Venue
This year the rendering symposium is organised in Leuven. The talks will take place in the auditorium Zeger Van Hee in College De Valk. This page gives you some more information about the venue and on how to get to Leuven.
Leuven
Site: Leuven
Leuven is a small city (population 88.000), 25 kilometers east of Brussels. At the beginning of the academic year, the students invade Leuven and fill the many bars around the city. The best place to start is the Oude Markt with more than 30 exciting bars. The local beer is Stella Artois (ask for "een pintje").
Aside from the many bars, Leuven is also known for its magnificent architecture. The gothic town hall, at the great market square, used in the conference poster, is only one example. The tourist information center is situated in the town hall.
Perhaps, Leuven is best known for its university: de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Founded in 1425 by Pope Martin V, the K.U.Leuven bears the honour of being the oldest Catholic university in the world still in existence and the oldest university in the Low Countries.
The best places to have lunch are all situated around the Oude Markt. Many restaurants can be found in the Muntstraat (New Mexico (mexican food), De Oesterbar (oisters), Quo Vadis (pizza, spaghetti), De Kansel (spaghetti)) and the Parijsstraat (O Fado (portuguese), La Cantina del Coronel (latin-american), Toeareg (african)). Belgian food can be found in Den Clijne Tafel (Naamsestraat), Timory (Brusselsestraat) or Wiering (Wieringstraat).
Leuven & Belgium for Americans, the must-read pocket guide
American conference attendees can read our pocket guide to Leuven and Belgium for practical information and customs.
College De Valk
College De Valk, where the symposium is held, is situated in the heart of Leuven. The hotels are all within walking distance from the auditorium. Talks will be given in the auditorium Zeger Van Hee, while the coffe breaks take palce in the front hall. For lunch we will go to a restaurant nearby.
In the auditorium and front hall, wireless internet (802.11b) access will be provided. University internet access rooms will also be made available to the conference attendees (in case you do not bring along your laptop or you do not have wireless internet access hardware). These internet rooms are located within walking distance from the auditorium and lunch restaurants.
Maps
- Leuven and Brussels
- Map of Leuven
- Leuven in Belgium
- Belgium in Europe
- Belgium in the world
- Trains
in Belgium
Travel Information
General
Leuven is about
25 km east of Brussels.
Do not confuse Leuven with Louvain La Neuve, where the francophone sister
university of the K.U.Leuven is located. Louvain La Neuve is near Wavre
and Ottignies, about 30km south-west of Leuven.
Airport
Take the plane to Brussels Airport (Zaventem). It is about 25 km from Leuven.
The different options to get from the airport to Leuven:
- There are trains every 30 minutes to Leuven. The total trip will take about one hour and will cost 4.50 &euro. Use following form to find a train from Brussels Airport to Leuven on the desired date and time.
- A taxi from Brussels Airport will cost about 50 €.
- Car rental desks are located in the arrival halls of the airport.
Sometimes it's cheaper to take the plane to London and the Eurostar from London Waterloo to Brussels South (2h40').
Another option is to take the plane to Paris (Charles De Gaulle) and take the Thalys to Brussels South (1h15').
For both options you will have to change in Brussels South and take the train to Leuven. The trip will take about half an hour and will cost you 3.90 &euro. Use following form to find a train from Brussels South to Leuven:
Railways
Consult the Belgian Railways site. Leuven is on the line from Brussels to Liege (Luik), Aachen and Koeln. There are trains every 15 minutes from Brussels South to Leuven. The total trip will take about 30 minutes and will cost you 3.90 &euro. Use following form to find a train from Brussels South to Leuven:
There also are fast international train connections to Brussels (Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi) available from major European cities:
- Thalys: Paris Nord (1h25'), Airport Charles De Gaulle (1h15'), Koeln HBF (2h30'), Amsterdam (2h40'), Rotterdam (1h40')
- Eurostar: London Waterloo (2h40'), Lille Europe (40')
By car
- Take the highway E40 (Brussel-Luik).
- From E40 take the exit E314/A2 Leuven-Hasselt-Genk between exit 22 (Bertem) and exit 23 (Haasrode).
- From E314 take the exit 15 and follow directions to Leuven.
Tourist Information
As Leuven is situated in the centre of Belgium, other cities are easily reached by train (all in less than two hours). Use the following form to schedule a train from Leuven to the desired city:
Brussels
Site: Brussels
Brussels (population 960.000) is not only the capital of Belgium, but also the capital of Europe. Reached by train from Leuven in half an hour. If you plan to visit the great market square (this is where you can find the tourist information centre), take the train to Brussel Centraal. The great market is only 300 meters from here.
Bruges
Site: Bruges
Most people who visit Belgium, come to visit Bruges (population 117.000). Bruges can be reached by train from Leuven (every half hour) in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Bruges was the European Capital of Culture in 2002 (together with Salamanca). Visiting Bruges is a must. When you arrive at the railway station, look for an information office of De Lijn. Here you can buy a ticket for the bus to go to the centre (1 &euro). The historical centre can be visited on foot (diameter of 2-3 km). Most of Bruges can be visited in one day, but if you have the time, take two days.
Ghent
Site: Gent
Gent (population 230.000) is on the same rail track from Leuven to Bruges (reached in 1 hour). The railway station (called Gent-Sint-Pieters) is rather far from the historical centre. Take bus 1, 10, 11 or 12. The historical centre can be visited on foot. Visit the Sint-BaafsKathedraal, the Belfort, the Gravensteen and the Lakenhalle.
Antwerp
Site: Antwerp
Antwerp (population 445.000) is situated north of Leuven and can be reached by train in one hour (railway station Antwerpen-Centraal). The centre can be reached on foot from the railway station. Places of interest are the great market, the town hall, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkathedraal and many others.
