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The first known mention of the name Leuven was in 891, as 'Loven'. In the same year, the Vikings were finally defeated near Leuven. Supposedly the red-white-red city flag of Leuven depicts the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle. Situated at this river, Leuven became an important center of trade in the 11th century and would remain so until the 14th century. A hint of its former importance as a center of cloth manufacture, is reflected in the name the city lent to a kind of linen cloth, known in late 14-15th-century texts as lewyn (variant spellings: leuwyn, levyne, lewan(e)). But in the 15th century a new golden era begins with the founding of Belgium's largest and oldest university, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven). In the 18th century Leuven became even more important because of a flourishing brewery that would later become Interbrew, and the digging of a canal to MechelenMechelen (English traditionally Mechlin French Malines German Mecheln is a municipality located in the Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Mechelen proper and the villages of Heffen, Hombeek, Leest, Muizen and W.

In the 20th century19th century 20th century 21st century more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901- 2000 in the sense of the Gre, both world wars inflicted major damage to the city, destroying the university libraryAlternative meanings: Library (computer science), Library (biology In its traditional sense, a library is a collection of books. It can refer to an individual's private collection, but more often, it is a large collection that is funded and maintained by twice. The world was outraged over this and the library was completely rebuilt after World War IWorld War I (also known as the First World War , the Great War the War of the Nations and the "War to End All Wars") was a world conflict occurring from 1914 to 1918. No previous conflict had mobilized so many soldiers, or involved so many in the field of with AmericanAmerican when used as an adjective, can mean of the United States of America or of or relating to the Americas when used as a noun, United States citizen ''residing in the Americas or less frequently American English. English language speakers, especially charityCharity is the short form for charitable trust, a charitable foundation, or a corporation set up entirely for charitable purposes. These are set up for specific causes, such as curing diseases; providing goods or services for people or areas that lack the funds and GermanThe Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland is one of the world's leading industrialized countries, located in the middle of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea, to the east war indemnities. After World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough, 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.

Nowadays Leuven is a real "student city" from October until June, sporting one of the liveliest bar scenes in Belgium. The university is considered one of the best in Europe. Leuven is also well known for its summer rock festival Marktrock. Internationally, it might be better known as the home of InBev (formerly Interbrew), 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.