Leuven (http://www.leuven.be) is a dynamic and thriving city of about 92,000 inhabitants in Flemish Brabant, Belgium. It's a true university town in which the town is more alive during the academic year end of September till June, although there are a lot of events in Summer. The university, with about 30,000 students every year, is the oldest Catholic University in the world, founded in 1425. The historic centre is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.
It is also the ideal starting point to discover the rest of the country: Brussels is just around the corner, the Coast is only a 1,5 hour train ride away and Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Mechelen and Hasselt are nearby.
Lately, more and more tourists visit Leuven as the city has stepped up its efforts to make tourists feel at home.
You may find that the average age of the population drastically changes during the Academic Year, when it often seems only students stroll around the city. In general however, Leuven has everything to appeal to both young and old: A lively nightlife, interesting and sometimes stunning historic sites, the important and world renowned University and two seemingly endless shopping streets.
