IMEC BENEFITS

Transcription

IMEC BENEFITS

Living & Working in Leuven
1.
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................4
BELGIUM ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
LEUVEN .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
IMEC .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
2.
ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM ............................................................................................................................... 6
A. PRIOR TO ARRIVAL ......................................................................................................................................... 6
RELOCATION .................................................................................................................................................... 6
DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................................................... 6
B. UPON ARRIVAL.............................................................................................................................................. 6
3.
ACCOMMODATION ..................................................................................................................................8
SEARCHING HOUSING ......................................................................................................................................... 8
COST (INDICATIVE PRICES) ................................................................................................................................... 8
RENTAL CONTRACT ............................................................................................................................................ 8
DEPOSIT ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENSES (UTILITIES) ................................................................................................................... 9
FIRE INSURANCE ................................................................................................................................................ 9
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF PROBLEMS? ..................................................................................................................... 9
4.
HEALTH CARE ......................................................................................................................................... 10
GENERAL PRACTITIONERS & SPECIALISTS ............................................................................................................... 10
DENTAL CARE ................................................................................................................................................. 10
MEDICAL BILLS AND REIMBURSEMENT .................................................................................................................. 10
PHARMACIES .................................................................................................................................................. 10
HOSPITALS .................................................................................................................................................... 11
THERMOMETERS ............................................................................................................................................. 11
VACCINATIONS ............................................................................................................................................... 11
SOS – EMERGENCY SERVICES AND NUMBERS ......................................................................................................... 11
5.
SOCIAL SECURITY & INSURANCES ........................................................................................................... 12
SOCIAL SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................. 12
INSURANCES .................................................................................................................................................. 12
6.
MONEY MATTERS................................................................................................................................... 15
PAYMENT ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
TAXES .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
7.
DAY CARE & BABY SITTING..................................................................................................................... 17
DAY CARE SERVICES.......................................................................................................................................... 17
BABYSITTING SERVICES ...................................................................................................................................... 18
8.
EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................................ 19
SCHOOL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................................. 19
FURTHER EDUCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 20
9.
TRANSPORT............................................................................................................................................ 21
GETTING THERE .............................................................................................................................................. 21
GETTING AROUND ........................................................................................................................................... 21
10.
COMMUNICATION.............................................................................................................................. 25
POSTAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................ 25
GETTING CONNECTED ....................................................................................................................................... 25
CABLE TELEVISION AND DIGITAL TV ...................................................................................................................... 25
12. SECURITY, POLICE & LEGALITIES ............................................................................................................... 26
Living & working in Leuven
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LEUVEN POLICE HEADQUARTERS ......................................................................................................................... 26
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS ........................................................................................................................ 26
13.
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE ................................................................................................................................ 27
SHOPPING ..................................................................................................................................................... 27
LAUNDRETTES AND DRY CLEANING ....................................................................................................................... 28
DINING ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................................................... 29
SPORTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 30
CULTURE ....................................................................................................................................................... 31
LIBRARIES ...................................................................................................................................................... 33
RELIGION ...................................................................................................................................................... 34
14.
HR CONTACT INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 36
HR DESK....................................................................................................................................................... 36
RELOCATION .................................................................................................................................................. 36
Page 2
Dear colleague,
I’d like to welcome you to Belgium, to Leuven and foremost to imec! I am
delighted you are joining us.
Joining imec means working in a new environment, and living in a whole new
country with its typical habits, lifestyle, and arrangements. Moving to a new
country is indeed quite adventurous, and it provokes a lot of questions and
requires many preparations.
That is why imec wants to support you and your family as much as possible
during this transition. This brochure is prepared as an introductory guide: it
offers information concerning Belgium and Leuven, and the daily life over here.
It also provides imec specific information. I hope it will help you to better
understand the Belgian way of doing things, so that your stay with us will
become an interesting and lasting experience.
We tried to be as comprehensive as possible on a large number of topics, but we are fully aware that a
brochure cannot address all possible items or issues that you will face. Please know that you can call on any of
us at the imec Human Resources Department to assist you in finding your way at imec or in Leuven. Or send
us an e-mail if that is more convenient.
I look forward to having you come on board, and wish you an exciting and successful stay with us.
Sincerely,
Hubert De Neve
Executive Vice President
Human Resources
Contact details Human resources Department
Tel. +32 (16) 28 77 99
e-mail: [email protected]
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1. INTRODUCTION
Belgium
Synopsis
Belgium is a small, densely populated country
(10,39
million
inhabitants with
339
people/km²), with three official languages:
Dutch, French and German. Its capital,
Brussels, doubles as the capital of the
European Union.
It is fashionable among Belgians and nonBelgians alike to complain about the level of
bureaucracy in the country and the inordinate
number of holidays that Belgians enjoy. In fact,
economic productivity is among the highest in
the world, and the anarchic streak in the
Belgian character ensures that bureaucrats
never gain the upper hand. Belgium is also a
very safe country and Leuven, we can assure
you from a lifetime of personal experience, is
without a doubt a quite safe university town.
Politics and Languages
Despite its small size, Belgium has a unique
and complex institutional and political
structure. Belgium itself is a democratic
monarchy with a King, a parliament (house of
Commons) and a senate (House of Lords).
The country is divided into three language
groups, Dutch-speaking (6 million), Frenchspeaking (4 million) and German-speaking
(70,000), each with their own administration,
mainly in charge of cultural and educational
affairs. In addition, there are three regions,
linked to economic interests, again with their
own governments: Flanders (in the north),
Wallonia (in the south), and Brussels. The
federal government mainly has authority over
foreign affairs, immigration issues, social
security and defense. Belgium has 10
provinces; Leuven is the capital of the
Province of Flemish Brabant.
Leuven is situated in Flanders and is part of
the Dutch-speaking community. Brussels and
the language border with Wallonia are very
close. Although seven governments might
seem a touch exaggerated for such a small
country, and the situation is often derided by
Belgians and non-Belgians alike, this system is
a typical embodiment of one of the most
attractive features of the Belgian character:
the art of compromise. When Belgians
disagree, they try and find the middle ground.
No civil wars or ethnic conflicts have ever
taken place between Belgians.
The Belgian Character
The one thing that most non-Belgians would
agree on when first confronted with Belgians
on their home turf is that they are reserved
and introvert. This impression usually lasts
until their first visit to a Belgian’s home, where
they will be very cordially welcomed and fed
large amounts of excellent food and drink. A
Belgian feels most relaxed and comfortable in
the midst of his close circle of family and
friends. Family ties are very important –
witness the weekly exodus of Belgian students
from Leuven, who routinely spend every
weekend at home with their parents and
childhood friends. Friendships are enduring;
once you have made a Belgian friend, you will
find that it is very hard to get rid of him.
Most Belgians own their own homes and
spend a lot of time and money in constantly
renovating, decorating and improving them.
They tend their gardens meticulously, love
good food and drink, benefit from an excellent
social security and health-care system, and
insist on having their roads and highways
brightly lit at night.
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Leuven
The city of Leuven is an agglomeration of five
communities: Leuven, Heverlee, Kessel-Lo,
Wilsele and Wijgmaal. Leuven has more than
90,000 inhabitants. If we add to this the
35,000 post-secondary and 11,000 high-school
students, it should come as no surprise that
the streets are filled with young faces and that
the city lives at a student’s rhythm: hectic
weeks at the beginning of the academic year
and, later, relative calm periods during holiday
and examination time. The centuries-long
presence of the university has also left its
marks in other areas of city life. The
population of Leuven has a high average level
of education, probably because many students
remain in Leuven after they have graduated.
Imec
Imec is Europe’s largest independent research
center in nano-electronics and nanotechnology. Imec is headquartered in Leuven,
Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the
Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China and Japan. Its
staff of more than 1,750 people include over
550 industrial residents and guest researchers.
Read more on www.leuven.com and www.kuleuven.be
Imec's More Moore research targets
semiconductor scaling
for the 22nm
technology node and beyond. With its More
than Moore research, imec invents technology
for nomadic embedded systems, wireless
autonomous transducer solutions, biomedical
electronics, photovoltaics, organic electronics
and GaN power electronics.
Imec's research bridges the gap between the
fundamental research at universities and R&D
in the industry. It has unique processing and
system know-how, intellectual property
portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a
strong and worldwide network position. This
makes imec a key partner for shaping the
technology of the future.
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2. ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM
A. Prior to arrival
Relocation
Imec does not work with an external
Relocation Company to organize your
relocation. But the imec relocation officers
are at your disposal during your preparation
as well as upon your arrival in Belgium. They
will help you with relocation matters from the
start until your first days in Belgium, such as
the search for temporary or permanent
housing.
Once we get a clear view on the expected
arrival date, you can start thinking about
booking the flight. Depending on what goods
you are planning to move over, additional
arrangements will have to be made concerning
international moving companies, customs
(importing goods), etc.
Working with a Belgian moving company can
have certain benefits at the border. The
following Belgian moving companies have
European and overseas partners and serve a
door to door service:
ZIEGLER RELOCATION
Tom Goovaerts- Moving Consultant
Dieudonné Lefèvre street, 160
1020 Brussels
tel : +32 2 422 22 84
e-mail : [email protected]
www.zieglerrelocation.com
TRANSWORLD INTERNATIONAL
Clement Vanophemstraat 78
3090 Overijse
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 687 50 90
e-mail : [email protected]
www.transworld.be
ROMULUS
Arthur De Coninckstraat 9
3070 Kortenberg
Belgium
tel : +32 2257 59 49
[email protected]
www.romulus.be
GOSSELIN MOVING NV
Belcrownlaan 23
2100 Deurne
Belgium
Tel : 0032 3 360 55 00
www.moving.gosselingroup.be
TEAM ALLIED
Budasteenweg 2B
1830 Machelen
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 253 25 50
www.teamalliedgroup.com
Documents
Travel documents
Before coming to Belgium the imec relocation
officers will inform you about the right
procedure to follow.
