<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2006-02-01</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000877463</issuerCik>        <issuerName>VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL TRUST</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VKQ</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001245053</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>KENNEDY R CRAIG</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>1844 &quot;R&quot; STREET, NW</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>20009</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>1</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>common shares</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2006-02-01</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness>                <value></value>            </transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>162</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>14.39</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>0</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>/s/ R. Craig Kennedy</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2010-03-15</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
