KU Leuven launches Carillon Cantus in May 2025 on 600th anniversary

Sarhan Basem
Credit: Hannelore Smitz

Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – KU Leuven’s Carillon Cantus for alumni will be held on May 15, 2025. Tickets will be on sale from January 20, 2025. Organized by LOKO, this event celebrates the university’s 600th anniversary.

KU Leuven has a new event called the Carillon Cantus. It is for former students and alumni. This event combines the cantus with live carillon music. The carillon cantus helps alumni remember their student days. People wonder if it will be as popular as the mass cantus. Sigrid Somers said the mass cantus always sells out. Current students love it. KU Leuven wants to keep its traditions alive for everyone.

What makes the Carillon Cantus special for KU Leuven alumni?

The mass cantus is part of KU Leuven’s 600th birthday celebration. There will be fun events and some serious ones, too. Alumni can remember their school days and see old friends. Everyone is welcome to join, no matter when they graduate. People can sign up starting January 20 through the faculties and alumni groups. Somers said this carillon cantus wants to bring alumni closer to their university.  Sigrid Somers from KU Leuven said tickets sell out fast because so many want to attend. 

What traditions are celebrated at the Carillon Cantus in Leuven?

The carillon cantus is a special type of cantus that has been part of Leuven’s student culture since 2000. It takes place near the university library’s famous bell tower. Students sing traditional songs while a carillonneur plays the bells. This event mixes the classic spirit of a cantus with the unique sounds of the carillon. 

About 4,000 students come together for this celebration. They enjoy around 20,000 liters of beer during the event. The regular carillon cantus is on May 14, 2025. This date is very popular in the school year. Students celebrate with music, beer, and friendship.

A second carillon cantus is held the day after the main event for former students and alumni. This allows them to remember their student days. Sigrid Somers from KU Leuven said tickets sell out fast because so many want to attend. Students choose to buy tickets in person instead of online. They often wait in line all night to get their tickets. According to Wouter De Block from the student group LOKO, this waiting has become part of the fun. It creates excitement and a sense of community before the cantus begins. 

It is a tradition that students queue up for this at night. It is a fun, connecting student activity,

concludes Wouter De Block of the student association LOKO.  

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
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