Living in Leuven

132 Pages·2010·5.22 MB·English

Living in Leuven
2010-2011
de Leuvense studentenraad
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1
1 Foreword .................................6 7 Student Organisations
7.1 K.U.Leuven ..................................... 61
2 Introduction 7.2 KHLeuven ....................................... 68
7.3 GROUP T – International University
2.1 Belgium ............................................. 9 College Leuven ............................... 69
2.2 Leuven .............................................13
7.4 Lemmensinstituut (W&K) ............... 70
2.3 Arriving in Belgium and Leuven .......14
2.4 Institutions of Higher Education ......14
8 Educational System
3 Formalities upon arrival
8.1 K.U.Leuven ..................................... 71
3.1 Institutions of Higher Education ..... 20 8.2 KHLeuven ....................................... 76
3.2 City of Leuven ................................. 24 8.3 GROUP T – International University
College Leuven ............................... 77
8.4 Lemmensinstituut (W&K) ............... 77
4 Accommodation
4.1 International housing ...................... 29
4.2 Renting student accommodation .... 34 9 Day-to-day life
4.3 City of Leuven ................................. 36 9.1 Cultural Adjustment and Places
to Meet ........................................... 78
9.2 Money matters ............................... 79
5 Insurance and Health Care 9.3 Schools and Child-Care Services .... 80
9.4 Language schools ........................... 85
5.1 Health insurance ............................. 37 9.5 Shopping in Leuven ........................ 88
5.2 The Health Care System ................. 41 9.6 Launderettes, laundries and
5.3 Other Types of Insurance ................ 44 dry cleaning .................................... 90
9.7 Dining .............................................. 90
9.8 Environment .................................. 90
6 Offces Providing Services for 9.9 Transportation ................................ 93
International Guests 9.10 Communications ............................ 97
9.11 Sports ...........................................103
6.1 K.U.Leuven ..................................... 48 9.12 Culture ..........................................106
6.2 KHLeuven, GROUP T – International 9.13 Libraries ........................................ 113
University College Leuven 9.14 Religion .......................................... 115
and Lemmensinstituut (W&K)......... 53 9.15 Tourism .......................................... 119
6.3 City of Leuven ................................. 54 9.16 Police and safety ............................120
9.17 Births, marriages and deaths .........122
9.18 SOS/Emergency services
and numbers ..................................124
9.19 Hospitals ........................................124
3
Emergency Services (see also on p. 124)
Ambulance and Fire Department................. ...................................................100
Police Emergency........................................ ....................................................101
Hospital – emergency department (Spoedgevallen):
Go to the emergency department at the Regional Hospital ‘Heilig-Hart’,
Naamsestraat 105 or University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat
K.U.Leuven Emergency ................................................................................... tel. [phone]
Medical Centre for Students K.U.Leuven, GROUP T, Lemmensinstituut and
Vlerick management school (working days 8 AM - PM) ................................ tel. [phone]
After hour family doctor (night, weekend, holidays) ........................................ tel. [phone]
Services for international students and guests
International offce (K.U.Leuven) Admissions and Mobility Unit ...................... tel. [phone]
Pangaea, international meeting centre ............................................................ tel. [phone]
LOKO International .......................................................................................... tel. [phone]
LOKO Central................................................................................................... tel. [phone]
Foreigners’ Offce (City of Leuven) .................................................................. tel. [phone]
Student Cop ..................................................................................................... tel. [phone]
Anti-Discrimination Centre (Meldpunt Discriminatie) ..................................... tel. [phone]
Student Services (General)
K.U.Leuven.............................. ........................................................................ tel. [phone]
KHLeuven vzw Studentenservice.................. .................................................. tel. [phone]
................................................ ........................................................................and 016 37 57 48
GROUP T - International University College Leuven ........................................ tel. [phone]
Lemmensinstituut (W&K)........ ....................................................................... tel. [phone]
Housing Service
