling-guide-2017
See: Bicycles, Circulation Plan, Cycling School, Parking, Page 80
Train
From Leuven station, there are connections to every other major Belgian train station. You can buy a train ticket online (web or app), in the station at the ticket windows or at the ticket vending machines. There are different ticket options. The main criteria being age, time of travel (weekend is cheaper) frequency and number of people travelling together. You can check the website to search for the best itinerary and cheapest option in your situation. Make sure to buy a ticket before getting on the train, if not you will have to pay a fee of 7€ extra on board.
(STAFF) As a KU Leuven staff member paid a salary or scholarship you can apply for a discounted train pass via KU Loket, for your home-work itinerary. For more information, check online.
www.belgianrail.be/en
admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/english/intranet/salary-benefits-insurances/commuting/reimbursement_commuting_costs
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MANDATORY PATH FOR CYCLISTS
STOP AND GIVE WAY TO ALL
DRIVERS
ROAD NARROWING, GIVE WAY TO
ONCOMING DRIVERS
CYCLISTS PROHIBITED
ENTRY PROHIBITED, EXCEPT FOR
CYCLISTS
ENTRY PROHIBITED, CYCLISTS INCLUDED
(ROAD WITH ONE-WAY TRAFFIC)
USING YOUR PHONE WHILE
CYCLING IS PROHIBITED ZONE FOR
PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS ALLOWED BETWEEN 18.30 PM
AND 11 AM
ROAD NARROWING, ONCOMING DRIVERS HAVE TO GIVE WAY
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U. UCLL University of Applied Sciences
One of the major universities of applied sciences in Flanders. Its students are referred to as the ‘Moving Minds’: bringing ideas into action. UCLL houses five faculties: Management, Technology, Teacher Education, Health and Social Work, operating on 4 campuses in and around the city of Leuven, in addition to the Limburg campuses.
See: Gasthuisberg
www.ucll.be/international/about/our-campuses
University Library
The KU Leuven University Library is not just a library but one of the most prestigious buildings of the university. It contains a fine heritage collection, among other things, the deposit collection of KU Leuven. With its extensive programme of exhibitions and events, the University Library plays an important role in the cultural life of the university and the town. The tower houses a very large carillon with 63 bells. Anyone can book a public visit of the bell tower with the carillon player online or at the tourist office.
See: Agora Learning Centre, Libraries
www.bib.kuleuven.be/english
University Parish (UP)
Drawing on Christian inspiration UP is at the service of the university community, in an open and dialogical way, to explore and deepen the search for meaning and sense in our world. UP offers Eucharistic celebrations, sacramental preparation, meditation, student community houses, formation and encounter and engages in social solidarity (iCare).
See: Lifestance Network, Religion
www.kuleuven.be/up/english
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V. Vaccinations
Vaccinating babies and young children is recommended and free. The vaccination programme is organised by ‘Kind en Gezin’, only the vaccination against polio is legally required. Please contact them if you have children below 3 years of age. Follow-up vaccinations are done at school with prior approval of the parents.
Vaccination for adults (flu, corona, travelling...) depends on the type of vaccination. Some can be done by your GP or even at the workplace, some in hospitals or designated vaccination centres.
See: Child Care, Doctor, Family (children), Insurances, Schools
Veggie Bag
If you like cooking yourself, you can order the Veggie Bag, a weekly surprise package of organic fruits and vegetables, most of it locally produced by De Wikke, an organic farming project at Park Abbey. All information on how to order can be found online. The Veggie Bag is available for all students and staff.
See: Markets, Shops
www.kuleuven.be/veggiebag
Volunteering
Doing voluntary work is a good and rewarding way to connect to other people. KU Leuven and the city of Leuven have quite a few opportunities to do volunteering work. Many organisations in Leuven rely on volunteers as well (art houses, sustainability, ecology, guides, care for the elderly or vulnerable work…)
See: Buddy Programme, Intercultural Meeting Centre Pangaea, MindMates, Student Career Center, University Parish (iCare)
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/working-volunteering-and-career www.leuven.be/vrijwilligerswerk-leuven (in Dutch)
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W. Waste (sorting and collecting)
Waste needs to be sorted. There are 7 different fractions, each with their own bag or container. All bags are sold in large supermarkets and city hall. Different fractions:- all waste that doesn’t fit the fractions below: at your door, in the brown bag- small dangerous waste: bring to a recycling centre or drop off in designated
bins in supermarkets- glass: glass containers across town - organic waste: at your door, in a green bag (Leuven city centre) or a bin (Heverlee)- paper and cardboard: at your door, in a carton box or tied together- PMD and soft plastics: all kinds of plastics except hard plastic, rinsed “brick”
packages, metal cans, aluminium tins and trays, butter tubs, yoghurt cups, plastic bags, plastic objects (no aluminium foil! = brown bag). At your door, in a blue bag
- large domestic waste: bring to recycling site or can be picked up after appointment
Pick-up: Every fraction has a specific pick-up day depending on where you live and needs to be put in front of the house or residence between 6:00 and 7:00 on collection mornings. Check the pick-up days on the waste calendar or use the ‘Recycle!’ app. Leaving waste in front of your door on non-collection days means risking a fine.