Which documents you need will depend on
your status: e.g. whether you are a payroll
employee or a resident, or whether you are
coming from an EU country or not.
Documents for non EU assignees
A work permit is required for non EU
assignees.
Documents for non EU payroll employees
Because imec has a recognized status as a
specialized research institute it is exempted
from the work permit application. Instead, the
relocation officers will provide you with a
document called “Host Agreement”. If you are
coming from a visa submitted country you can
use this “Host Agreement” to apply for your
D-visa.
B. Upon arrival
Residence permit
As a future employee in Belgium you are
required to register at the Foreigner’s Office
in your city of residence. For Leuven this is
called Town Services (“Stadsdiensten”) and
the office is situated next to the railway
station.
The procedure and the documents to be
submitted depend on whether you are an EU
citizen or not. Issuing time can be 6 weeks.
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City of Leuven: Town Services
Visit from the police officer
Foreigners’ office – Stadsdiensten – Dienst
Bevolking – afdeling Buitenlanders
After you register at the Leuven Foreigners
Office, your neighborhood police officer will
drop by your Leuven address to verify that
you actually live there. If you are not at home
at the time of the officer’s visit, you will
receive a letter inviting you to report to the
police station in your district. Make sure you
do this as soon as possible in order to avoid
misunderstandings or future administrative
problems.
Ask for your ticket at the counter, at the
latest one hour before closing time.
Professor Van Overstraetenplein 1, B-3000
Leuven Tel. 016 27 20 00 – Fax 016 27 29 95
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday from 12:00
noon to 8:00 p.m.
Change of address
Every time you change your address within
Leuven, you must report your new address
within eight days to the Foreigners Office. If
you are moving to another town or city in
Belgium, you must report to the Foreigners
Office or town hall of your new city or town.
You are likewise required to inform the
health-insurance, and other relevant offices of
your change of address.
Leaving Belgium
Identity card
The card you receive after registering at the
town services is your official residence permit.
It also functions as your identity card in
Belgium. This is an extremely important
document and you are required to carry it
with you at all times.
If you temporarily have to leave Belgium for a
period longer than three months, you must
contact the Foreigners Office to find out what
administrative procedures you must follow.
Before leaving Belgium permanently, please
make sure that you visit the Foreigners Office
to turn in your Belgian identity card. If you
ever need to come back to Leuven, this will
save you and the city’s officials a great deal of
time and trouble.
Extend the validity of your identity card
You should report in person to the Leuven
Foreigners Office, preferably before the expiry
date of your identity card. Bring a proof of
extension of work permit/contract.
Loss of your identity card
If you lose your identity card, you must report
this in person at the Foreigners Office and
sign an official declaration of loss. Bring along
three passport photographs as well. After an
investigation by the police, you will be given a
duplicate identity card.
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3. ACCOMMODATION
Searching housing
We advise you to start looking for housing
facilities as soon as possible, because finding
appropriate accommodation takes time.
Usefull websites (all available in English):
and parts of the rented building and the rental
price. The contract is definitive when both
you and the landlord sign it.
Your landlord is obliged to register the
written rental contract. He must present it to
the registration office in the place where the
property is situated. This will give the rental
contract a “fixed date” and will make it
binding on third parties. From this fixed date,
you are legally protected against eviction by
the new owner if the leased premises are sold.
Immoweb – www.immoweb.be
VlanImmo – www.vlan.be/immo
Vitrine – www.vitrine.be
Logic-Immo – www.logic-immo.be
Cost (indicative prices)
Hotel
around € 100 per night
(breakfast included)
Small studio
between € 300 and € 500
per month (furnished but
without hotel facilities like
sheets, cleaning, etc.)
Apartment
per month depending on
comfort and number of
bedrooms (most likely for
renting at least on an annual
basis).
Aparthotel
per month (separate
bedroom and hotel facilities)
House
at least € 1000 per month
(most likely for renting at
least on an annual basis).
Rental contract
A rental contract between you and the
landlord must be concluded in writing. There
must be at least three copies: one for the
landlord, one for you (the tenant) and one for
the compulsory registration of contract.
There are different types of rental contracts
depending on the duration of lease. Ask your
landlord detailed information on the duration
of the lease (1, 3 or 9 year contract), the
penalty when leaving before end of contract,
deposit, expenses, etc. before signing the
contract. Contact the imec relocation officers
if you need assistance with the legal aspects.
Deposit
When you conclude a contract, the payment
of a deposit is required. For rooms, a deposit
of one month’s rent is common. For studios
and apartments, deposits may amount to 2 or
3 month’s rent. This sum should never be
considered as payment for rent and can only
be used to compensate for damage to the
rented property, caused by the tenant or by
third parties to whom the tenant has granted
access.
The deposit or its balance will be reimbursed
upon return of the keys and after the landlord
has inspected the state of the property. The
landlord should have the opportunity to draw
the final bill for heating, electricity, etc. before
he can return the balance of the deposit.
In this written contract the following
information must be included: the identity of
the landlord and the tenant, the starting date
of the contract, an indication of all the rooms
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Supplementary expenses
(utilities)
If the cost of heating, electricity, water, etc. is
not included in the rent, it should be clearly
stated in the contract how these costs will be
calculated. If each housing unit is equipped
with an individual electricity and gas meter,
the tenant and the landlord should make a
note of the meter reading at the beginning and
at the end of the rental period. The tenant
pays for these units at the rate stipulated in
the contract. If no individual meters are
available, the landlord is allowed to divide the
total costs proportionally among the residents
of the house. Many contracts state that the
tenants have to pay a monthly advance for the
costs, over and above the cost of the rent.
What to do in case of problems?
In case you need advise about your rental
contract or you have problems with your
landlord you can always contact our
relocation officers. Imec is member of the
tenants association specialized in legal issues.
Our relocation officers will be happy to give
you our registration number so that you can
contact this organization for information:
Huurdersbond Vlaams Brabant
Eén Meilaan 10 – 3010 Kessel-Lo
Tel : 016/25 05 14
Email : [email protected]
www.wetswinkel-leuven.be
When the final bill is submitted, tenants are
entitled to see the individual invoices for the
various utilities. Tenants of apartments and
houses usually have an individual contract with
the gas, electricity and water utility
companies. In this case they will receive the
invoices directly from the company
concerned.
Fire insurance
Fire insurance is not a legal requirement.
However, if you are renting it usually forms a
condition of the lease. Therefore tenants must
insure their premises against damages caused
during occupancy. The tenant is responsible
for damage caused by fire, water and for
broken glass in windows or doors. Standard
lease contracts state that the tenant must
deliver a proof of insurance to the owner
within 30 days of signing the lease.
If you want to insure damage to your personal
belongings (furniture etc.), you need to take
out separate insurance coverage. This is an
extra option next to your fire insurance.
Page 9
Medical bills and reimbursement
4. HEALTH CARE
General practitioners &
specialists
You are free to choose your care provider.
Under the Belgian national health care system,
you can make an appointment directly with a
specialist without requiring a referral from
your family doctor, but your GP is often the
best person to advise you on choosing a
specialist.
It’s normal practice in Belgium to pay your
doctor directly. You’ll be given a receipt,
which is also the form you need to complete
to claim reimbursement. You will pay the full
cost for a consultation but you will be
reimbursed afterwards (see also chapter 5
Insurances).
A GP can solve most medical problems. If the
GP decides that you should consult a
specialist, he/she will refer you to one who is
best qualified to deal with your problem.
There are many advantages to consulting a GP
first, before seeing a specialist:
 GP’s are easier to reach; there could
be a long waiting list to consult a
specialist.
 A GP will keep your medical history
on file. This is important since
information from previous medical
examinations may be relevant to your
present condition.
 With certain medical conditions, it is
not always clear which specialist is
best qualified. On your own, you
might have to try several specialists
before finding the right one, whereas
a GP can quickly diagnose your
problem and refer you to the proper
specialist.
Most medical doctors speak English, French
and Dutch. You can usually reach a GP during
office hours and in emergencies even at night.
If your regular GP is unavailable when you call,
you will be referred to another GP.
Pharmacies
In Belgium, drugs and medicines are only sold
in pharmacies (to be recognized by the green
cross). In the yellow pages of the phone
directory pharmacies and drugstores are listed
under the word “apotheken”. Or check the
online directory http://goldenpages.truvo.be.
They are open every day except Saturday
afternoons, Sundays and holidays. When
closed, all pharmacies will post in their
window a list of after-hours pharmacies
(“wachtdienst”). This information is also
published in the weekly newspaper PassePartout (see the section entitled “Apothekers
van dienst in Leuven en omliggende”). Or call
0900 10 500 for the pharmacy on duty in your
neighborhood.
Dental care
You are normally free to choose any dentist,
but you should check the conditions of your
health insurance to see if they restrict
reimbursement to dentists who are approved
by the insurer or national health system. It is
advised to go to the dentist once a year; else
your reimbursement will be less. This does
not apply to doctor’s visits.
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Hospitals
SOS – Emergency services and
numbers
University Hospitals
www.uzleuven.be
016 33 22 11 for all University Hospitals
Gasthuisberg
Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven (Emergency)
In cases of emergency, always give your
address and telephone number. Speak slowly.
