Leuven neighbourhoods: where to live

Leuven in numbers

About 101,032 people live in Leuven. CityPulse splits the city into 735 hexagons of about 0.1 km² and groups them into 51 areas named after its neighbourhoods. Half of the residents live in a hexagon with a standard score of at least 76 out of 100 (good).

• 60% of residents live in a “15-minute city”: food shop, pharmacy, doctor, nursery school, primary school and a public transport stop, all within a 15-minute walk
• 71% of residents have a public green space within a 5-minute walk
• 41% of residents have a food shop within a 5-minute walk
• 43% of residents have a pharmacy within a 5-minute walk
• 54% of residents have a primary school within a 10-minute walk
• 84% of residents have a bus or tram stop within a 5-minute walk
• 22% of residents have at least 30 public transport departures per hour between 7 and 9 am from nearby stops
• 55% of residents have a playground within a 5-minute walk
• 67% of residents live within 300 metres of a protected cycle lane
• Tree canopy within 500 m: 20.0% for the typical resident (the 3-30-300 rule suggests at least 30%).
• PM2.5: 8.0 µg/m³ annual mean for the typical resident; the WHO guideline is 5.

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Where to live in Leuven, depending on who you are

• Students: Edouard Remyvest, Matadi, Adolphe Bastinwijk
• Families: Edouard Remyvest, Matadi, Kriekenbos
• Over 65: Edouard Remyvest, Mechelsevest, Matadi
• Home workers: Edouard Remyvest, IJzermolen, Matadi
• Commuters: Edouard Remyvest, Hertogensite, Tiensevest

Leuven areas

Areas sorted by standard score: public green space, tree canopy and services on foot, the same for everyone. Names come from OpenStreetMap and boundaries are approximate.

Frequently asked questions

Which Leuven neighbourhood has the best quality of life?

By CityPulse's standard score: Edouard Remyvest (98), Withof (95) and IJzermolen (94). The score measures public green space, tree canopy and everyday services within walking distance; it does not consider prices, noise or safety.

Where should a student live in Leuven?

With CityPulse's student profile, which weighs services on foot and cycle lanes most and prefers dense areas, the best areas are Edouard Remyvest (88), Matadi (87) and Adolphe Bastinwijk (86).

Which areas of Leuven are best for families?

With the family profile, which weighs green space, trees, services and playgrounds, the best areas are Edouard Remyvest (99), Matadi (96) and Kriekenbos (94).

What are the greenest areas of Leuven?

By tree canopy within 500 metres: De Jacht (50.0%), Heverlee Boskant (47.9%) and Genadedal (47.2%).

Which areas of Leuven have the best public transport?

By departures per hour between 7 and 9 am from stops within walking distance: Tempelhof (130), Mussenbuurt (121) and Hertogensite (61).

Is Leuven a 15-minute city?

60% of Leuven residents have a food shop, pharmacy, doctor, nursery school, primary school and a public transport stop within a 15-minute walk.

How is the CityPulse score calculated?

Each hexagon of about 0.1 km² gets a score from 0 to 100: the geometric mean of public green space on foot, tree canopy within 500 metres and everyday services on foot (food shops, pharmacy, doctor, schools, stops). Distances are measured on the walking network at 4.8 km/h. All data are open: OpenStreetMap, Copernicus, Eurostat, EEA and public transport timetables.

Data updated on 2026-11-06. Method and sources