Centrale Bibliotheek

In the center of Leuven you will find the prestigious university library. For a long time, the University of Leuven did not have its own library. It was not until 1636 that a central library was opened in Lakenhalle for all students of the university. Over the centuries this library has grown enormously. When the Leuven university was closed in 1797, almost all books were transferred to the? Cole central of Brussels. Only the most valuable books were taken to the Bibliotheque National in Paris. During this time many books have disappeared and later reappear in libraries all over Europe. After the foundation of a new university in Leuven in 1835, there was a need for a new library. This was burnt to the ground by the Germans during the First World War. After the war, a new University library was built and that is the library that can still be found in the center of Leuven today. This beautiful building was built here between 1921 and 1928. The structure includes a tower of 87 meters high with one of the largest carillons in Europe.