All You Wanted To Know About Coming To Leuven

Below is a summary of few things you might like to know before you start enjoying the belgian life and the more famous belgian weather. Please read the Disclaimer & credits below too.

If you don't find an anwser to another important question here or if you spotted some mistakes, please let us know about it and write to info@isal.be.

******* Consolidated (click here) *******

1. About Belgium & Leuven
   1. Language
   2. Weather
   3. Food
   4. Culture?
   5. Geography
2. Visa
   1. Student Visa
   2. Dependent Visa
3. What to get from India ? (Baggage collection)
4. Travel
   1. How To Reach Leuven
   2. After Reaching Leuven
5. Emergency Numbers
6. Accommodation
   1. Initial Accommodation
   2. University Housing
   3. Rent A Studio, House, Apartment
7. Things To Do in First Week
   1. Registration
      1. International Office
      2. Registration Hall
      3. City Hall
      4. University Department ?
   2. Housing Search
      1. Initial Accommodation
      2. University Housing
      3. Rent A Studio, House, Apartment
   3. Other Important Things
      1. Open Bank Account
      2. Mobile connection
      3. Rent a Bike / Cycle
      4. Telephone, Television, & Internet
8. Shopping
9. Restaurants
10. Transport
    1. Flight?
    2. Train
    3. Bus?
11. Activities
12. Money Transfer
13. Driving in Belgium & License
14. Travel to India?

Final comments

There are other aspects to life in Leuven such as traveling, etc. which are outside the scope of this article. This article’s purpose is merely to help the new Leuvenite to settle down to life here. There are many, many things that haven’t even been touched upon here, that you will come across, pursue and enjoy during the course of you stay in Leuven. Wish you all the best!

Disclaimer

The purpose of this article is to describe in a nutshell, the different things to be done upon one's arrival in Leuven. By no means is it comprehensive. Facts and figures, as well as procedures, may change from time to time, and we cannot in anyway be held responsible for discrepancies between those mentioned in this write-up and the actuals. Constructive inputs, of course, are always welcome.

The above information is correct to the best of our knowledge and experiences (at the time we have gone through). We do not claim this information to be complete and authentic w.r.t Belgian/Indian laws in any way. This is intended to sincerely help the newcomers to Leuven. Best Wishes!!

Credits & History

• 2002-2007:  The information on this page was initially put together by Prabhat Avasare, after being asked (strange questions) by many desi's coming to IMEC/KULeuven. Later updated by Lakshmanan Balasubramanian
• 2008-2009: There are significant updates in this page with the wonderful support of both ROSE and ISAL volunteers: Vaidy Subramanian, Praveen Raghavan, Satya Kiran Munaga, Deepika Munaga, Narasinga Rao Miniskar, and few more...
• 2008-2009: Special Thanks to Jagadeesa Das Arul Mahesh for providing Driving license related information
• 2009-2010: Visa related information updates by Narasinga Rao Miniskar