Review of the Oude Markt (I)

Some call it the biggest bar in Europe. Last time I counted there were 33 bars on the Oude Markt. The occasional new bar or pizzeria opens up, but let us just stick to that number. For the purpose of this article I thoroughly inspected the left side of the square, when coming from the Grote Markt, starting with the last bar:

Fakbars

ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW, BUT HAD NO ONE TO ASK

Picture: (c) Alejandra Salido

A fakbar. Pronounced by most people like a bar implying the possibility of sexual intercourse upon visiting. Some are disillusioned, some ecstatic, but there is no student who would say no to a 1€ beer served at a faculteitsbar.

"Too much noise is no excuse to stay home"

One in four festivalgoers ends up with permanent hearing impairment. One out of five Flemish youngsters suffers from hearing impairment caused by excessively loud music. Furthermore, half of all youngsters admit having permanent hearing impairment. Worrying statistics, one could say.

Beginner’s Guide To The World of a Cantus

When arriving from a foreign country as a student in Leuven, one is confronted with many diverse unknown habits and rituals. It takes a while to discover why Flemish students only get out around midnight, or why they group together in bizarre bars or spots called fakbars. Still, the most mysterious ritual of it all is and will always be the cantus.