It would be useful for you to learn a few
words or expressions related to such cases in
Dutch or French.
Sint-Pieter
Brusselsestraat 69, B-3000 Leuven
100
Ambulance and fire department
101
Police emergency number
112
International emergency number
105
Red Cross Flanders ambulance service
070 25 70 25
Doctors on call
070 25 40 40
Dentist on call
0900 10 500
Pharmacies on duty
(after hours and on weekends)
070 24 52 45
Poison antidote centre
070 34 43 44
Card stop for bank and credit cards
02 649 95 55
Suicide prevention centre
Sint-Rafaël
Kapucijnenvoer 33, B-3000 Leuven
Pellenberg
Weligerveld 1, B-3041 Pellenberg
Non-university hospital
Heilig-Hartziekenhuis
www.hhleuven.be
016 20 92 09
Naamsestraat 150, B-3000 Leuven
(Emergency)
Thermometers
In Belgium we use Celsius thermometers.
These are larger than the Fahrenheit ones,
and are usually placed in the armpit. Readings
from the armpit will be one degree lower than
those taken orally. Always tell the doctor
which method you have used.
Vaccinations
Parents are required to vaccinate their babies
and young children at regular intervals. In
Belgium, this service is organized by “Kind en
Gezin”. Please contact them if you have
children below 3 years of age.
http://www.kindengezin.be/English_pages/
Page 11
5. SOCIAL SECURITY &
INSURANCES
Social security
Belgium offers high-quality health care that is
among the best in Europe. Foreigners are also
entitled to certain allowances and to social
services. The benefits which you may enjoy as
a foreigner are strictly dependent on the
conditions under which you are resident on
Belgian soil.
The Belgian social security system is based on
the payment of social contributions on your
income from work. These social contributions
serve to finance the social security system.
Each month the employer pays between 30
and 40% on top of your salary into the social
security fund. The employee also pays a
proportion of his gross salary in social security
contributions (13.07%). This fund is then used
to pay social security:
 Allowances in the event of sickness
 Unemployment benefits
 Allowances in the event of incapacity
for work through sickness or
invalidity
 Allowances in the event of accidents
at work
 Allowances in the event of industrial
disease
 Family allowances
 Pensions
Is the social security refundable?
In Belgium our social security includes a very
good health and disability and unemployment
coverage, based on the principle of solidarity:
everybody contributes. So the social security
is not refundable, because you can benefit our
social security once you are ill, hospitalized,
etc.
Information for imec residents
As your home office continues to be your
employer and as such continues to pay your
salary, they have to check if social security
contributions are due in Belgium. In
accordance to international law, social
security contributions are due in the host
country (country where the work is done)
even when your company does not have a
legal entity over here. European countries
and countries with bilateral social security
treaties (i.e. USA, Canada, Turkey …) can
continue to submit their employees to social
security in the home country during a certain
period of time, provided they can confirm this
with a document that proves the employee to
be submitted in the home country (E101 form
in the EC). Non-EC and countries with no
bilateral treaties should submit their
employees to local Belgian social security.
Not being submitted to Belgian social security
also means that no legal rights can be built up
in Belgium (child allowance, unemployment
insurance, legal pension, health care). That is
why it is imperative that the home company
always takes care of sufficient insurance
coverage for its employees. We strongly
advise the home company to contact an
international insurance provider to cover for
the health care, hospitalization, travel accident
insurance, repatriation and disability.
Since imec is not the employer, we are not
allowed to do anything in this field.
There is a possibility also to affiliate with a
‘mutual insurance company’ in Belgium. For a
fee of approximately 75 € a month, the
employee will be covered for basic medical,
dental and hospitalization treatment.
Insurances
Health insurance
All residents of Belgium, Belgian or other
nationalities, are required by law to be
covered by health insurance. It is also in your
own best interest. Without insurance
coverage, the cost of medical care can quickly
spiral out of control. For instance, a single
night’s stay in the hospital can cost up to €
300 not including treatment or medicine. A
standard
health-insurance
policy
will
reimburse about 75% of the cost of a doctor’s
visit, medicine and hospitalization. Some
(critical) medical expenses are fully refunded.
The basic health insurance will not cover all
hospital costs; as an imec employee you profit
from the company’s hospitalization insurance
(see further).
Page 12
Mutualities
For regular medical expenses such as doctor
visits, you need to enroll at a mutuality on a
personal account (this is obligatory in
Belgium). A mutuality actually pays the biggest
amount of your doctor’s bill and medicines
prescribed by your doctor. Your own
contribution is approximately 60 euro per
year.
There are different mutualities from which
you can choose: Socialistic Mutuality, Liberal
Mutuality, Christian Mutuality, Neutral
Mutuality and Independent Mutuality. They all
provide the same basic service, but there can
be a small difference in price and in the extra
services that they provide. Euromut, an
Independent Mutuality, comes by regularly at
imec and can help you with your enrollment.
More info: http://www.euromut.be.
SIS Card
Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein,
Iceland, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and
Romania) or a nationals from Algeria, Tunisia,
Turkey, and the former Yugoslavia, you should
obtain a European Health Insurance Card
(EHIC) proving you already have insurance
coverage in your home country. Any medical
costs you may incur will be reimbursed by a
Belgian health-insurance company if you show
them the EHIC. This also applies to the cost
of drugs and medication: ask for a 704N form
at the pharmacist’s.
Care insurance (“Zorgkas”)
In 2002 the Flemish government introduced
the care insurance. It is a collective insurance
to provide financial assistance to seriously ill
patients. Every year, you will receive a bill of
25€ for this insurance when you live in
Flanders and are at least 25 years old. You are
obliged to pay this bill before December 31st.
When you take out health insurance you will
receive a membership card (known as the SIS
card), an information booklet and a number of
stickers. Please take your SIS card and stickers
every time you go to the pharmacist, visit a
doctor, go to a hospital or to the healthinsurance office. You may be asked to show
your SIS card or use one of the stickers.
If you have to go to the hospital and you don’t
have your SIS card you will get an invoice of
the total cost. Don’t pay it but bring it to the
health insurance company. They will take care
of a corrected invoice.
Coverage outside Belgium
Whether or not you have coverage abroad
(i.e. outside Belgium) depends on a number of
criteria. Just to be sure, you should contact
your own health insurance company to get
advice.
Coverage for family
When coming to Leuven for a visit, your
parents, partner, siblings or friends are not
covered by your health insurance policy. We
would advise your guests to take out a
temporary private insurance to cover their
period of stay in Belgium.
Work-related accidents
For payroll employees
Imec automatically covers you for accidents
on the way to and from your company and for
accidents on the workplace itself. All other
accidents must be covered by your private
insurance.
For industrial residents
This is different for industrial residents at
imec. Their company is responsible for the
insurance of accidents which are workrelated. For more information, you can always
contact the imec legal department.
EEA Nationals
If you are a EEA national (Austria, Denmark,
Page 13
Third party liability insurance
This policy protects the head of the
household and all people for whom he is
responsible, from third party damage claims.
This policy covers any damages to third
parties caused by you or one of your family
members. Personal injury is not covered by
this policy, only damage to third parties. The
insurance also covers the costs of legal
assistance. This insurance is not obliged, but
strongly recommended, especially if you have
children.
Car insurance
Each car owner is obliged to have civil liability
car cover whereby the insurance company of
the car deemed responsible for the accident,
pays for the repairs, injuries, or death caused
to the other party. Premiums are based on
car’s horsepower and the accident record of
the insured. Based on a bonus point system,
annual rates jump rapidly, with point increases
following accidents where the insured is at
fault, whilst descending only a single point for
each year of unclaimed accidents, until the
lowest level is achieved. You can choose the
range of your car insurance coverage.
See also chapter 6 for information on imec
specific insurances.
Page 14
6. MONEY MATTERS
Payment
The Belgian currency is the Euro since the 1st
of January 2002. The Euro is the currency of
the following sixteen countries of the
European Union: Belgium, Germany, Greece,
Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland,
Cyprus, Slovakia, Malta and Slovenia.
Euro notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200
and €500 note.
Euro coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces
and the 1 and 2 euro pieces.
Opening a bank account
Belgium has a very efficient and modern
banking system. Branches of the principal
Belgian and international banks can be found
in all larger Belgian cities. Among the best
known banks in Belgium are the following:
ING, KBC, Dexia, Argenta, BNP Paribas and
Citibank.
Belgian bank accounts can be “current
accounts” (zichtrekening), “savings accounts”
(spaarrekening) or “term accounts”. The first
are customarily used for current transactions,
payments or transfers; the second are selfexplanatory; and the third are interest-bearing
accounts fixed for a given period of time, and
for which the rate of interest varies according
to the ups and downs of the investments of
the bank.
After opening a bank account, customers
receive a debit card, which needs to be signed
and activated by choosing and confirming a
personal “PIN code”.
These services are attached to your bank
account:
 Cash withdrawals, either at one of the
branches of the bank or at any ATM
machine.
 Debit card payments for items bought in
shops or commercial centers.
 Forms to transfer money directly from
the bank account to another bank
account. This is very useful for paying rent
and utility bills such as water, electricity,
internet and telephone. To be able to
make use of this service customers need
to go in person to a branch of their bank.
 Transfers from any “self-banking” machine
of any branch of the bank.
 Standing orders with the bank for making
regularly recurring payments such as rent,
gas, electricity, water or telephone. This
is highly recommended since the
payments are made even if customers
forget or are away for a period of time.
 Most banks provide
possibilities via internet.
