Christmas in Leuven

“Just when you thought Leuven couldn’t get any more picturesque, Christmas time comes around”, writes Stephanie Todd from Gosport, UK, who graduated from the Master of Western Literature at K.U.Leuven in September.

“No doubt about it, when you get off the train, come out of the station and look down the Bondgenotenlaan, you see the most heart-warming and welcoming sight in Leuven (although some might argue that this is in fact the Stella Artois brewery you can see before you even get off the train!). This was my first real image of Leuven, and it will last the longest. The long street lined with little trees on either side, with the City Hall in the distance, makes you see precisely what a wonderful place you’ve arrived at, especially in the quiet of a Sunday evening.”

“And when you thought it couldn’t get any more picturesque, wait until Christmas time. Little lights are strung on every tree along the Bondgenotenlaan, and you can see the City Hall twinkling from far away. As you get closer, you see that every window on the building is filled with hanging drops of light. On the opposite side of the square, in front of St. Peter’s Church, there is a huge Christmas tree, with a string of lights spiralling around it. Next to the tree is a stable with a Christmas nativity scene, with real sheep and a donkey.”

“When the Christmas Market came to town, I was filled with that warm and glowing feeling, and I don’t think I was the only one (and it was not because of the glühwein, although that certainly makes you warm inside!). The Christmas Market in front of the Central Library is magical. As I am from a town in England that doesn’t have a Christmas Market, but instead has one sad Christmas tree that gets blown down or knocked down by drunkards every year, the market in Leuven was special to me. There were families and friends enjoying the spirit of the season, wrapped up in their scarves, hats and gloves, and humming along to the cheesy Christmas tunes. The beetle on the needle in the middle of the Ladeuzeplein doesn’t even look out of place, because those grey winter days turn into lively, colourful nights, and with the backdrop of such an impressive building it makes me want to spend every Christmas season in Leuven.”

Tell us about your favourite aspect – professor, place, culinary specialty… – of Leuven (max. 400 words). The best entry will be published in the next issue and its author will win a beautiful etching of a university location. E-mail your ‘favourite’ to campusinsight@kuleuven.be