In which country is the city of Leuven located?

Leuven is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about 16 miles (25 km) east of Brussels. It is the eighth largest city, with more than 100,244 inhabitants, and is located on the banks of the Dijle River.

It was founded in the 9th century around a fortress built by a German emperor against the Normans, and gained importance in the 11th century as the residence of the Counts of Louvain, and later (1190) of the Dukes of Brabant.

It was a center of weaving and one of the largest cities in Europe in the 14th century, when a dispute began between its citizenry and the nobility. In 1379, 17 nobles were massacred in the town hall, provoking the revenge of the duke, to whom the citizens surrendered in 1383.

Soon after, the town declined as many weavers fled to Flanders and England; the duke moved to Vilvoorde. In 1425, the Catholic University of Leuven was founded.

The city suffered considerable damage in the First and Second World Wars. During the German invasion of 1914, the famous university library and Cloth Workers' Hall were burned (1193).

Den Hoorn Brewery has been brewing since 1366; however, in 1708, Sebastien Artois became the brewmaster and bought the brewery in 1717, renaming it Brouwerij Artois. The now world famous "Stella" was originally produced as a Christmas beer in 1926. Due to its popularity, it was soon brewed year-round.