Monday 19 September 2022: Welcome Reception: Town Hall / Grote Markt
To kick start our conference, we invite all participants on Monday 19 September at 7pm to a Welcome Reception offered by the City of Leuven in the sumptuous town hall, situated in the center of city.
The town hall is Leuven's pride and joy. Moreover, it is one of the best-known Gothic town halls worldwide. It took three architects and thirty years to build it. Leuven's 'Hall of Fame' features 235 statues, which were only added to the façade after 1850. The Saint Peter's Church is located directly opposite the Town Hall.
These days the town hall merely has a ceremonial function after the city's administrative services moved in 2009.
Wednesday 21 September 2022: City Walking Tour and Congress Dinner
All conference participants are invited to the WCMNM 2022 Congress Dinner on Wednesday 21 September. The dinner will take place at the Faculty Club located in a well preserved site of Leuven which has a rich history dating back to the thirteenth century.
Prior to the dinner, we are planning a city walking tour in Leuven on the following theme:
University walk - from Erasmus to the big Bang
Every year, more than 50,000 students study at one of the oldest universities in Europe. How do they live and how did they live? Leuven is synonymous with more than 500 years of innovative research. Not only the history of the university is discussed, but also its significance as an international contemporary center of scientific practice. The route leads past a number of university colleges and buildings (Lakenhalle, colleges in the Naamsestraat, Pauscollege, Central University Library). The common thread is the daily life of professors and students at the university - both in the Middle Ages and in the time of Erasmus.
Faculty Club welcomes you in the magnificent restored, ancient buildings of Leuven's beguinages (Groot Begijnhof). The site is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Faculty Club is situated along the ring road of Leuven, just off the E40/E314 and has parking facilities for 250 cars – only a 15-minute drive from the airport by train or car – 20 minutes from Brussels.
For more information, check out the following links:
Thursday 22 September 2022: Visit Beer Brewery or Art Museum
On Thursday afternoon, we will offer the possibility to join a guided tour to the Stella Artois Brewery or to the M-Museum in Leuven.
About the Stella Artois brewery
Seven centuries of brewing traditions guarantee a perfectly brewed Stella Artois in the heart of the university city of Leuven. And you can see it with your own eyes during one of the entirely renewed, impressive and entertaining brewery visits. During the guided tour, which takes approximately one hour and a half, you will become familiar with all major aspects of the Stella Artois brewing process: the brand’s history, the brewing process and the breathtakingly fast bottling and canning lines.
About the M-Museum
The museum displays old and new art inspired by Leuven’s versatility. The collection is mainly focused on the art production in Leuven and Brabant from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. In addition to the permanent collection, M also presents temporary exhibitions of both old masters and contemporary artists. The impressive architecture deserves special attention. Designed by Belgian top architect Stéphane Beel, the complex integrates historical buildings and contemporary architecture including an enclosed garden and roof terrace.