FAQ
Offer
What is the offer in the different Alma's?
Discover the full range of our delicious dishes and drinks at the Alma restaurants. Check each restaurant for a detailed overview of what you can expect at each of our locations.
What are the prices?
You will find the prices next to the daily specials in each of our restaurants. Want to know which rate applies to you? Check the explanation under the section "Three Rates" for more information.
What can you get for free?
In the restaurants, after enjoying a hot meal, you can get free refills of fries, rice, potatoes, and mashed potatoes!
What type of oil do we use for frying?
We fry in vegetable oil, a blend of soybean oil, palm oil, and canola oil.
Information about allergens?
You can find a complete overview of all allergens in this document. For specific questions or additional information, you can always ask the staff at Alma.
Issues with the (student/staff) card
Three Rates
The following 3 price labels apply at Alma:
• Blue price labels:
Upon presentation (= scan) of your KU Leuven student or staff card, you benefit from the lowest (subsidized) rate indicated by blue price labels. This also applies to students of LUCA, but only at the Leuven campus. It also applies to UZ Leuven staff but only in Alma Gasthuisberg (ALO tower) upon presentation of the UZ staff card.
• Yellow price labels:
All other students pay the discounted rate (VAT exempt).
Other students of the KU Leuven association: Scan the student card of your educational institution at the checkout.
Other students upon presentation of the student card.
• Orange price labels:
All other customers pay the commercial rate (orange-red price labels), which is generally the average of current market prices (VAT included).
Note:
- (Educational) staff of the colleges of the KU Leuven association or from other schools than KU Leuven pay the orange price.
- Some external individuals and visitors of KU Leuven have a card (e.g., for access control) but do not have the right to the blue rate. The blue (subsidized) rate only applies to KU Leuven staff.
- UZ Leuven staff benefit from the blue price label at Alma Gasthuisberg. In other Alma’s than Alma Gasthuisberg, UZ staff members are subject to the orange price label.
- Retired KU Leuven staff members pay the orange price.
Unfortunately, Alma cannot make exceptions to this. Scanning the student or staff card at the checkout automatically applies the correct price, and the pricing is always determined in consultation with KU Leuven.
How is the card read?
The card is scanned at the checkout (on a blue round scanner). Only activated cards are recognized by the scanner. Scanning the card automatically applies the correct checkout price.
From when until when is a card active?
The student and staff cards are active for KU Leuven applications from the day they are received. However, at Alma checkouts, the card is only active one or two days later than the day the card was activated. Similarly, a card becomes inactive at the checkouts the day after the card is deactivated by KU Leuven. The Alma database is updated overnight: newly activated cards are added, and deactivated cards are removed.
What to do if a card ‘does not work’ at a checkout?
What does the cashier determine? |
What is going on? |
The card does nothing. No beep sound at the checkout. No response from the checkout. |
The card might be broken. Does it still work in other places? (e.g., at the library...). If the card is broken, follow the procedures described on the KU Leuven website:
https://www.kuleuven.be/onderwijs/student/inschrijven/studentenkaart.html For staff : https://admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/intranet/verloning-personeelsvoordelen/personeelskaart.html |
The checkout responds to the card, but the card is not found: The cashier gets the message ‘card not found’ |
The card is not broken. However, it is not registered in the cash register system of the respective Alma. A common cause is that your card is not yet or no longer active in Alma’s cash system (and consequently not in the cash register where you tried it). Students ans staff
Students.
PhD students
Personeel
|
The checkout chooses the yellow rate while you expected the blue rate. |
|
The card works at one checkout but not at another (in the same or a different restaurant). |
The card is not broken. The problem lies with Alma's checkout system. Therefore, ask for help at ikhebeenvraag@alma.kuleuven.be. Mention which U-number or R-number, which date, which Alma, and which checkout number. You can ask the cashier for the checkout number. For example, a question might be: for r01234567, my card worked on 8/6 in Alma1 on POS2 and not on 9/6 in Alma3 on POS3 |
Opening hours
When is Alma open?
Check this on the opening hours calendar!
Catering
What does Alma Catering offer?
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email us at catering@alma.kuleuven.be!
Do you need catering for your PhD defense?
Email us at catering@alma.kuleuven.be!
Vendingmachines
Is something wrong with your vending machine?
Email automaten@alma.kuleuven.be and be sure to mention the location and the exact machine, so we can repair it as quickly as possible!
Screens
Do you want to display your event on the Alma screens?
Send your visual in standard PowerPoint size to ihaveaquestion@alma.kuleuven.be. We will then review whether your poster can be published. Only posters related to the KU Leuven student community and student associations can be displayed.
Is something wrong with a screen? Or do you have feedback for us?
Then report it by emailing ihaveaquestion@alma.kuleuven.be
Jobs
Do you want to work as a jobstudent at Alma?
Check out the job listing here! You can apply directly through the Forganiser tool.
Do you want to submit an open application?
Send us your CV and cover letter
• via email: Patricia.achten@alma.kuleuven.be
Contact
Do you have a question about our event catering for receptions, sandwich lunches, or other occasions?
A question for the vendingmachines?
A question for a specific restaurant?
Do you want to rent Alma for an event?
For this inquiry, you need to contact KU Leuven, as they handle the rental and use of spaces, including Alma. You can find the link here: https://admin.kuleuven.be/td/ruimtebeheer/lokalen/gebruik_ntcurriculair.htm. They will assist you further!