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Back to Aarschot

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Voykit pocket guide · Belgium

Aarschot

Spend a half‑day in Aarschot: visit the Church of Our Lady, the Beguinage and the Orleans Tower; add the Municipal Museum if time allows.

Aarschot is a small Flemish Brabant town about 13 min by train from Leuven. Its historic centre packs a 14th‑century church, a UNESCO‑listed beguinage, the medieval Orleans Tower and a free municipal museum. One half‑day covers the main sights; a full day lets you linger over the museum and enjoy a local meal.

AalstAntwerpArlonAthAvelgemBastogneBerlareBeverenBincheBouillonBrugesCambron-CasteauCharleroiChimayAarschot50 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Belgium
Best months
Apr–Oct
Avoid
Jan–Feb (cold, fewer events)
Stay
0–1 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
EUR
Money
Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards work widely; a few cafés, market stalls and toilets still want coins.
Daily spend
Budget €45–65 excl. bed · Mid €65–95 excl. bed · High €95+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet/BASE; prepaid SIMs need ID registration.
Emergency
Police 101 · Fire / ambulance 100 · Medical EU 112
Plugs
Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Same as France; UK and US plugs need adapters.
Tipping
Café: Round up.; Restaurant: Service included; add 5–10% for good service if you like.; Taxi: Round up.
Water
Tap water is safe, though many Belgians drink bottled; restaurants rarely serve free tap water.
Toilets
Often paid (€0.50–1) in stations and some cafés; carry coins.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee€2–3
Beer (local brew)€3–4
Train ticket (Aarschot ↔ Leuven)€7–9
Bike rental (day)€12–15

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

BRU · Brussels Airport
—
CRL · Charleroi Airport
—

Typical fares

Aarschot ↔ Leuven train
about €8 one‑way, 13 min (check)
Bike rental per day
≈ €13 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Aarschot railway station sits just outside the centre with direct trains to Brussels, Leuven (13 min) and Antwerp. De Lijn buses connect to Diest and Turnhout, but trains are faster. The town has well‑maintained bike lanes; parking is available at Parking Centrum.

See and do

Known for

  • Church of Our Lady
  • Beguinage (UNESCO)
  • Orleans Tower
  • Municipal Museum of Aarschot

Day trips

WhereHowTime
LeuvenDirect train from Aarschot, about 13 min≈30 min total
DiestDe Lijn bus from Aarschot, about 20 min≈35 min

Sleep

Het huis van peter Mot
Bed & Breakfast near centre, simple rooms.
Kasteel van Nieuwland
Historic mansion hotel, rooms in period style.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryExcusez‑moi / Pardonexcusez‑moi / pardon
Thank youMercimerci
How much is it?Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte
Where is the toilet?Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among friends (three in some places); avoid: Overfamiliarity with strangers
  • Language: English or the local language; avoid: French in Flanders, or Dutch in Wallonia, as a default
  • Punctuality: Be on time; avoid: Late arrivals for dinner reservations
  • Conversation: Food, beer, football and cycling; avoid: Flemish-Walloon politics unless invited

Scams and watch-outs

  • Train frequencies drop after 20:00; check the SNCB timetable for late services.
  • Museum opening hours are limited (Tue‑Fri 09:00‑12:00, 13:00‑16:30; Sat‑Sun 14:00‑18:00); verify before visiting.
  • Some bus lines run only weekdays; plan alternative bike routes if traveling on weekends.

Aarschot is a low‑crime town; stay aware of bike traffic and keep belongings secure on trains.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Aarschot yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Church of Our Lady
  • Beguinage (UNESCO)
  • Orleans Tower
  • Municipal Museum of Aarschot

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Aarschot

À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Brussels; other embassies in Brussels.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/aarschot). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.