Home-Banking
There is a possibility to open your bank
account before your arrival in Belgium. Most
banks also have a special service for expats,
e.g.:
ING: www.ing.be/expat
KBC: www.kbc.be/expats
Payments and account statements
Payment by bank transfer is a very common
method of paying bills in Belgium. The
companies will normally indicate on their bills
how they prefer to be paid. Payments by
credit card such as Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard,
American Express, etc. are also common
practice. For a small fee to cover postage,
Belgian banks will mail daily, weekly or
monthly transactions statements for a current
account. The easiest way of obtaining account
statements is to print them out at a “selfbanking” terminal.
Page 15
Taxes
Belgian residents
The Belgian tax year for personal income tax
begins on 1 January and ends on 31
December. If you are liable to Belgian
taxation, you will receive a tax return
(declaration/aangifte) during May relating to
the previous year’s income. This form must be
completed and returned by mid July (you will
find the exact date on the tax return from). If
you don’t receive a return, request one at the
Ministry of Finance before 1 June or you will
risk a penalty!
The Recruitment & Selection Team and the
HR Services at imec will give you information
and assist you during application and actions
during the year.
Industrial residents
The situation is different for industrial
assignees coming from outside Belgium. As
imec is not their employer, we cannot give
any information on this subject. We therefore
advise you to contact a special tax advisor like
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young,
KPMG, etc.
The taxpayer reports the amount of his
taxable income, deducting personal and other
allowances. In Belgium, married couples, and
couples having made a legal declaration of
cohabitation, make a joint income declaration.
Foreigners in Belgium
Payroll employees
Foreigners taking up residence in Belgium are
liable, in principle, to taxation on their
worldwide income. This includes:
 Income from real estate property.
 Income from personal property, such as
dividends, interest on loans and bonds,
and income from capital invested in
partnerships.
Some of the imec foreign payroll employees
are eligible to the status of non-resident in
Belgium, which implies a special tax regime.
This special status is granted by the Fiscal
Authorities and allows a lower tax
assessment. There are however very strict
conditions for this non-resident status.
Page 16
7. DAY CARE & BABY
SITTING
Day care services
There are a number of day-care centers in the
Leuven area. Bear in mind that most day-care
centers have long waiting lists, in some cases
longer than one year, so you are strongly
advised to apply for a place as soon as
possible, from the moment you know that you
are pregnant. There are several channels
through which organized day-care can be
found:
Kind en Gezin
They will send you a list of officially
recognized and approved childcare services in
your region.
They also run consultancy
services for infants in each commune once or
twice a week. Babies and toddlers can be
examined here by Kind en Gezin nurses and
doctors and they can get vaccinated without
any cost. These nurses will also provide
information on childminding services in your
area.
Hallepoortlaan 27 – B-1060 Brussel
Tel: 02 542 12 11
www.kindengezin.be
Imec & KUL Day-Care
As an imec payroll employee you can apply for
a place at the Day Care Center “De Villa”.
For more information, see chapter 6 (work
life benefits).
The KULeuven day-care centers listed below
welcome children between six weeks and
three years of age. The cost depends on your
income and includes meals and regular costs.
Nappies and bottle formula are not included.
The day-care centers provide your child with
the daily care and education that he/she
requires. Children are placed in small groups.
The same person remains in charge of the
same children throughout their stay there.
Babyhome
Tervuursevest 105, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 32 92 92
Open: from 7:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
De Villa @ imec
Steengroevenlaan 1, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 23 32 58
Kabouterberg
Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 33 08 60
‘t Grootpark
Groot Park 17, B-3360 Lovenjoel
Tel. 016 46 31 12
Day-Care for Sick Children Kabouterberg
Herestraat 49, B-3001 Heverlee
Mrs. Christine Broossens Tel. 016 33 08
60
City of Leuven Day-Care
Kindercentrum Craenendonck can help you in
your search for a day-care centre: they can
provide an address list of day-care centres,
private individuals who care for children, and
facilities for after-school care. Kindercentrum
Craenendonck provides the following services,
all at this address:
Kindercentrum Craenendonck, Lei 10, B-3000
Leuven [email protected] - www.leuven.be
Regular day-care centre
The day-care centre receives children from
6 weeks to 3 years of age. They are placed
in small groups according to age. The cost
depends on the parents’ income.
Kinderdagverblijf Craenendonck
Tel. 016 27 19 10
Open: Weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Day-care in a host family for children under
12
This service helps you to find a place for
your child with a host mother or host
father. The cost depends on your income.
Stedelijke Dienst Opvanggezinnen
Tel. 016 27 19 11
Open: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and also on
Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Peutertuin
De Croylaan 8, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 32 24 51
Page 17
Limited day-care centre ‘t Margrietje
‘t Margrietje offers a flexible solution for
children up to 3 years. Children can come
for a maximum of 20 hours a week.
Tel. 016 20 04 79
Open: Weekdays and Saturday (also during
holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
have to be a member of the Gezinsbond to be
able to use this service. When your child is
born in Leuven, you automatically receive a
free membership of the Gezinsbond for one
year.
For
information
and
referral
Baplu Lydia, Mob. 0497 60 35 10
services:
Hotline for Sick and Disabled Children
If your child is sick and you are unable to
stay at home to look after him/her, a
caretaker will come to your home to take
care of your child. Maximum 10 hours a
day between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tel. 016 20 04 95 or 0475 65 16 72
Open: Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00
noon and from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (except
Fridays). Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Babysitting services
Student Employment Office
The Student Employment Office of the
KULeuven can help you find a babysitterstudent to take care of your children.
Applications should be made a few days in
advance.
Student Employment Office
Tel. 016 32 44 34, [email protected]
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. tot 5:00 p.m
Babysitting Services of the “Gezinsbond”
Parents interested in making use of this
service may consult the Gezinsbond’s register
which provides the names of the babysitters,
as well as the number of hours that they are
willing to work. The babysitters have been
screened beforehand and are insured. The
prices are fixed per hour. In addition, you pay
a small annual fee to the Gezinsbond. You
Page 18
8. EDUCATION
School system
Schools in Belgium provide education from
nursery school to secondary school at little or
no cost, and their academic standards are
consistently high. International pupils are
welcome in the public school system. They
can study either in Dutch or in French,
depending on the language of the town or
district in which the school is located.
All kindergardens, primary and secondary
schools have a five-day school week (Monday
to Friday) and Wednesday afternoon off.
The choice of schools includes :
 Schools run by the government, provinces
and communes
 Catholic Education
 Alternative Education (Steiner, Freinet,
Montessori)
 Private schools
When choosing between different schools,
there are many factors to bear in mind.
Consider for instance the distance between
your home and school. Your local doctor,
friends or colleagues can be most informative
about the reputation of schools in the area.
School fees
Except in private schools no fees are paid for
kindergarten, primary or secondary education,
which is subsided by the government.
However, you will receive a monthly bill for
various incidental expenses such as trips,
swimming, school magazine, drinks, meals and
day-care after school hours. Bear in mind that
private schools have fees.
Subscription
Parents are encouraged to examine and visit
several schools in their area first to see
whether one might be right for their children.
As the waiting lists are long, they are advised
to apply for a place as soon as they have made
their choice. A full list of schools in Leuven
can be found on: www.leuven.be Click on
‘onderwijs’ (= education), then click on
‘overzicht scholen’ (= list of schools).
In Leuven there is a school that provides
special Dutch lessons for children who do not
speak Dutch yet:
Sint-Albertus College
Geldenaarksebaan 177
3000 Leuven
Tel. 016/40 50 60
There are three international schools in the
Brussels area : these are private schools.
The International School of Brussels (ISB)
Kattenberg 19
1170 Brussels
Tel : +32 2 661 4212
www.isb.be
The British School
Leuvensesteenweg 19
3080 Tervuren
Tel : +32 2 767 3098
The European School of Brussels (Woluwe)
Avenue Oscar Jespers 75
1200 Brussels
Tel : +32 2 774 22 11
School calendar
Kindergarten: September 1 to June 30
Primary school: September 1 to June 30
Secondary school: September 1 to June 30
School Holidays:
One week in early November
Two weeks at Christmas
One week in February or early March
Two weeks at Easter
Two months in the summer: July and August
Higher Education: September to July (varies)
Page 19
Playground activities during school
holidays
Imec
In July and August, imec offers to all its coworkers summer day-care for children
between 2.5 and 12 years old. More
information is available at the Intranet.
KULeuven
University Sports Centre organizes sports
activities during two weeks in July and August
at the price of € 60,00 per week.
Universitair Sportcentrum
Tel.: 016 32 91 30 016 32 91 31
Fax: 016 32 91 95 [email protected]
www.kuleuven.be/sport/sportkampen.htm
City of Leuven playground activities
During school holidays, children can go to a
playground to play with children of their own
age from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Leuven,
Heverlee, Kessel-Lo and Wilsele. They can
play in groups oriented around a specific
theme, or they can choose what they want to
do.
The “Grabbelpas”- activities (only in Leuven
from 7:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.) offer workshops
such as handcraft, sport, culture, daytrips, …
during school holidays. The fee is depending
on
the
kind
of
activity.
Leuven: 4-15 years (Easter and summer)
Heverlee: 3-15 years (Easter and summer)
Kessel-Lo: 3-15 years (only summer)
Wilsele: 3-12 years (only summer till aug.15)
You have to pay a onetime fee of € 5.00 for a
“Youth Centre Pass”. You need to sign up for
all these activities at Jeugdcentrum Vleugel F,
Brusselsestraat 61a,
B-3000 Leuven
More information (addresses, prices, programme, etc.)
on the website www.leuven.be/jeugd or tel. 016 24 66
90.
