Friday Market in Leuven
The largest and most popular market is the Friday market in the city center on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein, overlooked by the majestic bell tower of the university library.
Sunday Market in Heverlee
But did you know that the Sunday market in Heverlee is almost as big? Even on God’s rest day, merchants from all over the country meet up around the church of this charming town south of Leuven, not to pray but to sell!
Saturday Market in Leuven
On Saturday, you can find a small but diverse market in the shopping area of the Brusselsestraat: the artisanal market. Here you can find fresh vegetables, meats, bread and pastries, flowers… as well as delicacies from near and far. Don’t forget to pass by the Mathieu De Layensplein for the antique and vintage market!
Wednesday Market in Kessel-Lo
If you live in Kessel-Lo, the Wednesday market on the Debecker Remyplein is the place to be. This is a smaller market, but it has everything you need to survive the week, plus some extras!
Monday Market in Wijgmaal
Our most remote market is the Monday market in Wijgmaal, a town in the far north of Leuven. With no more than four stands, this is a very tiny market, but a beloved staple among the locals nonetheless.
Thursday Flower Market in Leuven
And finally, on Thursday, there is the “flower market” in the Brusselsestraat, which is really just one large stand selling plants and flowers. If you’re looking for some greenery to brighten up your room, be sure to pay them a visit!
Market History in Leuven
Most merchants have a fixed place that they rent from the city. Some of them have had their stand in the same place for decades! Market merchants (marktkramers) usually take a lot of pride in their craft, which is often part of a family tradition.
Some merchants participate in our markets without a fixed place. They will show up in the morning, hoping that there are some empty places on the market that they can take. We call them “loose merchants”.
But if five loose merchants show up, how do we make sure that the empty places are distributed fairly among them? Well, they all need to check in to one of the favorite café of the market manager (marktleider) at 7:30 AM (De Leivese Ton for the Friday market, De Phare for the Sunday market) and play dice: whoever gets the highest score gets to choose an empty spot first! An age old tradition that works just as well in our modern day and age.
A Place for Community
Above all, the markets are a place for people to connect: neighbors and friends meeting each other, merchants having a chat with their regular customers. For retired people, the market is often a go-to place to stay active, both physically and socially! But if you come early enough on Friday (that is around 6-7 AM), you can regularly find students at the end of a long night out, munching on some fresh roasted chicken on the stairs of the Ladeuzeplein!
Market Schedules and Locations
Below is a table giving an overview of all markets in Leuven, their locations and opening hours:
Day, opening hours | Location | Type |
Monday, 3-7 PM | Wijgmaal, Sint-Hadrianuskerk | Food |
Wednesday, 2-7 PM | Kessel-Lo, Debecker Remyplein | General |
Thursday, 1-6 PM | Leuven, Brusselsestraat (near Grote markt) | Plants and flowers |
Friday, 8 AM - 1 PM | Leuven, Ladeuzeplein and Hooverplein | General |
Saturday, 8 AM – 6 PM | Leuven, Brusselsestraat (near Grote markt) | Artisanal products, antique and vintage |
Sunday, 8 AM - 1 PM | Heverlee, Van Arenbergplein, Prins De Lignestraat and Sint-Lambertuskerk | General |