-----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,
 UkShScjBU+hBOge8jPsVHLMqEz/iYLBqD7Q8qLsketck7mHAN485OZgSacsx/Vw0
 sAbNcdvIxaPtMnG83Us6Jw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-013547.txt : 20030725
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-013547.hdr.sgml : 20030725
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030725131047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-013547
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030725

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERIN MITCHELL M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186866

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06567
		FILM NUMBER:		03802829

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORGAN STANLEY
		STREET 2:		1585 BROADWAY
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

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
</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>0001186866</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MERIN MITCHELL M</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</
value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Mitchell M. Merin</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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