Accommodation for Visiting Professors, Senior Fellows and Visiting scholars under the University Agreements

Accommodation at the University Residential Area Groot Begijnhof

Welcome to Leuven! The University Residential Area Groot Begijnhof helps University members and Visiting Scholars, along with partners and families, to settle in. It does not matter if you are in Leuven for a few weeks or a number of months, we'd love to meet you!

The KU Leuven has a limited number of properties available for rent to members of the university and visiting scholars. One of these properties is the Groot Begijnhof University Residential Area, located at the edge of the city of Leuven.

The Groot Begijnhof is an exceptional place. Since 1998, UNESCO has acknowledged it as a World Heritage site. Its origins date back to the beginning of the 13th century. Until the end of the 18th century, only religious women (beguines) and children 

(resident 

‘pupils’) lived there. Most of them came from Leuven and Brabant, but also a limited number from the Northern Low Countries. Today, the Leuven Groot Begijnhof is an international community of university students and scholars from all continents. It is a quiet place where pedestrians are king and cars prohibited, except for specific services.

It is the policy of the Residential Area Groot Begijnhof to offer accommodation to visiting professors and international scholars for a maximum period of one year. Short term lets (three months or less) are also considered. Extensions are only granted in exceptional circumstances and on condition that accommodation is available.

A Brief History of the Groot Begijnhof & Images

The French equivalent for “Groot Begijnhof” is “Grand Béguinage”. The English term for “begijnhof” is “beguinage” and apparently depends on the French word. In Spanish, one uses the expressions “Gran beguinaje” and “Gran beaterio”.

The Groot Begijnhof is a historic place located at the edge of the mediaeval city. Founded in 1232 as a community of female religious, the Begijnhof nowadays comprises a variety of primarily 17th and 18th century houses. In 1962, the KU Leuven acquired the entire property, with the exception of the church, and converted it into a university residential area for temporary housing of graduate students, professors, members of the administrative and technical staff of the University and the University Hospitals, visiting professors and international scholars from across the world. On 2 December 1998, the Groot Begijnhof of Leuven and 12 other Flemish beguinages were listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.

Links:

• UNESCO World Heritage
• Images

Visiting Academics Qualifying for Accommodation at the Groot Begijnhof

In offering accommodation at the Groot Begijnhof for visiting professors and researchers, priority is given to the following categories of international scholars:

• Visiting Professors appointed by the KU Leuven on the proposal of a Faculty, Department or Research group;
• Senior Fellows appointed by the KU Leuven for a confined period of time, on the recommendation of the University Research Council;
• Visiting Scholars under the auspices of an Interuniversity Agreement between the KU Leuven and their home university.

International scholars who do not come under the above-mentioned categories may still be qualified for housing at the Groot Begijnhof. They must, however, be invited by an academic host or hostess and officially register at the KU Leuven's International Admissions and Mobility Unit.

Types of Accommodation Units and Equipment

The Residential Area Groot Begijnhof has 41 self-contained flats and 4 houses for visiting academics (single persons, couples and families). These units are specifically adapted to the needs of the visitors from abroad whose stay in Leuven does not usually exceed one year. The various units are spread over a variety of houses of the Begijnhof. There are no more than six flats per house. A few flats on ground floors share a common large garden. In addition, four houses are completely independent and have a small garden. The residents living in these houses are responsible for its maintenance.

By and large, there are three different types of housing units. The rental charges are valid for the year 2012):

• Studio flat (studio apartment): rent from 720 EUR (single) to 775 EUR (two persons) per calendar month. All these flats provide accommodation for a maximum of two persons. The flats have a double bed.
• Flat (apartment): rent from 855 EUR to 915 EUR (one bedroom flats) and from 975 to 1045 EUR (two bedroom flats) per calendar month. One bedroom flats are for families without children. Two bedroom flats can house a family with a maximum of two children. As a rule, two bedroom flats are not allocated to single persons or couples without children.
• House: rent 1275 EUR per calendar month. The houses have between two and four bedrooms and are available for families with 2 to 5 children.

All housing units are fully furnished, including bed clothes (bed linen, blankets) and towels. A typical flat consists of a double bed, bookcase, wardrobe, dining table, desk and chairs. Larger flats and houses have one or two bedrooms (two houses with four bedrooms). All units have a separate bathroom and a kitchen, or kitchenette, that is equipped with electric cooker, fridge, basic crockery, saucepans and cutlery. Included in the rent are heating, hot and cold water, electricity, internet connection and television. Each flat has a television that is connected to a variety of channels as well as an internet connection, which is only accessible to residents who are formally appointed or registered by the university.

Washing machines are not supplied in the flats and houses but shared laundry facilities are available.

As far as possible, family size, availability and specific needs for suitable accommodation will be taken into consideration upon your application. Please, do take account of the fact that the Groot Begijnhof as a historic monument consists of ancient houses in which some parts are subject to producing dust. However, routine cleaning practices considerably reduce the amount of dust. Moreover, the rooms must be regularly aired.

Tenants can only use the housing unit as a private residence. For safety reasons, the number of persons living in a flat or house is limited. Family or visitors residing at the Groot Begijnhof, even if only for a very short period or occasionally must be registered at the Administrative Office. Residents may never give their keys to third parties, even when they are absent for whatever reason.

Unfortunately, it is not permitted to keep or admit pets in the houses and flats at the Groot Begijnhof.

There are strict rules for the entrance of cars within the walls of the Groot Begijnhof. See the Regulations & Rules (PDF).

