-	City of Leuven		-	-	-	Geography		-	Region	Flanders	-	Province	Flemish-Brabant	-	Arrondissement	Leuven	-	Location		-	Area	56.63 km²	-	Population (Source : NIS)		-	Population (01/01/2006)	90,206	-	Men Women	44,739 (49.32%) 45,967 (50.68%)	-	Density	1601.73/km²	-	Constituent communes with postal codes		-	Postal Code	Commune	-	3000 3001 3010 3012 3018	Leuven Heverlee Kessel-Lo Wilsele Wijgmaal

Leuven (French Louvain, German Löwen) is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The actual municipality comprises the historical city of Leuven and the adjacent villages of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal. On the 1st of January, 2006 Leuven had a total population of 90,706 (44,739 males and 45,967 females). The total area amounts to 56.63 km², corresponding with a population density of 1,601.73 inhabitants per km².

History

---

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 centre of trade in the duchy between the 11th and the 14th century. A token of its former importance as a centre 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)^*.

More on [ Leuven ]