Further education
(Non) university education
Belgium has an extensive network of
university and non-university education. You
can study in the Flemish, French and German
speaking part of Belgium. Information about
the different programmes, cost, admission
requirements, is available on:
www.diplomatie.be
www.highereducation.be
Language education
Instituut voor Levende Talen (ILT )
The Institute of Modern Languages organizes
Dutch courses throughout the academic year,
both for beginners and for advanced students.
These courses can be followed either
intensively (12 h/week) or regularly way (6
h/week). Intensive courses are held in the
morning, while regular courses can be
followed in the afternoon or in the evening.
ILT - Dekenstraat 6, B-3000 Leuven
Tel: 016 32 56 60 Fax: 016 32 56 56
[email protected] ilt.kuleuven.be
CLT Language Centre Centrum voor
Levende Talen
The CLT Language Centre runs language
courses mainly in the evening. You can study
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German,
Modern Greek, Italian, Japanese, Polish,
Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and
Turkish.
CLT - Dekenstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven
Tel: 016 32 56 61 Fax: 016 32 56 95
[email protected] www.clt.be
ACE Groep T
ACE-Group T organizes language courses that
focus on oral communication. You can follow
courses on Italian, English, French, Dutch for
foreigners, Chinese, Thai, Spanish and
German.
ACE Groep T - Vesaliussttraat 13, B-3000 Leuven
Tel: 016 30 11 16 Fax: 016 30 10 40
www.groept.be
Imec
Contact HR Learning & Development for
information about the language courses
(English & Dutch) organized by imec.
[email protected]
Page 20
9. TRANSPORT
Getting there
The national airport of Belgium is located at
Zaventem, Brussel. More information available
on www.brusselsairport.be/en/
Imec is about 20 km from the airport. You can
take a taxi (around €50 fare) or public
transport to reach imec. By train, there is a
direct connection every 20 minutes from
Brussels Airport to Leuven.
In order to obtain a Belgian driving license,
you need to submit the following:
 your national valid driving license
 driving license has to valid before your
arrival in Belgium
 residence permit
 official translation of your driving license,
done by a sworn translator in Belgium.
Translation should be in Dutch or French.
You can ask a list of legally certified
translators at the local council office.
After you have submitted these documents to
the town hall, they will send your file to the
police and this can take up to 3 weeks.
During these 3 weeks you are not allowed to
drive a car.
The police will send an approval to the town
hall and then they will invite you to come and
collect the driving license.
Importing cars
Getting around
Experience has learned that importing a car is
not advisable. Importing a car can be very
expensive because the car is not conform to
Belgian standards and also a lot of customs
administration is involved.
Cars
Buying a car
Driving license
When buying a new car, the car dealer will
take care of the paperwork. At this point,
you need your residence permit. You will be
given a registration form to complete, and you
will need to insure the car.
Once all
formalities are completed, registration
documents will be sent to you, as well as the
back license plate. You will also need to pay a
“mise en circulation/belasting op de
inverkeerstelling” tax as well as annual road
tax. If your car is equipped with a MPG
engine, motor diesel engine, you will have to
pay an additional tax.
EU Citizens: can drive with a European driving
license in Belgium.
In case you want to switch your own driving
license into a Belgian one, you need to get an
official translation (preferably in Dutch or
French), done by a sworn translator in
Belgium. You can ask a list of legally certified
translators at the local council office.
NON EU Citizens: only tourists can drive
with an international driving license, or
persons who are in the process of getting a
residence permit in Belgium
When buying a second hand car, the car must
be delivered with a “contrôle technique/
technische controle” certificate. Just as when
buying a new car, you will need to complete
the registration form and insure the car
before receiving the license plate.
Page 21
Leasing/renting a car
Belgium tax legislation makes leasing far more
attractive than in many other countries. The
added advantage, of course, is that all the
repair bills are covered and the paperwork is
arranged by the leasing company.
In case you want to rent a car for a short or
long term, you can contact Hertz or Avis:
Avis Head Office Leuven
Nieuwstraat 28
3360 Leuven (Korbeek-Lo)
Tel : 016 25 00 55
Fax : 016 25 02 08
[email protected]
www.avis-brabant.be
Hertz Belgium
Kolonel Bourgstraat 120
1140 Brussels
Tel : 02 717 32 01
Fax : 02 717 32 02
www.hertz.be
car park of De Bond and on the SintJacobsplein, you can take the bus to the
city centre and back free of charge. You
park cheaper in these car parks and still
you are as quickly in the city centre as
otherwise. For further information about
the above issues, you’re welcome to
contact the mobility advisors at
[email protected] or 016
32 93 01 and 016 32 93 02.
Traffic Rules
Please note that the police is very strict on
checking the traffic rules. High fines and
penalties will have to be paid in case you don’t
respect them. Also be aware that automatic
cameras are watching you. You can quickly
loose your driving license for speeding etc.
When showing your imec badge, you can get a
discount at the company below:
Autocenter Hein N.V.
Steenweg op Wezemaal 149
3110 Rotselaar
Tel : 016 58 06 57
Fax : 016 58 34 78
[email protected]
Parking
If you park on the street in Leuven, beware of
the blue zones (parking allowed for two hours
max, parking disc is obliged) and/or parking
machines (payment in advance). If you are an
inhabitant of Leuven, you can request an
inhabitants card so you don’t have to pay or
put your parking disc in your car. There are
many parking facilities in Leuven:
 There are a lot of car parks, where you
will have to pay.
 A better alternative is perhaps the
outlying car parks in Heverlee (e.g.
Bodart, Engels Plein parking lots), most of
which are free. An overview of all parking
facilities in the city centre can be found
on the Leuven website: www.leuven.be.
 There is also P+BUS parking. If you park
on the edge of the shopping centre, in the
Driving do’s and don'ts
 Drive on the right and overtake on the
left.
 Give priority to vehicles coming from the
right.
 Trams have priority. If a tram or bus
stops in the middle of the road to allow
passengers off, or on, you must stop.
 The minimum driving age in Belgium is 18.
 Front and rear seat belts are obligatory
everywhere.
 Children must be at least 12 years of age
before they can sit in the front seat
(unless a safety seat is fitted).
 Belgium has strict drink driving laws, only
0.5 promille is allowed.
 Speed limits: on the motorway 120km/h
(74 mph), on open roads 90km/h (45
mph), in town 50km/h (30mph).
 Belgian motorways are toll-free.
Page 22
 Dipped headlights should be used
between dusk and dawn; driving on
sidelights only is illegal.
 Using a mobile phone while driving is not
allowed; the use of ’hands free’ equipment
is allowed.
 Carrying a warning triangle in your car
and a fluorescent jacket is obliged.
 Following documents should always be in
your possession when driving a car:
driving license, vehicle registration
document (V5), certificate of motor
insurance, road signs.
passengers get a 70% discount, provided that
all members of the group travel together.
Taxi
You will find taxi companies online on
www.goldenpages.truvo.be or call 1207
(national information number) and ask for a
taxi company in the neighborhood.
Trains
Leuven is an important hub in the Belgian
railway network.
From Leuven station, there are connections
to every other major Belgian railway station.
You can find the best connection and itinerary
using the online search engine:
www.b-rail.be (possibility to buy tickets online)
Leuven Railway Station
Martelarenplein 16, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 21 21 11
International Information & Eurostar, Thalys, HST:
02 528.28.28
Heverlee Railway Station
Naamsesteenweg 180, B-3001 Heverlee.
Go Pass and Rail Pass
Bus
De Lijn (Flemish Bus Company)
Belgium has an extensive bus network that
operates in and between most cities. You can
find time schedules on the bus stops along the
road. Destinations, route planner, time
schedules and more information you will find
on the website.
Bus lines nr. 2 and 616 will drop you at the
imec Campus.
De Lijn
Martelarenplein 19b, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 070 22 02 00 (general information)
Tel. 016 31 37 11 (province of Vlaams-Brabant)
Info Pass: Tel. 016 31 37 20
Info Groups: Tel. 016 31 37 17
[email protected] - www.delijn.be
Travelling
Eurolines
through
Europe
with
Eurolines has direct and inexpensive
connections from Leuven to 500 destinations
in Europe.
www.eurolines.com - [email protected]
With a Go Pass (-26 years old) or Rail Pass
(+26 years old), you can make 10 one-way
trips in second class. You will get the most
benefit if you travel between two stations that
are far apart (e.g. Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, ...).
Practical Tips
On Fridays and weekends, ask for a
“Weekend Ticket”. When you travel alone,
you get up to a 40% discount. When travelling
with friends, the first passenger gets a 50%
discount. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th
Page 23
Bicycles
Global Action Plan Cyclists
Cycling is healthy, cheap and cool.
Furthermore, in a city like Leuven it is often
the quickest way to get from one place to
another.
The Leuven Police has developed a global
action plan for cyclists with four priorities:
driving without lights when this is obligatory,
ignoring a red light (one also has to stop when
turning right!), driving in the wrong direction
and not giving way. These four priorities were
set up on basis of accident statistics of the last
years. During the academic year, traffic
surveillances will be held which will focus on
the movement summary offences by cyclists.
The following website contains all the
information about the Belgian Highway Code
specialized in cycling with lots of pictures of
traffic situations in Leuven.
www.kuleuven.be/transportation/GuideforCyc
lingIn-Belgium.pdf.
Bicycle Theft and the Bicycle Office
Bicycle Rental and Repair
VELO is a non-profit organization that
promotes the bicycle as an ecological means
of transport in the city by recycling, renting
and repairing bikes. VELO offers a bike rental
and repair service and is organized as a
training and employment project in the social
economy.