See: Recycling sites
www.kuleuven.be/dailylife www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/advisorsresidential/
environment.html www.bettersorting.be/en www.kuleuven.be/wastecalendar www.kuleuven.be/housekeepingtips App ‘Recycle!’
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GLASS
ORGANIC WASTE
PAPER AND CARDBOARD
PMD AND SOFT PLASTICS
SMALL DANGEROUS WASTE
BROWN BAG
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Welcome
See: (STUDENTS) Buddy Programme, Introduction Week (UCLL, LUCA-Lemmens), Orientation Days (KU Leuven), Student Welcome Day
(STAFF) KU Leuven organises information sessions for new staff members once every month, for newly arrived international doctoral students every two months.
www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/welcome-activities
Wi-Fi
Wireless internet is provided in all university buildings on campus and in most public areas such as libraries, cafés and restaurants. For everyday use on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, we strongly recommend the use of the campusroam or eduroam network. At home, you must make use of the internet through the provider of your landlord’s choice. Check this with your landlord! If you rent a flat or a house, you will have to take care of the connection yourself.
See: Eduroam, Campusroam, Internet
www.kuleuven.be/icts/english/wifi
Working as a student
If you want to earn some extra pocket money as a student, you must comply with some specific regulations that may be different depending on your nationality. Please keep in mind that a student job cannot cover your living costs. To work as a student, EEA-students should be registered at the city hall. Non-EEA students need a residence permit or a document called annex 15. On the back of this permit you will see ‘beperkt’ or ‘limited’. It means that you can work maximum 20 hours per week (except during holidays). You can find a student job both on the private market as well as within the university by using KU Leuven database, called the “KU Leuven Career Zone”. Only a small amount of jobs require no or little knowledge of Dutch. The Student Career Center also provides information regarding the labour legislation for student employees in Belgium.
See: Student Career Center
www.kuleuven.be/studentjob
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Beautiful historical cities, belfries and cathedrals, all bear witness to a rich past. Belgium is a young country with an old history and, for many today, an uncertain future. It came into being in 1830, within borders that went back to the 16th century. Belgium and the Netherlands, a coastal region also called the Low Countries, are situated at the mouth of the Scheldt, the Meuse and the Rhine. For centuries this region was contested between the German emperor and the French king and for that reason it became the “battlefield of Europe”. In the 15th century the Dukes of Burgundy united different medieval principalities and created a third player between the two great powers which was subsequently taken over by the Habsburg dynasty. The Seventeen Provinces as they were called were then torn apart in the 16th century by the wars of religion. The Revolt against Spanish rule resulted in the rupture of the Low Countries: in the North the Dutch Republic came into being, dominantly Calvinist, today the Netherlands; the South remained Catholic under Spanish Habsburg rule and became later Belgium.
After the fall of Napoleon in 1815 there was a short-lived reunion of Belgium and the Netherlands, but solidarity was lacking. Catholics and liberals in the South revolted against the Dutch King William I and so Belgium came about. The national motto “L’Union fait la force” is reminiscent of that founding coalition. Belgium was given a most liberal constitution, a model in its time, and the Catholic Church regained freedom of action. The new state became a monarchy and with Leopold I a new dynasty appeared on the European stage. From the start the young nation faced some divisions that undermined its cohesion. A language border runs across the country. In the northern part of Belgium, today called Flanders, the vernacular language has always been Flemish or Dutch; a language that Flanders has in common with the Netherlands. In the southern part of the country, today known as Wallonia, French is the official language. This linguistic duality created tensions. In the 19th century language use in Belgium was free, but public life was dominated by French, even in Flanders, for French was a European language of culture and the Flemish elite also spoke the language of Molière. The discrimination of the Flemish speakers gave rise to the creation of the Flemish movement. Legislation gradually regulated the public use of language and in the first half of the 20th century Dutch became the official language in Flanders. Today, Belgium has four language regions. Brussels capital is bilingual, Flanders is unilingual Dutch, Wallonia unilingual French, with the exception of a small German speaking territory in the east. In the course of this process the national political parties split in two.
ABOUT BELGIUM: A SHORT HISTORY LESSONBy Prof. Emmanuel Gerard
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However, Belgium not only faced a division along language lines but also an economic divide. From the early 19th century the Liege region and Hainaut province were caught up in a process of industrialization, thanks to the presence of coal and iron. The Walloon provinces developed as an industrial stronghold on the continent and made pre-war Belgium one of the most important industrial nations in the world. The Flemish provinces, on the contrary, stayed rural and agricultural for many years and wealth grew at a slower pace. In the second half of the 20th century, when the old industrial regions declined, the roles were inversed. Thanks to its position near the sea and due to huge investments of multinationals, Flanders could work its way up to become one of the wealthiest regions on the continent. Antwerp is one of the most important ports in the world. Since cultural and economic factors combined to accentuate their different characters, Flanders and Wallonia grew apart. This evolution has led, since the seventies, to a series of state reforms that have eventually made Belgium a federal state. As a result and due to the fragmentation of the political parties, the formation of a federal government has become a work of acrobatics.
