Free Lionesses guide to Leuven

The Lionesses are in Belgium tonight for their latest UEFA Nations League qualifier, following on from Friday’s 1-0 win against tonight’s hosts at Wembley.

Kick-off is 7.30pm, Tuesday 31st October, at the Den Dreef Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ITV4 with coverage starting from 6.54pm.

City guide

Travel

Leuven is around 15 minutes from Brussels airport and 20 minutes east from Brussels city centre – information on connections to the town are on the Belgian Rail website here. Generally, it’s a small, walkable town that you shouldn’t have too many problems getting around. The weather looks set to be rainy and changeable – so pack a brolly or waterproofs when out and about.

Food and drink

• OPEK – OPEK | Openbaar Entrepot voor de Kunsten
• Het Stuk (arts centre with pretty cool lounge bar) – OPEK | Openbaar Entrepot voor de Kunsten
• De Spuye (more basic brasserie style place but nice location in a park-ish setting close to sports infrastructure)
• Oude Markt – You can sample many beers here but just be careful of the alcohol percentage. Oude Markt | Visit Leuven

Things to do in Leuven

If you’ve got time before or after the match, here’s a selection of things to see and do in the area:

• Oude Markt – Lots of brilliant buildings and some deem it the longest bar in the world
• Stadhuis (Town Hall)
• Sint Pieterkskerk (St Peter’s Church)
• Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis
• Stella Artois Factory

Match day

The Belgian FA are encouraging supporters to wear Halloween costumes for the game. However, be careful of any spooky props, the usual list of prohibited items will still apply. Please ensure you are familiar with other prohibited items: Prohibited or authorised? | Royal Belgian FA (rbfa.be)

You can find out more about the game’s Halloween them here: Celebrate Halloween before the Red Flames’ match against England | Royal Belgian FA (rbfa.be)

Worst case scenario

If you need the emergency services ring 112.

If you’re in Belgium and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +32 2 287 62 11 to reach the British Embassy. If you’re in the UK and worried about a British person in Belgium, call 020 7008 5000 (24/7, 365 days a year).

Free Lionesses

For more info on what the Free Lionesses team are up to and social meets taking place around the fixture, follow them on social media – via Twitter (now called X) or Instagram

Thanks to Rachel Major, head of the “The Gang” the Lionesses atmosphere group and FSA National Council representative – pictured below, for the information provided in this guide.