K.U.Leuven + KHLeuven.................................................................................. tel. [phone]
City of Leuven ................................................................................................. tel. [phone]
Social Service
K.U.Leuven + KHLeuven.......... ....................................................................... tel. [phone]
GROUP T – International University College Leuven ...................................... tel. [phone]
Lemmensinstituut (W&K)......... ...................................................................... tel. [phone]
4
Study Advice Service
K.U.Leuven ...................................................................................................... tel. [phone]
Medical Centre for Students ............................................... tel. [phone]
Psychotherapeutic centre ....................................................... tel. [phone]
KHLeuven ............................................................................................... tel. [phone]
Business Studies student secretary ................................................................ tel. [phone]
Health and Technology student secretary ........................................................ tel. [phone]
Teacher Training Heverlee student secretary ................................................... tel. [phone]
Social Work student secretary ........................................................................ tel. [phone]
GROUP T – International University College Leuven
Leuven Engineering College ............................................................................ tel. [phone]
Leuven Education College ............................................................................... tel. [phone]
Lemmensinstituut (W&K) ........................................................ tel: [phone]
Registrar’s Offce
K.U.Leuven ...................................................................................................... tel. [phone]
KHLeuven ........................................................................................................ tel. [phone]
Business Studies student secretary ................................................................ tel. [phone]
Health and Technology student secretary ........................................................ tel. [phone]
Teacher Training Heverlee student secretary ................................................... tel. [phone]
Social Work student secretary ......................................................................... tel. [phone]
5
Foreword
1
The City of Leuven and the Institutions of Higher Educa-
tion welcome you proudly to this city and its various ed-
ucational institutions. We have joined forces and efforts
to produce the booklet that you now hold in your hands.
“Living in Leuven” has been written for all those who
come to Leuven to pursue studies, research or further
teaching and training. It contains information concern-
ing Belgium, daily life in Leuven and the various institu-
tions of higher education in the city.
Colofon

This brochure also contains information that will help
Publisher: you to deal with the practical problems that everybody
Denise Vandevoort, has to face when arriving in this country. It will also help
Alderman for students affairs, you to better understand the Belgian idiosyncrasies and
City of Leuven life-style so that your day-to-day life here soon becomes
(Professor Van Overstraeten- a positive and fruitful experience.
plein 1, B-3000 Leuven).
Editorial team:
City of Leuven, K.U.Leuven,
Although “Living in Leuven” will not answer every spe-
KHLeuven, Groep T - Interna-
cifc question, this booklet will be of most help to you
tionale Hogeschool Leuven,
if you read it calmly and carefully. While doing so, take
Lemmensinstituut (Hogeschool
voor Wetenschap & Kunst) and account of all the cultural, administrative and practical
LOKO. information contained in it.
Contact person:
dienst onderwijs,
tel. [phone] We wish you every success and a very fruitful stay.
De Troubadour
Verrassend Traditioneel Studentenmenu
Al vijftien jaar lang verrast restaurant De Troubadour zijn gasten met een Glaasje champagne
traditionele burgerkeuken waar ruim plaats is voor eigentijdse accenten.
Daardoor groeide de zaak uit tot een vaste waarde en een echte Pangasiusfilet met mousseline,
allemansvriend. Liefhebbers van grootmoeders keuken met bijvoorbeeld geserveerd met krielaardappeltjes
ossentong in maderasaus of rogvleugel met kappertjes vinden hier even
makkelijk hun gading als liefhebbers van de Italiaanse keuken of Huisbereide tiramisu
lekkerbekken die verhangen zijn aan een smaakvolle maaltijdsalade. Wat
deze laatste aangaat: wij vielen voor de gebakken kippenreepjes met
crihjsitlinpoeepdeer,l sfi jonpe Tghroaeisnet wjeisj zeen o cpa shmeawanko gtenb.r Laicht ,m lektk keor réiann edcehrt, fliemesote. nVsoaepg, 12,50
daarbij de wervelende, spontane dienstverlening plus de gezellige drukte en
je begrijpt waarom in De Troubadour zelden een stoel onbezet blijft. Dit aanbod is te verkrijgen op weekdagen telkens
tussen 12:00 en 15:00 of tussen 17:30 en 19:00 uur.
Op vertoon van je studentenkaart.
Do you want to cross your favourite city?
