That Noormannenstraat is the supposed site of a Viking encampment from where they began their siege of Leuven in 891 (Battle of Leuven). They were defeated by Arnulf of Carinthia, King of the Franks. The battle took place on the banks of the Dijle River near the Groot Begijnhof and was important in that it stopped further Viking incursion into Europe. As a nod to the past, there is a student residence named The Viking.