1 00:00:00,287 --> 00:00:01,780 Hi, do you mind if I ask you a question? 2 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:02,654 – No, go ahead. 3 00:00:02,754 --> 00:00:04,531 How old do you think this building is? 4 00:00:06,036 --> 00:00:08,000 I read something about it. 5 00:00:08,284 --> 00:00:10,680 No, that might have been Leuven City Hall... 1480 or 90 6 00:00:10,780 --> 00:00:14,680 I don't know. – About, let's say, six hundred years old. 7 00:00:14,780 --> 00:00:16,299 Six hundred years! 8 00:00:16,806 --> 00:00:20,204 Would you be surprised if I told you that this building isn't even a 100 years old? 9 00:00:20,728 --> 00:00:22,340 No kidding! Seriously? 10 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:23,146 Yeah! 11 00:00:23,958 --> 00:00:26,614 This is the central library of the University of Leuven. 12 00:00:26,714 --> 00:00:28,820 Despite its looks, this magnificent building is 13 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,854 not even a hundred years old. Let me tell you why. 14 00:00:35,218 --> 00:00:39,049 The first Central Library was located in the University Hall on the 'Oude Markt'. 15 00:00:39,149 --> 00:00:43,029 Unfortunately, the Germans demolished it during the First World War. 16 00:00:43,469 --> 00:00:46,080 The library was set on fire due to the violent resistance 17 00:00:46,180 --> 00:00:48,508 from the people of Leuven during the war. 18 00:00:53,411 --> 00:00:56,700 Ten years after the war, the Americans were so shocked by this event, 19 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:58,602 that they gave Leuven a new library 20 00:00:58,805 --> 00:01:04,020 It was architect Whitney Warren, who decided that he wanted to build a new historic icon. 21 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:08,020 You can still see the 136 memorial stones commemorating 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,010 the generous donations given by various universities of the United States. 23 00:01:12,365 --> 00:01:15,190 Did you know that there were no libraries at all, back in the day? 24 00:01:15,290 --> 00:01:17,280 If you were a student and you wanted to read a book 25 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:21,120 you had to borrow it piece by piece from the professor or the monastery. 26 00:01:22,380 --> 00:01:23,676 Thank God for the Internet! 27 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:31,580 Ah, listen! There! 28 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,380 It's the carillon. 29 00:01:36,820 --> 00:01:38,350 All right, let's go to the next spot!