How to get there

How to get to Leuven

See the following link for a complete description: How to Reach Leuven

If you are not travelling by car, the easiest way to get to Leuven is by train. The airport train takes you to Leuven station in just 12 or 13 minutes. There are 3 trains per hour during the day and 2 trains per hour in the evening. The timetable can be found on the website of the Belgian railway company NMBS.  You can buy tickets in advance on the Internet. The price of a single ticket (based on the year 2024) is 11.20€. Do not buy a return ticket as it is only valid on the same day, instead buy 2 single tickets on the correct dates. The price will be the same. 

If you arrive in Brussels on an international train such as the Eurostar, TGV or ICE, you will arrive at Brussels-South station, called Brussel-Zuid (in Dutch) or Bruxelles-Midi (in French).  If your international ticket only goes to Brussels, you can buy a Brussels-Leuven ticket from a ticket machine. You can also buy them in advance on the Internet. The price of a single ticket in 2024 is €6.5. As above, do not buy a return ticket that is only valid on the same day, instead buy 2 single tickets for the right days of your trip. See the NMBS website.  

How to get around in Leuven

The historic city centre of Leuven is virtually traffic-free and very difficult to get around by car. Most places are within walking distance and it is recommended to walk around.

Public buses and taxis are allowed in the city centre, and if you don't mind waiting for a bus, they can be useful for short journeys, such as from the station to your hotel or from your hotel to the Stella Artois brewery. The buses are operated by De Lijn and the timetable can be found on their website.

How to get to the Conference Opening Reception

The SEC2025 opening reception (Friday 13 June, starting at 19:00) will take place in the "Couvreur" hall on the second floor of the "Leercentrum AGORA" building.  This building also belongs to the KU Leuven University and is very close to the venue where the lectures will be held. The address is Edward Van Evenstraat 4 , 3000 Leuven. More information can be found on website of the KU Leuven.

How to get to the starting point of the Brewery Visit of Stella Artois

For a good description of how to get to the starting point of the Stella Artois brewery visit, see the website of Stella Artois.  Please be there 15 minutes before the tour starts this is at 14h45m on Friday 13 June 2025 . The address is Stella Artois Brewery, Aarschotsesteenweg 20, 3000 Leuven.  See Google Map. The entrance to the brewery is accessibe via the Dijledreef located next to Metal Leuven.

How to get to the starting point of the visit to the Carillon of the University Library

The carillon is located in the tower of the University Library of Leuven. The address is Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein 21, 3000 Leuven. The Ladeuzeplein is in the centre of Leuven and is within walking distance of most hotels in the city. If you are coming by car, it is best to park in the chargeable "Parking Ladeuze", which is located directly in the underground of the Ladeuzeplein.

It will be possible to leave from the Auditorium Jean Monnet at exactly 14h30 for a 10 minute walk to the Ladeuzeplein. Alternatively, you can make your own way directly to the Ladeuzeplein. The meeting point is the main entrance of the University Library. We will see you there on Friday 13 June 2025 at 14h45. 

Here is the link to Google Maps. 

How to get to the Conference Venue

The 2 days of the conference, 14 and 15 June, will take place in the Auditorium Jean Monnet, Parkstraat 51, 3000 Leuven, see Google Maps. This auditorium is located on the campus of the University of Sociale Wetenschappen.  The venue is within walking distance of most hotels in the city of Leuven, so we recommend that you come on foot.

If you are travelling by car, please note that parking on the University campus is only available to those with a permit, such as staff and registered visitors. On-street parking in the city centre may be restricted to residents or may be subject to a charge and require the use of a parking disc. One option is to use the free Parking Bodart on the ring road around Leuven and walk a little over a quarter of an hour to the venue.  Parking Ladeuze is closer, but costs €22 for 10 hours.  Parking Heilig Hart is closest to the conference venue and costs €18 for 10 hours on Saturday and €23 on Sunday. For more information on parking in Leuven, please visit the website of the City of Leuven.    

How to get to the Conference Dinner

The SEC2025 conference dinner will take place on the Saturday evening of 14 June, starting with an aperitif at 19:15. The venue is the prestigious gourmet restaurant  Cum Laude in the Faculty Club located in the century-old and completely restored Groot Begijnhof: Groot Begijnhof 14, 3000 Leuven, see  Google Map.  The restaurant is still in the centre of Leuven, but a little closer to the outskirts. It is a comfortable 15-minute walk from the city centre hotels and about 25 minutes from the train station.

We recommend that you arrive a little early and allow 20 to 30 minutes for a stroll through the narrow, cobbled streets of the medieval Great Beguinage. 

For those arriving by car, the Faculty Club has a free car park with 250 spaces.

How to get out from Leuven

The same as getting to Leuven, but in the opposite direction :-)  We hope you enjoyed the conference and wish you a safe journey home or a pleasant continuation of your stay.