Leuven

Leuven: As European capital of innovation and European sport city, Leuven is the perfect finish location for the World Championships!

Leuven is an international and lively city, where heritage and innovation have gone hand in hand for centuries. There is always something going on. With an open and cosy atmosphere, a dazzling nightlife, a large cultural offering and inexhaustible creative wealth, the city has everything of a true metropolis. With its cobbled streets, churches, beautiful beguinages and imposing Gothic town hall, the city exudes grandeur. In short, Leuven has all the assets of a big city in a charming setting and completely human-sized.

Leuven is the perfect place for a weekend out. Besides classical highlights and beautiful historical buildings, you will also find specialised and sustainable shops, coffee bars, cafés and restaurants for all kinds of gourmets - from lovers of traditional Belgian cuisine to fans of world cuisine, vegetarians and vegans.

The city is bustling. From Leuven Beer Weekends and exhibitions in M Leuven to the fairytale-like Wintertijd and summer concerts and open-air films ... Leuven never stands still. And the students too contribute to the young, dynamic atmosphere that characterises Leuven.

Leuven is the birthplace of KU Leuven, one of the oldest and most prominent universities in the world, and home to many pioneering, innovative companies. Bringing all this knowledge and expertise together and using it to create a better and more sustainable future for and with everyone is Leuven's greatest strength. It earned Leuven - as the first Belgian town - the prestigious 'European Green Leaf Award' and the title of 'European Capital of Innovation'.

Leuven is the city of beer. It is the birthplace and home of Stella Artois. The Oude Markt with its many cafés and terraces invites you to enjoy a fresh Stella, and in the outskirts of town you will find several artisanal breweries. Amber, blond, brown, white ... You are bound to find a beer to your taste here.

Leuven is the ultimate cycling city. All sights are within a stone's throw of each other. Do as the people of Leuven do: jump on your bike and pedal your way through the city centre. You also barely have to leave the city centre to find yourself between fields and forests. Map out your own route using the cycling junction network or opt for the route along the four Leuven abbeys. Cycling enthusiasts will also find plenty of great cycling events here, such as De Brabantse Pijl, the Grote Prijs Poeske Scherens or the cyclocross.

Leuven is the 'European City of Sport 2021'. Every sports fan will find something to his or her liking. You can go wall-climbing, play beach volleyball, swim, play city golf, do work-outs in a bar park, on the fit-o-city course or on a fitness bench... Leuven is also home to the Red Flames and hosts international sporting events such as the pole vault gala, the Yonex Belgian International badminton tournament and, of course, the UCI Road World Championships - a great climax to a fantastic sports year!

Welcome to Leuven.