KU Leuven is celebrating its 600th anniversary this year and festivities will kick off with an open weekend on 15 and 16 February.
Belgium's oldest academic institution will offer the public a glimpse behind the scenes on 15 and 16 February, including access to research labs. The city of Leuven will also partake in the celebrations.
"We are delighted to launch the 600th-anniversary celebrations of our university," said Chancellor Luc Sels. "This event is for anyone interested in learning more about KU Leuven and the university hospital (UZ Leuven), those nostalgic about their student days, and the curious who want to see the impact of scientific research, now and in the future."
During the inaugural weekend, the university will open its doors under the theme 'KU Leuven Inside'. Three different campuses will be accessible: Gasthuisberg (which hosts the hospital), Arenberg (with the recently inaugurated Quadrivium building) and the historic University Hall in the city centre.
On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the city will collaborate on the ‘KU Leuven Outside’ programme, featuring a light show at Ladeuze Square from 16:00. Festive events will be held across various locations in Leuven from Saturday night into Sunday.
KU Leuven is one of the first universities to be established in Europe. Both Dutch and French-speaking students attended for many years until the linguistic boundary became official in 1962, creating a less favourable environment for French-speaking students.
The French-speaking section of the institution eventually relocated as a result, leading to the creation of the university town Louvain-la-Neuve in Wallonia, 30 kilometres south of Brussels.
