Leuven is situated in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, at about 20 km east of Brussels. The city of Leuven appears in historical documents for the first time in the year 884. In that year, the Vikings settled around an old fortification at the Dijle river, called 'Luvanium' in Latin.
In the middle ages, the cloth trade became the cornerstone of Leuven's wealth and prosperity, but in the 14th century the cloth trade lost its importance and the city's economy slowly declined.
Nevertheless, in 1425 Duke John IV founded the University of Leuven, which until today has remained the most important university in Belgium, and one of the leading catholic universities in the world.
During the First World War, the city center (including the University Library) was burned by the German occupants. After the war the city was meticulously rebuilt. In the Second World War Leuven suffered again from heavy bombardments. So most of the buildings we see today, despite their old aspect, are reconstructions, although they remain faithful to their original style.