The University requires that its members and academic visitors living in University-owned accommodation ensure that any personal items connected to the electrical supply should meet the current electrical safety standards.

Equipment is provided in each flat and house for residents to clean the property. At no point do we enter your flat or house to clean. The cleaning team of the Groot Begijnhof only carries out cleaning in the common areas, such as entrance halls and stairs.

Rental Charges

Depending on the size of the unit, the rent per calendar month during 2012 varies between 720 EUR and 1275 EUR, including bed linen, blankets, towels, water, heating, electricity, television, internet connection, taxes and fire insurance.

Except for Visiting professors and scholars whose rent is paid by the host faculty/department/research group or by the bilateral agreement funds, all tenants are expected to pay the rent for their accommodation personally. The host faculty acts as surety for the payment of the rent and all supplementary costs.

The insurance policies covering the University buildings do not include personal property belonging to the tenant. You are therefore advised to seek your own coverage.

A deposit is required to secure the property. This deposit is equivalent to one and a half month's rent and payable before taking up residency. It is returned at the end of the tenancy when the property has been vacated, less any deduction for damage or unpaid bills. This may take a few weeks. Properties should be clean and tidy when vacated. Any damage caused by the tenant as well as supplementary cleaning costs at the end of the rental period will be charged to the tenant.

Administrative Formalities and Payments

On arrival in Leuven, you are kindly requested to check in with the Administrative Office, during office hours. Normal opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–12.00 noon.

As a rule, you can only move in and move out on workdays before noon. However, if you would arrive after 12:00 noon, during the weekend or on public and university holidays, it is highly recommended to book a room in a hotel, unless arrangements have been made with your host/hostess at KU Leuven, who can collect the keys of your flat in advance and make the necesarry arrangements with the Administratieve Office of the Groot Begijnhof.

Guesthousing can be suggested by the Administrative Office of the Groot Begijnhof.

Please, check in with this office on the first working day after your arrival in order to pay the rent and the deposit as well. At the beginning and at the end of the rental period, a description of the flat/house and an inventory of fixtures will be made in your presence. This document is to be signed by both the tenant and the letter.

The Confirmation & Invoice Letter is accepted as rental agreement. You will be requested to a copy of the Regulations & Rules (PDF) of the Groot Begijnhof.

Subletting or lending any part of the flat or house, whether to a relative or not, is prohibited.

Visiting professors and scholars staying at the KU Leuven for less than one month have to pay the rent before arrival at the Groot Begijnhof. Those who stay for more than one month pay the rent for the first month of their stay on arrival at the Groot Begijnhof. The rental agreement as expressed in the Confirmation & Invoice Letter is effective from the first day until the last day of the length of stay. As a consequence, the rent for the unit must be paid monthly from the first day of the agreed period up to and including the day on which keys are returned at the end of the tenancy. Late arrivals or postponed study leaves cannot be invoked as grounds for changing the rental period or failing to pay the full rent.

Visiting professors and international scholars staying at the KU Leuven for less than one month have to pay a deposit before arrival at the Groot Begijnhof. Those who stay for more than one month pay the deposit on arrival at the Groot Begijnhof. The deposit will be reimbursed, in whole or in part, by bank transfer after the unit has been inspected by the President or his Representative before departure of the resident. The housing unit should be left undamaged, clean and tidy. Moreover, all charges and expenses (e.g. loss or damage) must be paid before departure.

All banking and transfer costs are at the tenant's expense. Tenancies do not commence unless the rent and deposit are paid in full on the day the tenancy is due to begin. Rent is payable at the beginning of each calendar month, up to and including the day keys are returned at the end of the tenancy.

Applying for Accommodation

Accommodation at the Groot Begijnhof must be requested in writing at least three months in advance. Unfortunately, the supply we have is not enough to meet the demand.

Once we have received the completed application form, you will be listed on our register.

IMPORTANT: you must be able to prove that you are already a member of the University or have been accepted to become one soon by appointment or registration. For verification purposes, during registration at the Groot Begijnhof you will be required to give:

1. the name of the faculty/department at which you will be working;
2. the name of your host/hostess in that faculty/department;
3. a title for what you will be doing (your academic status).

Accommodation will only be formally reserved after the confirmation of your appointment, or registration, by the University.

Groot Begijnhof Administration and Offices

• President's Office
  • Professor Marc Vervenne
    De Kerckecamer, Groot Begijnhof 94
    Phone: +32 16 32 94 30 or 32 94 11
     
• Administrative Office, De Kerckecamer, Groot Begijnhof 95
  Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–12.00 noon.
  Closed: weekends and holidays
  • Administration Residential Housing Visiting Professors, Fellows and Scholars
    • Mrs. Annette De Bruyne: +32 16 32 94 29
  • Administrative Co-ordination Groot Begijnhof
    • Mrs Leen Bogaert: +32 16 32 94 11

Private housing

It is not always possible to meet the demand for accommodation in the Groot Begijnhof. For international visitors, post doctoral researchers and research assistants, temporary accommodation is recommended. Temporary accommodation needs to be reserved beforehand.

The Housing Service can assist you with private housing available through this office. However, the office is not authorized to make a rental agreement for you. We strongly advise you not to sign a rental agreement without first having visited and carefully inspected the accommodation unit. 

Contact

University Centre Groot Begijnhof
Mrs. Leen Bogaert
email: grootbegijnhof@kuleuven.be