You can rent a safe, fully equipped and
registered second-hand bike with a solid lock
at VELO. A rental contract will be drawn up
(please bring your passport, student
card/badge and bank account number) and
you must pay the rental price plus a deposit.
You can also come to repair your own bike at
the bike repair shop or have your bike
repaired for a small price. At VELO you can
also report bike theft and have your bike
registered (engraving + bike ID).
Minderbroederstraat 12 U, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 33 74 30
[email protected] - www.velo.be
A good lock to secure your bicycle is very
important and always recommended. In
Leuven you can get your bicycle engraved with
an ID number. This is no guarantee against
theft, but it can help retrieving your bike. For
free engraving, go to the bicycle office of the
local police on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:30
p.m. and on Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Fietsendienst (Bycicle Office)
Mechelsestraat 162-168, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 21 09 90 - www.leuven.be
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Bicycle map
You can download the map of bicycle routes
from the City of Leuven web site. This map
provides an overview of all safe bicycle routes
www.leuven.be/showpage.asp?iPageID=5892
Some Bicycle Repair Shops
A-Bikes, Gemeentestraat 37, Kessel-Lo
Huis Boydens, Diestsestraat 205, Leuven
Rijwielen Cadans, Naamsestraat 123, Levuen
Rijwielen Hugo Jacobs, Diestsestraat 192, Leuven
Fietsen Koen, Martelarenlaan 201, Kessel-Lo
Fietsen Niclaes, Naamsesteenweg 76, Heverlee
Page 24
10. COMMUNICATION
Useful Numbers
National Information: 1207
Postal services
Mail is delivered by the postman to your
address. The red post boxes are situated in
towns, shopping centers and road sides.
National mail can be placed in any letterbox in
Belgium or posted at a post-office counter and
may be open or sealed. For information about
prices and sizes, see www.depost.be.
Post Office addresses in Leuven
Leuven Philips
Philipssite, B-3001 Heverlee,
tel. 016 50 93 60
Open:
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. –
12:30 p.m.
and
from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays until 6 p.m.
Leuven Centrum
Jan Stasstraat 12, B-3000 Leuven,
Tel. 016 50 95 60 Fax: 016 50 95 70
Open:
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except for
Thursday : 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Heverlee Ambassade
Naamsesteenweg 380, B-3001 Heverlee,
Tel. 016 40 60 06
Open:
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m.to 12:30 pm. and
from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Postpunten (in case post offices are closed)
SuperGB Heverlee - Tervuursevest 113, Leuven
AD Delhaize Luna - Tervuursesteenweg 154,
Heverlee SPAR Sint-Jacob - Brusselsestraat 124,
Leuven
Getting connected
International Information: 1204
Fixed Lines
There are two main providers in Belgium
(Belgacom and Telenet) and several smaller
ones (Tele2, Scarlet, ..) for fixed lines and
internet connections. Contact the local
telecom shops for more information.
Mobile Telephones (Cell phones)
Newcomers from most European countries
can continue to use their mobile telephones in
Belgium if their contract includes a roaming
feature, although this will be rather costly in
the long term. However, newcomers from the
United States are generally unable to use their
American cell phones in Europe. Mobile
telephones or cell-phones are widely available
in specialized shops and large retail outlets.
Calling Cards
Calling cards have two main advantages over
regular lines: since the card is pre-paid there is
no bill at the end of the month; and calls can
be made from any telephone (public, private,
mobile, etc.). Calling cards for international
calls are available at newsagents, post offices,
supermarkets, train stations and night shops.
Always ask which card is the most suitable for
the call and the country you want to call.
Cable television and digital TV
Each commune provides exclusive rights to
various cable TV operators and each operator
chooses the channels it wishes to offer. The
cable operator can also provide internet and
telephone services. Contact your local
telecom shops to establish which operator is
authorized to provide services in your
commune.
General information
Country Code for Belgium: 32 - Area code
Leuven: (0)16: international call, skip ‘0’ (0032
16 …); when calling within Belgium, always
dial the full area code, 016. Other examples of
area codes: Brussels: 02; Antwerp: 03; Ghent:
09; Bruges: 050; Louvain-la- Neuve: 010.
Page 25
12. SECURITY, POLICE &
LEGALITIES
Births, marriages and deaths
Registry Office Burgerlijke Stand
Leuven Police Headquarters
The police department is in charge of
maintaining law and order. Police officers are
there for your security whenever you need
them.
Philipssite 4, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 21 07 40 Fax: 016 21 07 39
[email protected]
Open:
Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and
from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or by
appointment)
For emergencies (24 hours a day) please
contact:
Interventieafdeling Algemene Politiezorg
Philipssite 4, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 21 06 10 Fax: 016 21 06 09
The national emergency number is 112.
The local district station Leuven Center is at
Grote Markt 8
3000 LEUVEN
Phone (016) 21 09 00 (switchboard)
e-mail: [email protected]
Opening Hours: from 0.00 to 24.00 (for all
emergencies)
Quarter Section: from 08.00 to 22.00, Sat 08.30
to 12.30
Prof. Van Overstraetenplein1, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 27 20 00 – Fax 016 27 29 95
www.leuven.be
Births
You are obliged to inform the Registry Office
of the birth of your baby within 15 days after
the birth. The hospital will give you the
necessary papers and information. Ask the HR
Services at imec or at your home company for
information on including your child in the
insurance policy.
Civil Marriages
The municipal authorities in Belgium only
recognize civil weddings, not church weddings.
If you plan to have both a civil and a religious
marriage ceremony, the civil ceremony must
take place first. You do not need to have both
on the same day. All information concerning
marriage and the documents required, can be
obtained at the Registry Office.
Deaths
The Registry Office must be informed of all
deaths. If death occurs in a hospital, this
formality will be normally done by the
undertaker, but has to be paid. You can do
this yourself, but you then need to inquire at
the Registry Office. If death occurs outside a
hospital, a doctor must be called first to
certify the death and to determine the cause
of death. After that, the registry office must be
informed. It is advisable to ask for several
copies of the death certificate, since they may
be needed for insurance, bank matters,
embassies, etc
Page 26
13. DAY-TO-DAY LIFE
Shopping
Most supermarkets and shops are open every
day except on Sunday. Some will have a
closing weekday. There are a few
supermarkets that do open on Sunday, e.g. GB
Express (Brusselsestraat 60, Tiensevest 10 and
Naamsestraat 48, open until 8 p.m), Super GB
Partner (Koning Albertlaan 147, Kessel-Lo),
Evin’s
Winkel
(Leeuwerikenstraat
23,
Heverlee). Bakeries are usually open on
Sundays and holidays. Many night shops open
after 6 p.m. until late at night. Evening
Shopping in the centre of Leuven on
Thursdays until 8:00 p.m.
Foodshops
Eggs, white (container of 6): € 1.41
Rice, 500g: € 1.80
Pasta, 500g: € 0.80
Sausage, 1kg: € 7.50
Steak, 1kg: € 14
Grilled chicken, per kg: € 8
Apples, 1kg: € 1.30
Carrots, 1kg: € 0.60
Pizza, medium: + 10 €
Aldi
Weldadigheidsstraat 58 and J. P.
Minckelerstraat 76, Leuven
Markets
Lidl
J.P. Minckelerstraat 116, Leuven
Vlinderlaan 2, Kessel-Lo
A. de Becker-Remyplein (Kessel-Lo, food and
goods)
Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m.:
Colruyt
Lombaardenstraat 2, Leuven
Tiensesteenweg 237, Kessel-Lo
Groenveldstraat 71, Heverlee
GB
Tervuursevest 113
GB Express
Brusselsestraat 60
Tiensevest 10
Naamsestraat 48
AD Delhaize
Tervuursevest 19
Brusselsestraat 31
Tervuursesteenweg 154
Indicative prices as per Jan 1st, 2009 (please
note that vegetable and fruit prices are
strongly influenced by supply and weather
conditions):
Bread – white, sliced: € 2
Milk, 1 liter, skimmed: € 0.66
Friday-morning:
Mgr. Ladeuzeplein (food and goods),
Hooverplein (food), Brusselsestraat (flowers).
Saturday:
Flee market
(M. de Layensplein, Mechelsestraat)
Food
(vegetables, cheese, etc.) on Brusselsestraat
Sunday morning until 1:00 p.m.:
At Heverlee railway station
(Naamsesteenweg, Waversebaan, food and
goods)
Page 27
Supplies
Blokker
Bondgenotenlaan 58
(furniture, household, electronic appliances
and school supplies at very affordable prices)
Casa
Diestsestraat 93/2
(furniture, household, electronic appliances
and school supplies at very affordable prices)
Hema
Parijsstraat 2
(clothes, houseware, gadgets and food)
Ikea
Weiveldlaan 19(close to E40), Zaventem
(Interior)
Domo
Bondgenotenlaan 169
(interior)
‘t Pand
Tiensestraat 225 (children’s clothing)
International food shops
Thai House Supermarket
Alfons Smetsplein
Asian Market
Naamsestraat 28
African food shop Voodoo
Tiensestraat 220
La Méditerrannée for north-African food
Maria-Theresiastraat 52
Fair Trade Shop (products from Africa, Asia
and Latin-America)
Tiensestraat 273
Naamsesteenweg 133
Laundrettes and dry cleaning
Clothes
C&A
Bondgenotenlaan 64
H&M
Bondgenotenlaan 69
Zara
Bondgenotenlaan 75-79
Wibra
Bondgenotenlaan 74
INNO
Diestsestraat 67
Health and beauty products
Kruidvat
Diestsestraat 55
Bondgenotenlaan 95
Jodenstraat 1
Second hand shops
SPIT
IJzermolenstraat 10-12
Rawette
Parijsstraat 53A (only clothing)
Cyaankali
Diestsestraat 217 (only clothing)
Pressing nr 1
L. Melsensstraat 4
Strea Net
Tervuursesteenweg 187
Atomic
Brusselsestraat 214
De Lelie
Maria Van Belstraat 7
De Gouden Draad
Tiensestraat 204
Quick Shop
Diestsestraat 224
Tapolino
Slachthuislaan 1
Het Leuvens Strijkatelier
Frederik Lintstraat 37
Wassalons het Poederke
A. Vesaliusstraat 16
De Washoek
Tervuursevest 12
For prices, ‘how to use a washing machine’, see
brochure ‘Housekeeping tips’,
www.kuleuven.be/socialservices/pdf/housekeepingti
ps.pdf
Page 28
Dining
Leuven has a lot of restaurants, cafes and
pubs. Situated mostly in the centre, around
the Great Market. You will find a list with
restaurants on the website of Leuven.
