Experience in Leuven, Belgium by Cedric

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What is it like to live in Leuven? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The typical day in Leuven is hard to describe. That's because there are always a lot of different things to do. Most certainly in the beginning of the semester, everybody is busy with rediscovering the nice places and spots of this marvelous city.

Yet when it comes to weekends and exam preparations, the city transforms into a ghost town. That's mostly because the majority of the Flemish students enjoy good public transportation and use them to go back home in this period. But that gives the ideal opportunity to go out and travel.

What is the student lifestyle like in Leuven?

The student lifestyle can be characterized with a healthy mix of studying and leisure. As the KU Leuven is a tough university to pass exams at, occasional studying is really required. Luckily, the university offers more than ten different libraries and facilities to study in.

When it comes to leisure, there's always something to do next to classes. Again, during the semester, Leuven is a city full of entertainment, while in the exam preparation weeks it can feel a bit dull and silent around.

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How much does it cost to live in Leuven?

That all depends on how you are adapted to living on your own. If you know how to find cheap but quality dorms, food, transportation,... etc, life can be as cheap as 500 euro in a month.

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Leuven? Is there any advice you can give?

The best thing to do for this is asking a local to do it for you. However the university really works on making this process of finding accommodation easier. It's not always so easy to deal with Dutch contracts as not every proprietor wants to translate them.

In Leuven or in Belgium in general, people call a room, a 'kot'. This is a small bedroom in which also a small sink and your desk is located. Most Flemish students share a dormitory with a bathroom and a kitchen while they live and study in these much smaller 'kots'.

When it comes to prices, I would advice to never take a kot over 350 euros all-in. Mostly prices are - when you start looking for it early - not so high (between 250-325 all-in) for a small kot. When you want a bigger one, let's say 20+ m², then you pay more, but again never go over 450 €!

Note that Leuven has an oversupply in kots, so this means you can renegotiate the contract. So don't be afraid of doing so! Always check it out before signing anything. Moldy and dirt are not on internet pictures!

A small list of things you should ask:

• Who cleans the common areas?
• What to do with the trash bins?
• Can we have a kot party or not?
• Who's responsible for toilet paper and washing products?
• If something is broken, who should I inform about it?
• Are there extra costs not mentioned in the contract?
• How and when do I get my deposit back?

PS. : NEVER, EVER EVER take a kot of mr. Appeltans or L. Strauven, he's a fraudster with over 2000 kots in Leuven. Never take one, I've heard too many terrible stories of his way of dealing with students. He also never gives your deposit back!

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What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The KU Leuven provides student restaurants at low prices. Every day there's soup, a vegetarian meal, a few typically Flemish meals and sometimes there's also a meal from some part in the world like Algeria, Colombia, etc.

Further other good places for finding cheap quality food are the Thai House, La Divina Commedia, Amici Miei (dinner) and De Werf.

Be aware that restaurants in the Muntstraat are very expensive. A steak can be as expensive as 35 euros! So normally students either cook by themselves, or they go to a cheap restaurant.

What places would you recommend visiting in Leuven?

Religion: Visit the churches! Often they are really beautiful even when they are sometimes still in renovation. For the Catholics: there's a possibility to take confession every Tuesday and Friday between 11-13 o'clock in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Culture: Visit the ducal castle and the exhibitions of Museum M! Then also take a look in the Harry Potter-like library at the Ladeuzeplein, with its statues and paneling, it feels you enter the world of wisdom. Go the 30CC and Het Depot near the station for renditions and theater. Also check regularly your facebook activities, as often concerts are held in the Pieter De Somer Auditorium.

Party: Don't forget to have a drink on the Oude Markt at lunch time or a party there. Other party locations include the Naamsestraat and the Tiensestraat.

Leisure: The Sportkot near Heverlee offers a great deal: 100 euro a year for all sports activities ranging from swimming to dancing, from American Football to mountain climbing. If you want to go to the fitness, that's possible too for 110 euros a year. But don't go at 6 PM, as it can be really crowded! Added to this, if it's sunny take stroll through the parks and enjoy the weather.

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Is it good to eat out in Leuven? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Eating in Leuven can be quite expensive but if you don't mind, then Leuven has a variety of good restaurants to offer. Most of them are located in the Muntstraat, though some of them are also located near the Naamsestraat (at the end, close to the Grote Markt) or in the Tiensestraat.

You can choose between Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Belgian, and French cuisine. Leuven even has a few burger restaurants again in the Naamse- and Muntstraat of great quality.

Is the nightlife good in Leuven? Where is good to go?

There's no city in the world with a nightlife as in Leuven because every night there's literally a party somewhere. If the Belgians know one thing, then it is how to party. Leuven is pure madness at some times, especially during the Kiesweek in the second semester or during the first few weeks of the first semester.

Most people go to Oude Markt, yet you can go also to the Tiensestraat or even to one of the other faculty bars in Heverlee near the Sportkot, where the vibe is madness but is also retrievable.

Partying in Leuven is unique! You can literally party all day long from dawn to evening, from evening to dawn.

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What advice would you give future students heading to Leuven?

Have fun and take the time to find people to feel confortable with during the orientation days. Go early and start to orientate. Yet don't expect the locals to be interested in you: they aren't, they are highly reserved and busy with their own things. Belgian aren't spontaneous, do you want to meet up with them? Then you better should make an appointment.

Live the life but study, study, and study! since Leuven is HARD.