Libraries: Predikheren Public Library, Public Library Tweebronnen, University Library KU-Leuven
Type of Library: public, and academic
Total Distance Return Trip: 280 km
Meeting Point: Ahoy Rotterdam
Price per Person: € 25
You can’t come to Mechelen without taking a peek inside the most beautiful library in the country. Housed in an old monastery, Het Predikheren is a dynamic cultural hub. Wander among the bookshelves and lose yourself in the history of the building. From the beautiful vaults to the age-old wooden roof trusses, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to visit Barbib for coffee, a pastry or a delicious lunch.
The library is a public space in the centre of the city, a hub of culture, literature and information. We want to empower, connect people, give inspiration and be innovative for our users. It is our goal to have an impact on the local and regional social, educational and cultural community.
The building of the main library is built heritage of the architect Henry Van de Velde. His ideas are still an inspiration for the library. In its interior, its design and circulation, but also in his vision that art, beauty en culture must be close to people, accessible for everyone. The public library has next to the main building also three smaller libraries in other parts of the city, a bibliobus (mobile library to schools and suburbs), service points in the two local prisons. We have an enthusiastic team of about 60 people and more than 100 volunteers. We have a physical collection of about 275.000 items, and digital services of e-books, magazines, newspapers and movies.
leuven.bibliotheek.be / @debibleuven on Facebook and Instagram
The University Library is one of the 24 libraries and learning centres of KU Leuven. The University Library is well known for it’s turbulent history, that is deeply influenced by two fires and a scission. The building is a beautiful product of reconstruction architecture and both the outside and some parts of the interior (e.g. the Main Reading Room) are a protected heritage monument. Situated in the heart of Leuven, it is a very important touristic highlight in the city centre. Both the Main Reading Room and the Library Tower are very popular with national and international tourists. The Library houses a wide variety in collections with a focus on the humanities: history and art history, government publications and East-Asian collections. In the majestic building many of the central services of KU Leuven Libraries have there headquarters: ILL, digitization and document delivery, management of e-resources, cataloguing, book conservation and all services that focus on policy and support of the Director and the Management Team. Another very important inhabitant of the building is the Special Collections Department, managing a large collection of old books and manuscripts, with a strong focus on university history. See also: https://bib.kuleuven.be/english/about/afbeeldingen/0129-bro-unibversiteitsbib-uk.pdf