www.leuven.be or on www.resto.be
Environment
batteries. Expired or unused medication can
be taken to any pharmacist’s but please
remove the paper from the box. There are
also collections of small dangerous waste such
as leftover cleaning products, used cooking oil,
cosmetics, writing materials, etc, by the
Leuven ’chemobiel’. Dates and places will be
announced via the website of the city
(www.leuven.be) and via the municipal
infobrochure ‘Stad Leuven info’. Or you can
bring it to one of the guarded containerparks
(See www.ecowerf.be).
The educational and civil authorities are fully
committed to sustainable development and
the creation of an environmentally friendly
city. They encourage citizens and students to
reduce their garbage production, to properly
sort their garbage, to use energy in a
responsible and sustainable way and to adopt
sustainable transportation.
Waste Prevention, Selection and Reduction
In Leuven garbage needs to be sorted. The
more garbage you produce, the more brown
bags you will need and they cost money. You
can reduce your garbage by buying fewer
packages, by using glass instead of plastic
bottles, etc. The following paragraphs explain
the different kinds of waste, and how they are
collected.
Paper and cardboard
Paper and cardboard are collected separately
from other garbage. You can include any kind
of paper, provided it’s clean and has no plastic
attached to it. All paper needs to be tied up
with string or twine and left in front of the
house or residence on collection days.
Glass
Glass should be taken to one of the big glass
containers located throughout the city. Light
bulbs or flat glass (for instance from a
window) are NOT allowed! Always rinse out
glass bottles. Colored glass usually goes in a
separate container from clear glass.
KGA (Small dangerous waste)
GFT (Kitchen and garden waste - green
box)
Vegetables, fruit and garden waste belong in
the green bag. Coffee filters, teabags and
eggshells are also allowed. Please do not put
anything else in the green bag! In a number of
residences and houses green boxes are used
instead of bags.
PMD (Plastic, Metal and Drink cartons blue bag)
It is important that you know what goes in the
blue bag, since it will not be picked up if it
contains the wrong things.
Always allowed: washed “tetra packs”, plastic
bottles, metal cans, aluminum tins and trays
(from lasagna for instance).
Never allowed: butter tubs, yoghurt cups,
plastic bags, plastic objects, aluminum foil,
badly rinsed tetra packs.
Most people have quite a lot of waste that is
dangerous if it is dumped or burned since it
might lead to soil contamination. Batteries can
be taken to supermarkets and deposited in
the green boxes provided especially for old
Page 29
Everything else (brown bag)
All the household garbage not mentioned
above has to go into the brown bag. Large
objects like furniture are collected five times a
year. You have to put a special sticker on it
that can be purchased at the “Stadswinkel”
(see below). If the furniture can still be used,
or if you want to get rid of an electronic
appliance that still works, contact Spit (see
below).
You can find all the information on the free
‘waste collection calendar’, which outlines the
garbage pick-up schedule. You can find this
online on the website of Leuven, or you can
get a copy at the town hall. The environment
advisors also provide an English translation.
Where to buy garbage bags and stickers
City Shop – Stadswinkel
Waversebaan 66, B-3001 Heverlee (at Heverlee
City Hall) - Tel. 016 30 90 56
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.and from
1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from
1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
City Registry Office - Bevolkingsdienst stad Leuven
Prof. Van Overstraetenplein 1, B-3000 Leuven
Open:
Only on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(only stickers).
You can also find garbage bags in most
supermarkets, except at Aldi.
SPIT (second-hand shop)
Sports
KULeuven Sports Centre
As an imec employee you can apply for a
sports card from the KULeuven.
The Sports Centre features a state-of-the-art
fitness room for which you need to pay a
supplement. To book a tennis court, soccer
field, or any other facility call or drop by the
sports secretariat. If you and your team mates
have a sports card, everything is free. You
only need to pay extra for indoor tennis.
The Sports Centre organizes several recurring
events: Bike&Run, Indoor Athletics Meeting,
the Flemish University Competition, the
Belgian University Competition, Sports Camps
for kids, Badminton Competition, ..
Tel. 016 32 91 30 Fax: 016 32 91 95
[email protected] - www.kuleuven.be/sports
Open: Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12.00 noon
and from1:00 to 6:00 p.m. (5:30 during the
summer months)
Sport Clubs in Leuven
The Sports Office has a comprehensive list of
sport clubs in the Leuven area. This list is
continuously updated. Its content comes from
information collected by the staff of the Sports
Office. It is available in every municipal sports
facility.
Prof. Van Overstraetenplein 1, B-3000 Leuven
[email protected] www.leuven.be
Spit is a centre that recycles household items.
You can bring them your old furniture,
electric appliances, bicycles, clothes, etc. All
items should be in a condition that allows
them to be re-used. Spit personnel can pick
up articles from your house. After repairs are
carried out, these items are then sold in Spit’s
shop.
Second Hand Shop (Kringloopwinkel)
IJzermolenstraat 10-12, B-3001 Heverlee
Tel. 016 65 29 35 Fax: 016 35 92 89
[email protected] www.spit.be
Open:
Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Leuven has several sports facilities: swimming
pools, indoor and outdoor facilities.
Page 30
Swimming Pools
Stadionlaan 4, B-3010 Kessel-Lo
016 25 34 80
Aarschotsesteenweg 730,
B-3012 Wilsele-Putkapel
016 44 33 88
Sportoase,
Philipssite 6,
B-3001 Heverlee
016 74 07 40
www.sportoase.be
Indoor Sports Facilities
Sportoase,
Philipssite 6,
B-3001 Heverlee
016 74 07 40
www.sportoase.be
Sportcomplex Kessel-Lo,
Stadionlaan 4, B- 3010 Kessel-Lo
016 25 34 80
Sporthal Wilsele-centrum
Aarschotsesteenweg 163, B-3012 Wilsele
016 44 51 36
Turn- & sportzaal Boudewijnstadion
Diestsesteenweg 288, B-3010 Kessel-Lo
016 89 52 12
Sporthal KHLeuven
Hertogstraat 178, B-3001 Heverlee
Outdoor Sports Facilities
Boudewijnstadion
Diestsesteenweg, B-3010 Kessel-Lo
016 25 12 21
Den Bruul
Brouwersstraat, B-3000 Leuven
016 22 95 51
Atletiek Arena Gaston Roelants
Diestsesteenweg, B-3010
Kessel-Lo 016 25 12 21
Fit-o-meter
Heverleebos, Naamsesteenweg, Heverlee
Jeugdvoetbalcentrum Bruineveld
Domeinstraat 61, 3010 Kessel-Lo
For information concerning fees & prices contact
the staff in charge of the facility or call the sports
office: 016 44 26 50
Culture
Leuven is a young and dynamic city where it is
almost impossible to get bored. Apart from
the numerous cafes and restaurants, there is
also a large variety of cultural activities.
Tourism IN&UIT Leuven
In&Uit (literally “In&Out”) is located in the
sidewing of City Hall. It is a central reception
desk where you can pick up all kinds of
information and documentation concerning
leisure in Leuven. Basically, In&Uit informs
tourists as well as residents about how they
can spend their free time in Leuven. You can
learn about Leuven’s major sights, attractions
and ongoing expositions, and about what is
going on in music and performing arts.
Moreover, In&Uit sells visitor tickets for City
Hall and other places of interest and entrance
tickets for local cultural activities.This is
where you can obtain your free copy of
Leuven’s culture and leisure magazine ‘Uit in
Leuven’. And while you’re there, also take a
look at the media screens showing the cultural
and tourist highlights of the moment.
The Leuven Cultural Centre
The Leuven Cultural Centre, with 200,000
visitors and approximately 280 activities per
season, is the most important organiser of
performing arts in the region. They’ll bring
you a fascinating mix of theatre, dance,
classical and non-classical music, workshops,
lectures, children’s performances, and much
more. There is always something for
everybody.
30CC
30CC organizes performances, concerts and
shows at many different venues around the
city: the Stadsschouwburg (municipal theatre)
(Bondgenotenlaan 21), the “Minnepoort”
Auditorium (Dirk Boutslaan 62), the
“Romaanse Poort” and the “Wagehuys”
(Brusselsestraat 63), the “Predikherenkerk”
(O.L.Vrouwstraat),
the
public
library
“Tweebronnen” (Diestsestraat 49), and
sometimes even on the city’s street corners.
After the performance you can always
continue chatting and meeting people in any of
the various halls where these activities are
held. There is also a cultural café - Improvisio
- in the main area of 30CC (Romaanse Poort,
Brusselsestraat 63). 30CC also has a
supporting function for the musical company
Page 31
“La Petite Bande”, and the theatre companies
“Braakland/ZheBilding” and “fABULEUS”. You
can also contact the centre to rent some of
the facilities mentioned above.
