Leuven

The first mention of Leuven goes back to 891 ('Loven'), when a Viking army was defeated by the German emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. According to the city legend, its red-white-red colours depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle. Situated at this river and nearby the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important center of trade in the duchy between the 11th and the 14th century. A token of its former importance as a center of cloth manufacture, is nicely reflected in the typical Leuven linen cloth, known in late 14-15th century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain)[1].

In the 15th century a new golden era begins with the founding of the largest and oldest university in the Low Countries: the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven, or Catholic University Leuven) in 1425.

In the 18th century Leuven became even more important because of a flourishing brewery that would later become Interbrew (recently renamed to InBev), the largest brewery company in the world. In fact, InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the entire north-eastern part of the town, between the railway station and the canal to Mechelen.

In the 20th century, both world wars inflicted major damage to the city, destroying the university library twice. The world was outraged over this and the library was completely rebuilt after World War I with American charity funds and German war indemnities. After World War II, the burnt down building had to be restored again. It still stands tall as a symbol of the terrible wars and the Allied solidarity afterwards.