Social Program
Welcome reception
On Monday, August 20th at 18h00, a welcome reception will be given in Leuven's city hall . You can meet your fellow students and strike a conversation with the school's lecturers in the splendor of this beautiful expression of the Brabantine Gothic style. Built in the the medieval heydays of Leuven (15th century), it's various architects gave the building its flamboyant Gothic look. In the 19th century it was further embellished with neo-gothic elements, including the 236 statues of artists, scientists, historic persons and other people that played important roles in the history of the city.
Leuven sightseeing tour
On Tuesday, August 21st we meet at the Herbal Garden (close to the Justus Lipsius dorms) at 18.00 for a sightseeing tour of Leuven. We jump back into the early middle ages, when Leuven blossomed into a wealthy and important city and became the capital of Brabant. Various sites, like the church, the town hall and the various markets still pay tribute to these heydays. In the late middle ages however, the capital was moved to Brussels and trade started to dwindle. That's when Leuven assumed its role as an attraction pole for both religious and worldy scolars. The university (the first one in the low countries) was founded, and we enter the days of Erasmus, Vesalius and Mercator. Finally, we walk past the old city walls and end up in the beautifully conserved Begijnhof (Beguin monastery).
ECCAI Artificial Intelligence Dissertation Award Ceremony
On Friday, August 24th, at 18h00, an award ceremony will be held for ECCAI's Artificial Intelligence Dissertation Award. It also includes a talk by this year's winner, Kristian Kersting.
Trip to Bruges
On Sunday, August 26th, we meet in the Leuven Railway Station at 9h15 to spend a day at Bruges, one of
Flanders' nicest touristic locations 
. Dubbed 'the Venice of the North',
this splendid medieval city is one of Belgium's crown jewels. It's many canals take you on a journey
through history, as in no other European city the feel and the look of medieval times are so well-preserved.
Still it is clearly a city in motion: it combines truly authentical (and small!) medieval houses with
neo-gothic elements, and even some very modern architecture.
Leuven nightlife
Leuven has a wide range of pubs, bars, and clubs. Recently renovated and made car-free, the Oude Markt square (Old Marketplace) is the main nightlife scene in Leuven. Lined front to back with cafes, it is reputed to have the highest concentration of bars in Belgium. There's a great variety to choose from - from the tiny, cozy and laidback cafes to the bigger places that sometimes have an improvised dancefloor and loud music.
What most of these places have in common, though, is that they attract a young crowd, including many students - both Belgians and international students from all over the world. Most places have a number of (Belgian!) beers on draft, and a large variety of bottled beers to choose from, but you can also get alcohol free drinks as well. Right between the student rooms and the conference venue, it is the ideal place to relax after the lectures (and to discuss them of course)!
Farewell Barbecue
On Tuesday, August 28th, at 19h00, you are more than welcome to a farewell barbecue at the Arenberg Science Campus! You can take the number 2 bus in the city center, direction 'Campus' until the end of the line.