This evolution also had important consequences for the University of Leuven. Being the oldest university of the Low Countries, its origins going back to 1425, it once counted famous humanists such as Desiderius Erasmus and Andreas Vesalius among its professors. After Belgian independence the university was first a francophone institution, then a bilingual one, and finally, in 1968, it split into two parts: the KU Leuven in the Flemish city of Leuven, the francophone Université Catholique de Louvain moved to Louvain-la-Neuve, a new town on the other side of the language border. Despite the split the KU Leuven remained a prominent university in Europe. Belgium was an important theatre in the First World War. In 1914, the Belgian army was pushed back by the German aggressor behind the river IJzer. Commanded by King Albert I, it was able to stand its ground for four years with French and British support. Flanders Fields is a strong image for the British people, even an almost sacred place, where many hundred thousand soldiers from the Commonwealth fell in the Ypres Salient. The war graves of the Commonwealth are silent places of remembrance and worth a visit. The Menin Gate in Ypres has the names of more than 50.000 missing soldiers inscribed on its walls. Ever since 1928 the Last Post has been sounded in the evening as a moving tribute to the many war victims. It was not only the “Westhoek” that was severely hit by the war, but also many historical cities in the interior did not remain unscathed. Large parts of Leuven went up in flames in the summer of 1914. The Saint-Peter Church and the late-Gothic city hall were saved as if by miracle, but the university library, in the medieval cloth makers’ hall, was completely destroyed.
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With American funding a new library was built after the war on the Ladeuzeplein. The Old Market Place looks old, but is no more than a replica built after 1918.
Belgium is a small country with a surface of only 30.500 km², but from the end of the 19th century up to 1962, it played a remarkable role in the European colonial expansion. Leopold II created the Congo Free State, which he governed as an autocrat for more than 20 years. Today he is first and foremost remembered for the atrocities the Free State committed in that part of Africa. In 1908, the Congo became a Belgian colony, 80 times larger than the metropole. When the Belgian Congo gained independence in 1960, without much preparation, the new republic sank almost immediately into a deep crisis, which attracted global attention and competition in a period of Cold War. Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Congo and an icon for the emancipation struggle of Afro- Asian countries, was murdered in January 1961 and Belgium has recently admitted partial responsibility. Until 1962 Belgium was also UN-trustee for Rwanda and Burundi, which explains why it has been closely involved in the dramatic events of the African Great Lakes Region.
A good 10% of Belgium’s inhabitants have a foreign nationality, the number of people with Sub-Saharan origin being rather limited despite the country’s colonial past. Other ethnic groups are better represented, such as the Italians, Turks and Moroccans. The immigration of these fellow countrymen goes back to the economic situation in the decades after the Second World War, between 1945 and 1975. In that period there was a strong demand for labour, first in the coalmines, later in other economic sectors. The province of Limburg for instance has a most diverse ethnic composition as the result of its mining activities in the past and in Beringen you will find the largest mosque in Flanders. Today, Brussels and Antwerp are cosmopolitan cities. Since the seventies Belgium has admitted foreign workers only in limited numbers, but it has hosted many refugees.
Brussels is the seat of numerous international institutions and for that reason is well known abroad. Belgium stood at the cradle of the European integration. Together with the Netherlands and Luxemburg, France, Italy and West Germany, it was one of the founding countries of the European Community for Coal and Steel. Out of this Community grew the Common Market and later the European Union. Belgium reasoned that small countries could only win through cooperation and for that reason it has always advanced further steps in the integration process, although currently Belgian public opinion is experiencing a wave of Euro-critical thinking. Brussels became the capital of the key European institutions, seat of the European Commission and the European Parliament (which moves to Strasbourg in France for some of its activities). The first permanent president of the European Council was a Belgian politician, Herman Van Rompuy. In the sixties the seat of NATO was also transferred to Brussels. As an international centre the capital hosts many international summits but also finds itself centre stage for many demonstrations.
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Today, in widening circles, there is growing concern about the future of this country. The process of state reform has created a complex federal structure, which is considered less efficient. North and South are increasingly heading in different directions. The political instability that is emerging throughout Europe is adding to this uncertainty. However, Belgians are also known for their muddling through. They think: we shall see. And what may seem illogical to the outsider, is actually just right for the Belgians. After all, one of the most important representatives of surrealism is the Belgian painter René Magritte.
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PublisherThomas Van Oppens, Alderman for student affairs, city of Leuven (Professor Van Overstraetenplein 1, 3000 Leuven).
Editorial teamCity of Leuven, KU Leuven, UC Leuven-Limburg, LUCA School of Arts – Campus Lemmens.
Chief EditorLieve De Mey (KU Leuven)
ContactCommunication - city of Leuven - T 016 27 22 [email protected]
PhotosKU Leuven and city of Leuven
Print run 3000 ex.Reproduction, in whole or in part, of text, illustrations or lay-out from this publication is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
[email protected] 016 27 26 12
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