The Belgian city of Leuven is notable for two things; being the home of the country’s oldest university and as the place where Stella Artois was created. The world renowned lager has been brewed here since the 14th Century and is now the flagship brand of Interbrew company, which is also responsible for Bass, Leffe, Beck's, Jupiler and Hoegaarden. Thanks largely to the presence of the company’s headquarters and the historical link to Stella, Leuven is often referred to as “the beer capital of Belgium” or “Stella Artois city” and is definitely worth a visit.

A quick walk around the Old Market Square reveals almost countless bars and cafes, each offering their own brand of local beer. The quality of these beverages might be questionable but there are two things that you can count on – it’ll be dark and it’ll be strong! For trivia buffs, the square also boasts both the longest bar and smallest bar in Belgium.