Louvain, Belgium

Leuven
Municipality
Leuven Town Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Leuven Location in Belgium
Location of Leuven in Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°53′N 04°42′E / 50.883°N 4.700°E / 50.883; 4.700Coordinates: 50°53′N 04°42′E / 50.883°N 4.700°E / 50.883; 4.700
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Leuven
Government
• Mayor	Louis Tobback (sp.a)
• Governing party/ies	SP.A, CD&V
Area
• Total	56.63 km2 (21.86 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	99,288
• Density	1,800/km2 (4,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	3000, 3001, 3010, 3012, 3018
Area codes	016
Website	www.leuven.be

Leuven (Dutch: [ˈløːvə(n)]) or Louvain (French: Louvain, pronounced [luvɛ̃]; German: Löwen; Italian: Lovanio) is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic city and the former neighboring municipalities of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal. It is the 8th largest city in Belgium and the fourth in Flanders with more than 100,244 inhabitants (Federal Ministry of Home Affairs, 1/11/2016).

Leuven is home to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the largest and oldest university of the Low Countries and the oldest Catholic university still in existence. The related university hospital of UZ Leuven is one of the largest hospitals in Europe. The city is also known for being the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer and one of the five largest consumer-goods companies in the world.

The earliest mention of Leuven ("Loven") is from 891, when a Viking army was defeated by the Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia (see: Battle of Leuven). According to a legend the city's red and white arms depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dyle after this battle.