Brusselsestraat 63, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 23 84 27 Fax: 016 29 12
[email protected] - www.30CC.be/
In&Uit Leuven
City Hall
Tel. 016 20 30 20 Fax 016 20 30 03
[email protected] - www.inenuitleuven.be
STUK
STUK is an important venue in Leuven and
one of the most important arts centres in
Flanders. Its programming features theatre,
dance, films, music, fine arts, and new media.
In addition to the big names, you can also find
the work of innovative newcomers. Prices are
in general very affordable. The opening week,
at the beginning of the cultural season, is a
unique opportunity to get to know STUK.
STUK also has an elegant ‘grand café’ where
you can drink or eat something, read a
newspaper or a book or go on internet for
free. Friday evenings you can listen to a DJ and
every Sunday evening you can enjoy a free jazz
concert (‘Jazz on Sunday’).
CinemaZed (see further on this page) is
incorporated into STUK and offers a wide
range of films.
Tel. 016 32 03 20
[email protected] - www.stuk.be
Movie Theatres in Leuven
Kinepolis Leuven
Kinepolis is a large movie theatre company
located in most big cities of Belgium.
Bondgenotenlaan 145-149, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 31 96 00
www.kinepolis.be
Cinema Zed
Cinema Zed is a not-for-profit movie theatre
screening primarily films from the alternative
circuit.
Tel. 016 32 03 20
Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.;
Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30p.m.
www.cinemazed.be
Museums
Municipal Museum M. Leuven
Museum M is located in the centre of Leuven
and displays art from Leuven & Brabant from
the middle ages untill the 19th century.
Willemsstraat 7, 3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 22 69 06 Fax 016 23 89 30
[email protected] - www.leuven.be/M
M/Treasury of Saint Peter’s Church
Grote Markt, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 29 51 33
*From March 16 to October 15:
Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sundays and public holidays from 2:00 p.m. to
5:00 pm *From October 16 to March 15: closed
on Monday
Page 32
Libraries
Imec Library
Imec has its very own library with scientific
publications and books! It’s permanently
accessible for consultation and reading, if you
have a valid imec badge.
Leuven Public Library “TWEEBRONNEN ”
The mission of the Leuven public library is to
promote knowledge and general culture
among the inhabitants of Leuven. The library
has two floors, each with its own opening
hours and distinct character.
The upper floor houses the reading
room
Here you will find reference works in several
languages, journals, newspapers and weekly
periodicals (also in languages other than
Dutch). There is a documentation centre that
provides information on the province of
Vlaams Brabant and its various communities,
internet PC’s, online catalogues of the
collections. The reading room has plenty of
seating, working tables and a few screened-off
study carrels.
The lower floor houses the lending
library
KULeuven University Library
The university library system is composed of
more than 30 libraries spread out over the
various campuses. The Central library has a
special mission: to collect and preserve old
book collections and to preserve old
documents of general interest. In the reading
room you will find an extensive collection of
encyclopedias, bibliographies and reference
works; in addition, there is a collection of
basic reference works for each discipline.
Most books and periodicals are kept in closed
stacks but you can request them at the
circulation desk. Faculty or department
libraries house books and periodicals in their
respective fields.
The beautiful Campus Library Arenberg (W.
de Croylaan 6, Heverlee) is the main library
for reseachers in the fields of Science,
Bioscience Engineering, Kinesiology and
Rehabilitation Science.
University Library
Mgr.Ladeuzeplein 21, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 32 46 60 Fax: 016 32 46 91
[email protected]
The library has extensive collections on loan:
novels in Dutch, French, English, German,
Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Kurdish; nonfiction works (books and dvd’s) ordered by
subject and a diverse collection of comic
books. But there is more. The library presents
a large collection of cd’s and dvd’s and a
collection of reference works on music,
movies and stage arts. You can borrow library
items for four weeks.
To be able to borrow library materials, you
need a library card. When you’re over 18,
there’s a small annual fee, when you’re
younger than 18, it’s for free. Most of the
materials in the library can be lent free of
charge; only cd’s and movies have a lending
fee.
Rijschoolstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 22 65 22.
[email protected]
www.leuven.be/bibliotheek
Opening hours
Monday: closed
Tuesday: 12:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday: 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Page 33
Religion
Masses in English
Roman-Catholic
Masses in Dutch
Roman-Catholic
Church of St John the Baptist Groot Begijnhof
Groot Begijnhof, 3000 Leuven
0472 45 49 11
Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday evenings at 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday evenings student celebration 6:15p.m.
University Parish KULeuven - International
Community
The University Parish has an English-speaking
international community whose goal is to
welcome people from anywhere in the world
to form a Christian community. They foster
an open atmosphere where people from
different backgrounds, cultures and countries,
and various conducts in life, can meet and
experience Christian community in the
Catholic tradition.
Every Sunday of the year, at 10:30 a.m., the
community celebrates the Eucharist. The
liturgy is followed by a reception where
people have the opportunity to meet
informally. The community publishes a weekly
bulletin entitled “Bridges”. It contains
reflections, news, and spiritual-theological
insights. It is available at the Sunday liturgy.
Protestant Service
Jesuit Church
There is a Protestant service in Dutch every
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Waversebaan220, B-3001 Heverlee.
Tel. 016 22 98 83 [email protected]
Contact person: Ernst Veen
Orthodox
The Orthodox Parish of the Holy Apostel and
Evangelist Mattheos
All services (liturgy – Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and vespers – Saturdays at 6:00 p.m.) in Dutch
and Old-Slavonic, occasionally with some
Greek, English or Romanian.
Contact Person: Priest, Father Alexander
Yavarouski, speeks Dutch and Russian,
Tervuursestraat 56 (Collegium pro Latina America
or COPAL), B- 3000 Leuven Tel. 0498 83 45 56
[email protected]
www.leuven.orthodoxy.ru/ (website in Dutch,
Russian and Greek).
Sacraments (baptism, confirmation, first
communion, reconciliation, and marriage) are
prepared and celebrated as community events.
Minderbroedersstraat 15, bus 0.09, B-3000
Leuven Tel. 016 32 08 13 or 016 32 08 14
[email protected] www.kuleuven.be/up
Responsable: Reimund Bieringer
Masses in English: Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Holy Spirit College
In English: Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
Anglican
The Anglican community of St M&M’s: St.
Martha and St. Mary of Bethany Anglican
Church of Leuven
The Anglican community M&M’s has a
celebration every Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.
in the St. Martha and St. Mary of Bethany
Chapel, Minderbroedersstraat, 15 (Justus
Lipsius College).
Justus Lipsius College,
Minderbroedersstraat 15, B-3000 Leuven
Contact person: Church Warden
[email protected]
www.anglicanleuven.be
Page 34
Evangelical
Masses in Arabic
The International Church of Evangelicals in
Leuven
Muslim
Services in the Pauscollege, Hogeschoolplein
3, on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (separate nursery
and Sunday School for children under 12).
Pauscollege,
Hogeschoolplein 3, B-3000 Leuven
Worship Service: Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
Contact persons: Kees & Toos Rosies
Beekstraat 39, 3051 Sint-Joris-Weert
Tel. 016 40 54 67 or 0475 83 27 46 www.icel.be
Masses in French
Roman-Catholic
University Parish KULeuven
French speaking community
The University Parish has also a frenchspeaking, african community. The community
celebrates the Eucharist at 11 a.m. in the
chapel of Leo XIII-seminary, entrance via
Vesaliusstraat 2.
Tiensestraat 124, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 32 55 85
www.kuleuven.be/up/international/francais/
Responsable: Catho Schoofs
Masses in French: Sundays at 11 a.m.
Masses in Spanish
Roman-Catholic
Saint Michael’s Church Sint-Michielskerk
International Muslim Students Association of
Leuven (IMSAL )
IMSAL is the official representative of Muslim
students of KU Leuven. It has its own
Students Mosque in Rijschoolstraat 25, where
the daily five prayers are held in addition to
the Friday prayer preceded by Khutba
(sermon) in both Arabic and English. Friday
prayer starts at 1:00 pm (2:00 pm. during the
summer months). Celebration of Islamic feasts
and daily collective Iftar in Ramadan are
arranged every year.
Rijschoolstraat 25, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 33 24 39
For contact: [email protected]
www.imsal.be
Al Fath mosque
The mosque belongs to the resident Muslim
community of Leuven. Here the daily five
prayers are held as well as Friday and Feasts
prayers. The Khutbas (sermons) of Friday and
Eid prayers are delivered only in Arabic.
Penitentienenstraat 33, B-3000 Leuven
Contact person: Mr. Bachiri
Tel. 016 20 87 02
Other Cities around Leuven
Brussels and Antwerp have communities of
most religions, including a large Muslim, Jewish
and
Orthodox
community.
Smaller
denominations and religions most likely have a
community in Brussels, Antwerp and/or
Ghent as well.
A Roman Catholic Mass is held in Spanish on
Sundays at 12:00 noon.
Naamsestraat 57A, B-3000 Leuven
Tel. 016 20 09 06
Contact person: Paul Aerts
Tel. 016 31 63 69
[email protected]
Page 35
14. HR contact information
HR Desk
For all practical information on employment
and HR administration:
Tel:
Mail:
+32 16 28 77 99
[email protected]
Relocation
For all practical information on relocation and
your stay in Belgium:
Tel:
Mail:
+32 16 28 13 71
[email protected]
[email protected]
Page 36

IMEC BENEFITS

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