De Lijn is the smartest way
Introduction
2
2.1. Belgium Politics and Languages
Despite its small size, Belgium has a unique
Synopsis and complex institutional and political struc-
Belgium is a small, densely populated coun- ture. The country is divided into three lan-
try(10,58 million inhabitants with 343 people/ guage groups (three communities), Dutch
km2), with three offcial languages: Dutch, speaking (6 million), French-speaking (4 mil-
French and German. Its capital, Brussels, lion) and German-speaking (70,000), each
doubles as the capital of the European Un- with their own administration in charge mainly
ion. Its head of state is King Albert II, married of cultural and educational affairs. In addition,
to Queen Paola and the prime minister is Mr there are three regions, linked to economic
Yves Leterme (November 2009). interests, again with their own governments:
Flanders (in the north), Wallonia (in the south),
Belgians enjoy their “creature comforts”: and Brussels. The federal government mainly
most own their own homes and spend a lot has authority over foreign affairs, immigration
of time and money in constantly renovating, issues, social security and defence. Belgium
decorating and improving them. They tend has 10 provinces, Leuven is the capital of
their gardens meticulously, love good food the Province of Flemish Brabant. Leuven is
and drink, beneft from an excellent social se- situated in Flanders and is part of the Dutch-
curity and health-care system, and insist on speaking community. Brussels and the lan-
having their roads and highways brightly lit at guage border with Wallonia are very close.
night (the illuminated “Belgian Window” can Although seven governments might seem a
apparently be seen from space). touch exaggerated for such a small country,
and the situation is often derided by Belgians
and non-Belgians alike, this system is a typi-
9
cal embodiment of one of the most attractive
Rich Past, Thriving Present
features of the Belgian character: the art of
Some Belgian towns, notably Tongeren and
compromise. When Belgians disagree, they
Tournai, date back to Roman times, when
try and fnd the middle ground. No civil wars
Julius Caesar declared ancient Belgians to
or ethnic conficts have ever taken place be-
be the “bravest of all Gauls”, after conquer-
tween Belgians.
ing them of course. In the High Middle Ages
(1200-1500) many Belgian cities fourished
and expanded. The ports of Bruges and Ant-
Climate
werp were among the largest and busiest in
The Belgian, maritime climate is characterised
Europe, cathedrals rose up everywhere, elab-
by abundant precipitation that is rather equally
orate town halls proudly proclaimed the ‘city
spread over the year. It is rather variable and
dwellers’ new-found freedoms and wealth.
moderate (average temperature in January:
At that time, only Northern Italy could boast
1°C, in July: 16°C). Extreme temperatures
a similar level of development and culture.
can occur in summer and winter time.
Many different countries ruled over what is
now known as Belgium, including the Span-
ish, Austrians, French and Dutch. Finally, Bel-
Name Three Famous Belgians gium gained its independence in 1830, drew
Before coming here, hardly anyone is able to up a constitution and imported a monarch
name even three famous Belgians. We hope from among the German nobility. It entered
that, by the time you leave Leuven, you will the Industrial Era at an early stage, and is now
be able to identify at least the following ten: frmly established primarily as a service econ-
omy with over 70% of the working population
• Hieronymus Bosch
employed outside of agriculture and industry.
• Pieter Brueghel and sons
The standard of living in Belgium is among
• Peter Paul Rubens
the highest in the world.
• Victor Horta
• René Magritte
• Adolphe Sax
Religion
• Father Damian (Saint since October
Roman Catholicism has traditionally been
2009)
Belgium’s majority religion, with approxi-
• Jacques Brel
mately 75% of the Belgians declaring them-
• Hergé (creator of Tintin)
selves to be Catholics; however, by 2004
• Peyo (creator of the Smurfs)
Sunday church attendance was only about
• Jean-Claude Van Damme
4 to 8% (9% for Flanders only). Catholicism
• Eddy Merckx
nevertheless remains an important force
• Justine Henin
in society. In 2006, the church published
• Kim Clijsters
the mass attendance fgure for the Christ-
• Herman Van Rompuy (First President of
mas period being 11.5%, and 7 % average
the European Council)
weekly (note not only Sunday) mass attend-
ance. Since 2000, on a yearly basis sunday
church attendance in Belgium drops by 0,5
% whereas this was 1 % previously. Catholi-
10