-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UV7+EGmquZiHY7ufk60XHfzTbo+txShAQMyspJ00xs20XUdQnUL3+rv3gNqsAQB1
 6bjWm6kt+tB1ZA+PZ76SUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-013629.txt : 20030725
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-013629.hdr.sgml : 20030725
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030725141711
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-013629
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030725

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITY TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884152
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				363810337
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PARKVIEW PLAZA
		STREET 2:		VAN KAMPEN INVESTMENTS INC
		CITY:			OAKBROOK TERRACE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60181
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6306846774

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VAN KAMPEN INVESTMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE PARKVIEW PLAZA
		CITY:			OAKBROOK TERRACE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60181

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITY TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VAN KAMPEN MERRITT MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITY TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920929

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NELSON JACK E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246325

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06567
		FILM NUMBER:		03803106

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NELSON INVEST PLANNIG
		STREET 2:		423 COUNTRY CLUB DR
		CITY:			WINTER PARK
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32789
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4076296477

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		423 COUNTRY CLUB DR
		CITY:			WINTER PARK
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32789
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000884152</issuerCik><issuerName>VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITY TRUST</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001246325</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>NELSON JACK E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>None</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</val
ue></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Jack E. Nelson</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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