Moving to Leuven: costs process & districts
Leuven (Löwen) guide
Moving to Leuven: the old town, Heverlee and Kessel-Lo
Living in Flemish Brabant
Leuven (Löwen) lies on the Dijle about 20 kilometres east of Brussels and is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant. The city is known for the KU Leuven university, founded in 1425, and for its townscape with the Gothic town hall, the Sint-Pieterskerk and the Oude Markt. Since 1977 the sub-municipalities of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal have been part of the city. The centre has a pedestrian area with fixed loading times. For your home move we clarify in advance when and where the lorry may stand.
We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive around 731 km via the Rhineland and the E314 to Leuven – about eleven hours by lorry including breaks, so with two drivers or an overnight stop. There is no customs duty on your household goods within the EU. After the move, you report your new address to the city no later than eight working days afterwards. We give you the fixed price after a survey. More about the route in the long-distance move guide for Leuven.
Request a fixed price for your move to Leuven
Record the volume, state a fixed price
Whether it is a flat in the centre, a house in Heverlee or a studio near the university: after a survey or a video appointment we give you a fixed price for your move to Leuven, covering floors, access, the parking ban permit, Viapass and a second driver. Call us on 01625978461.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
What we take care of when you move to Leuven
From Berlin to the Dijle
We have no branch in Belgium; we come by lorry from Berlin-Moabit. That is why we clarify loading time and parking space in advance: according to the city, loading in the pedestrian area is only permitted in the morning and evening, there is no access authorisation for moves, and a longer stay requires a parking ban permit. We pack, carry, transport and reassemble; you handle registration yourself. We are liable for your household goods under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. If the new flat is not yet free, we store your belongings in Berlin and deliver on the agreed date. We answer frequently asked questions briefly and concretely further down.
Packing service
Office move
Senior moves
Furniture transport
Well planned to Leuven
We give you the fixed price for your move to Leuven after the survey – packing, transport, Viapass, the city permit and assembly are listed as separate items. We plan the way back to Berlin in the same way.
Registration in view
No customs within the EU
Access sorted
Arrival planned
Return trip possible
Storage to bridge a gap
Move affordably with a part load
With a part load to Leuven you use free space in a lorry that is already travelling via the E314 to Flemish Brabant. This suits single pieces of furniture, students or small households; delivery takes place in an agreed time window.
Everything
for your move
This guide shows which sub-municipalities belong to Leuven, when you may load in the pedestrian area, how to apply for a parking ban for the removal van and how registration with the city and the subsequent check work. The information comes from the City of Leuven. We do not give rents because they depend heavily on location and condition. How the journey from Berlin works is covered in the long-distance move guide. Additional services such as assembly, packing or storage are listed individually. We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21); the route is already included in the fixed price.
Planning back from moving-in day
Furniture, boxes and access
Costs and special cases
Frequently asked questions about moving to Leuven
The centre and sub-municipalities of Leuven
Since 1977 Leuven has comprised the sub-municipalities of Leuven itself, Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal. The historic centre around the Grote Markt with the Gothic town hall and Sint-Pieterskerk, and the Oude Markt, is surrounded by a pedestrian area and a low-traffic zone. Kessel-Lo and Heverlee are the largest sub-municipalities outside the centre, while Wilsele and Wijgmaal lie in the north of the city. For a move the areas differ mainly in loading time and parking space: fixed loading times apply in the centre, while the sub-municipalities more often have houses with their own drive. Which area suits you depends on your commute, school and budget. Dates at the end of the month are in demand, so it pays to enquire early.
University, work and everyday life in Leuven
Leuven is shaped by KU Leuven, which has existed since 1425 and attracts students from all over the world. The city is home to the brewing group AB InBev and the imec research centre; added to this are the university hospital, administration as the provincial capital and many small businesses. Because of the many students, demand for housing is high; we do not give specific rents. Brussels is around 20 kilometres away. Giving notice in Berlin, the loading time or parking ban in Leuven and registration within eight working days are best planned backwards from moving-in day. If the flat is not yet free, we store your furniture in Berlin. Get in touch – by phone on 01625978461 or via the contact form. Our guide prices by number of rooms can be found on this page.
Fairly calculated moving costs
From a small 1-room flat from €354 to a large 4-room flat from €1,324 – we have the right offer for every move. 2-room flats start at €605, 3-room flats at €899. For houses or villas we prepare an individual quote, and long-distance moves cost from €4.15/km. Book your free survey now.
Moving price: five decisive factors
The price of your move is made up of volume, distance (€4.15/km), floor, lift and, where applicable, a parking restriction zone. In addition we offer furniture assembly and a part load.
Our moving services at a glance
Whether it is a private move or a business relocation – we offer a comprehensive range of services around your move.
- Private move – Your change of home, organised reliably and without stress.
- Company relocation – Smooth moves for offices and businesses.
- Furniture transport – Safe transport of individual pieces of furniture.
- Part load – Affordable transport thanks to shared load space.
- Move with assembly – Furniture assembly and dismantling included.
- House clearance – Professional clearance of homes and cellars.
More routes from Berlin
Short distance or long-distance move – we plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21), including to Belgium; we have no branches at the destinations. You will find places with their own pages in the locations overview, and more on long routes under Long-distance moves. If the scope does not change, the price stays as stated in the quote.
Leuven (Löwen): pedestrian zone, loading times and a parking ban for the removal van
The centre of Leuven (Löwen) has a pedestrian area surrounded by a low-traffic zone. According to the City of Leuven, loading and unloading in the pedestrian area is only permitted between 6 am and 11 am and between 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm; parking is not possible there. Outside these times you need an access authorisation. Important for your move: the city states explicitly that you will not receive an access authorisation for a move.
If your vehicle has to stand for longer during a move, the city requires a permit for a temporary parking ban or for the use of the public road. According to the city, this also applies to a furniture lift, scaffolding or a container. In the low-traffic zone, according to the city, you can load all day as long as the signs do not say otherwise; if the vehicle stays longer, a permit is needed there too. The city's page partly refers to the police zone; ask who is responsible when you apply.
- Pedestrian area: plan for loading times of 6 am to 11 am and 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm
- Apply for the permit for a longer stay or a furniture lift
- According to the city, there is a stopping and parking ban on the Bondgenotenlaan between 7 and 9 am and between 3 and 6 pm
City contact: 016 27 27 27, [email protected]. Read more about the organisation under international move. On life in the city: guide for newcomers to Leuven.
Leuven: changing your address with the City of Leuven after the move
In Belgium you report the move to the municipality. According to the City of Leuven, this is possible no earlier than two weeks before the move and no later than eight working days afterwards. You report online using the city's form or at a Digipunt, where you can use a computer free of charge and get help. A report with a date in the past is not possible; the day on which you report counts. Reporting is free of charge.
Adults register themselves and the adult family members at the same address, while parents or guardians register minors. Have the eID, Kids-ID or residence permit of each family member ready, together with the PIN codes.
A check follows: a neighbourhood police officer visits you to verify that you really live at the new location; this can take up to four weeks. So put your name on the doorbell and letterbox. After the check you receive an invitation to the Stadskantoor to have the address on your identity card or residence permit updated; you book the appointment online or on 016 27 27 27.
For questions, the population department can be reached on 016 27 21 90 or at [email protected]. Non-Belgians will also find a separate overview on the city's website of what applies when moving from abroad.
We describe how your belongings travel from Berlin in the guide to the long-distance move to Leuven.
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