Kessel-Lo is a town

Town

A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...

 in Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

. It is a borough

Borough

A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....

 of Leuven

Leuven

Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...

 North of Leuven proper. Kessel-Lo is bordered by Holsbeek

Holsbeek

Holsbeek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Holsbeek proper, Kortrijk-Dutsel, Nieuwrode and Sint-Pieters-Rode. On January 1, 2006 Holsbeek had a total population of 9,205...

, Lubbeek

Lubbeek

Lubbeek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Binkom, Linden, Lubbeek proper and Pellenberg. On January 1, 2006 Lubbeek had a total population of 13,660. The total area is 46.13 km² which gives a population density of 296...

, and several other municipalities that are part of Leuven (including Leuven proper, Heverlee, and Wijgmaal).

Its name is derrived from "Kessel" (from the Latin "Castellum" for fortress, referring to a fortress that once stood on the kesselmountain) and "Lo" (forest).

Kessel-Lo is home to the Provinciaal Domein Kessel-Lo, a large provincial park with ponds, playgrounds, soccer fields, and other areas for recreational activities. The town is also known for Vlierbeek abbey, an old Benedictine

Benedictine

Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...

Abbey built in 1125.

Several youth organisations are present in Kessel-Lo, such as Chiro Vlierbeek, Scouts Vlierbeek, Chiro Blauwput, Chiro Hekeko, Scouts De Vlievleger and Scouts Boven-lo.

A local brewery has recently been founded called "De Vlier". They brew a blond beer called "Kessel's Blond".

Lately, Kessel-Lo has undergone a transformation and many now refer to it as "K-Lo". This reflects its more youthful up and coming side.