ABOUT LEUVEN
° A medieval university town built around the Dyle
* Unesco World Heritage - beguinages
https://www.visitleuven.be/nl/see-do
* Gothic Town Hall and cobbled car-free marketplaces -
* Botanical garden from the 13th century
* 12th century city walls with footpaths -
* Museum of Fine Arts M -
https://www.mleuven.be/nl/home
* Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic churches -
https://www.erfgoedcelleuven.be/nl/monumenten-en-sites/kerken
* Park Abbey, Vlierbeek Abbey, Kaisers Abbey
* microbreweries (
https://domusleuven.be/nl/huisbrouwerij/)
* Three weekly markets and lots of very affordable restaurants (we'll leave our favourites behind!)
*brewery bike rides, canoe/kayak/SUP on the Dyle, guided walks -
www.leuvenleisure.com/nl/
* adventure park (free admission) and outdoor swimming pool -
www.vlaamsbrabant.be/vrije-tijd-cultuur/provinciedomeinen/kessello/attracties-en-recreatiemogelijkheden/index.jsp
* swimming paradise and indoor play world -
https://www.sportoase.be/nl/philipssite
° GREEN SURROUNDINGS OF LEUVEN:
* forest and forests: Heverleebos and Meerdaelwoud -
* Leuven - Mechelen canal with cycling and walking paths
* Leuven is a cycling enthusiast's dream with plenty of well-signposted cycling routes - create your own route with the cycling junction network
*Leuven has plenty of nice hiking trails - put together your own route with the walking junction network -
www.wandelknooppunt.be/routeplanner
* Nature reserve Doode Bemde -
www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebied/doode-bemde
* walking in the vineyards near Houwaert -
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/producten/bezoeken/bezienswaardigheden/wijndomein-houwaartse-wijngaard/
* Mene-Jordan Valley Nature Reserve -
www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebied/mene-jordaanvallei
* Nature conservation area 'Hageland valley' -
www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebied/hagelandse-vallei
30MIN BY CAR/TRAIN:
°
BRUSSELS-https://visit.brussels/nl
* 100+ museums (Comic Station, Natural History, Train World, Auto World, Chocolate Museum, ...)
* Atomium -
https://atomium.be/home/cover?lang=nl
* Grand Place Unesco World Heritage Site -
https://visit.brussels/nl/plaats/Grote Markt
*European Parliament
° MECHELEN -
www.mechelen.be
* Medieval town with lively atmosphere
* Kazerne Dossin: museum, memorial and documentation center about the transport of Jews and Roma during WW II -
https://www.kazernedossin.eu/EN/
* Planckendael Animal and Adventure Park -
https://www.zooplanckendael.be/nl/
*Nature reserve 'Rivers of Mechelen'
°CASTLES
* Arenberg Castle (10min by car), on the Dyle, now part of the university campus
* Castle of Horst (25 min by car), a medieval castle surrounded by water and forest
* Castle of Meise and Botanical Cardens (35 min by car) -
https://www.plantentuinmeise.be/nl/
* Gaasbeek Castle and Beersel Castle (50 min by car)
° AMUSEMENT PARK WALIBI -
www.walibi.be
*attractions
* Aqualibie water park (water park)
1 hour BY CAR/TRAIN
° ANTWERP -
www.visitantwerpen.be
* Historic center with cathedral, renaissance town hall Unesco Heritage, narrow streets, Grote Markt
* Rubens House -
https://www.rubenshuis.be
* Antwerp Zoo -
http://www.zooantwerpen.be/nl
* Chocolate Nation
* Art Nouveau Central Station ranked as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world
* 12th century fort 'Het Steen' on the Scheldt
* Red Star Line Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Photography, Home of Diamonds, Fashion Museum,...
° NAMUR, LIÈGE AND DINANT: CITIES IN THE FRENCH-SPEAKING PART OF BELGIUM
* Namur in French: cruises on the Meuse and Sambre rivers -
www.namurtourisme.be/nl/
* 2000 year old Citadel in Namur and in Dinant -
www.citadellededinant.be/nl/
* Cathedral and Belfry in Namur
* Préhistomuseum and Archéoforum in Liège (Liège in French) -
www.visitezliege.be/nl
* Military heritage of Namur - 9 forts
* Many castles in the Meuse region -
https://www.valleedelameuse-tourisme.be/vie-de-chateau.html?lang=fr
* Numerous hiking trails
BOKRIJK -
www.bokrijk.be
* Historical open-air museum about life in Belgium in the Middle Ages with actors
* Medieval children's games and workshops woodcarving, fire making, etc
* Large (and free) playground
1h30 or more away
° BRUGES (1h30)
* Venice of the North!
° BELGIAN COAST (2h)
* Nature reserve 'Het Zwin' -
www.zwin.be
* WWII German Atlantic Wall -
www.raversyde.be/nl/atlantikwall
°BELGIAN ARDENNES (southern part, close to France, French-speaking, very hilly and rocky) 1h30
* Caves and wildlife park of Han -
grotte-de-han.be/nl
* Parc de Furfooz
www.visitardenne.com/en/adventures-ardennes/outdoor-adventures/parc-de-furfooz
* Thermal baths of Spa
* Kayaking on the Lesse
Train station: 15 min walk
Medieval city center: 15 min walk
Airport: 14 min direct train
High-speed train Hub Brussels with access to Paris, Amsterdam, London: 45 min train
Shops: 5 minutes walk
Playgrounds: in the back of our garden + at the end of our street + several at 10 min walk!
Free adventure park: 20 min walk
Table tennis: on the playground at the back of our garden
Outdoor swimming pool: 20min walk
Indoor swimming pool: 20 min walk
I can provide information about Leuven and the surrounding area and am happy to give suggestions for nice restaurants and coffee bars or tips for walking and cycling. Or go for coffee or lunch together!