Guided Tour ‘Experience Leuven through the eyes of Dieric Bouts’

Leuven is famous for being a dynamic, innovative, and entrepreneurial city. True today and true back in 1450. Renaissance thinking gradually pervaded its fledgling university, a new city hall was built, and the entire city centre was swept up in a top-to-bottom upgrade and revival. So, the lure of Leuven for an innovative painter like Dieric Bouts was no wonder.

Bouts lived and worked in Leuven from 1450 until he died in 1475. He completely immersed himself in Leuven life: his wives were the daughters of Leuven’s wealthy elite, he had friends among the university’s brightest and finest, he joined the Leuven Ommegang, and created works for the city council and other influential local figures.

Dieric Bouts lived and worked in a bustling, vibrant city. What was it like to be a painter in 15th-century Leuven? Who were his patrons? Where did he buy his materials? What was his studio life like? Follow in Dieric Bouts’ footsteps; visit his studio and experience Leuven through the eyes of the painter.