| General summary of the city | | | | one made by Marc Cox as a tribute to Arnold |
| | | | IV, who was the Count of Loon. Arnold IV was |
| Hasselt is the capital city of the province | | | | the person who confirmed the rights of a |
| of Limburg. Though it may not have the charm | | | | "city" to Hasselt in a Charter of Liberty. |
| of other cities in Belgium, it has a | | | | |
| hospitable aura to it. The affable town with | | | | The Grote Markt (Market Square) is the |
| a population of about 77,000 people is | | | | biggest open space in the city. You can have |
| reputed for its nightlife, shops and its | | | | a gala time here, as this place is a hum-drum |
| pedestrian center. So famous is the friendly | | | | of business. A center of all commercial |
| nature of its citizens, then quite aptly two | | | | activities, it is also a place to wine and |
| years ago, Hasselt acquired the status as | | | | dine to your heart's content. |
| 'most sociable city of Flanders.' | | | | |
| | | | Food and Drink: |
| Hasselt came into existence in the 7th | | | | |
| century on the Heelbeek, a tributary of the | | | | The famous flavored alcoholic beverage, |
| river of Demer. The name Hasselt comes from | | | | spiced with juniper berries called 'Jenever' |
| Hasaluth, which means hazelwood. The city of | | | | is very much loved in Hasselt. In fact there |
| Hasselt is reputed to be home for interesting | | | | are quite a few factories and industries |
| buildings like St. Quentin's Cathedral, the | | | | dedicated to the production and distribution |
| abbey of Hercekenrode in Kuringen and | | | | of jenever. The cuisines are a mix of French |
| Refugehuis. In fact, the Refugehuis is the | | | | and Flemish. Like most parts of Belgium, |
| oldest building in the city. The city is also | | | | people in Hasselt are fond of mussels |
| famous for numerous museums like the National | | | | complimented with mayonnaise and French |
| Genever Museum, the Stellingwerff-Waerdenhof | | | | fries. By the way, did you know that the |
| Museum etc. | | | | famous "French fries" are actually Belgian? |
| | | | History has it that American, English and |
| The Demerstraat and the Koning Albertstraat | | | | Canadian troops discovered them when they |
| are two of the famous shop streets in the | | | | arrived at the Flanders coast during the |
| city. The shops Hoogstraat and Kapelstraat | | | | First World War. During those times, the |
| are household names; however the items that | | | | Belgian Army spoke French and gave the term |
| they sell are premium priced. With the | | | | "French fries." Belgian or French, the world |
| opening of the modern shopping complex three | | | | loves French fries and Hasselt is no |
| years ago, Hasselt has become all the more | | | | exception. |
| popular. In fact many regard the city as an | | | | |
| example city for good manners, good | | | | Other than jenever, the all time favorite |
| facilities and etiquette. | | | | Beer and French wines also score high with |
| | | | most people. People favour the dark double |
| Places of interest: | | | | lager beer and the white beer. There are some |
| | | | people who go for the lambic beer which is |
| The Japanese Garden is one of the most | | | | fermented drink with a fruity flavor. |
| beautiful sights in Hasselt. It is located in | | | | |
| the Kaparmolen Park in the north-east part of | | | | Non-vegetarian food like sea food, chicken, |
| the city. It is open from April to October | | | | paling in't groen (eel with vegetables and |
| at designated timings. The Japanese people | | | | herbs) are generally eaten voraciously here. |
| from Itami, which is Hasselt's sister city | | | | The hotels deal in traditional Flemish dish, |
| designed the garden as per the 17th century | | | | Mediterranean food and French cuisine. There |
| model. The Japanese Garden is the biggest | | | | are some hotels which also serve ethnic and |
| Japanese garden in Europe and has about 250 | | | | continental food. Biscuits and Waffles served |
| Japanese cherry trees. Various events in | | | | with chocolate and icing sugar are also |
| relation to the Japanese culture takes place | | | | served to sweeten the tastebuds. |
| in the Japanese garden. | | | | |
| | | | Hotel and Accommodation: |
| The most important church of Hasselt is the | | | | |
| Saint Quintinus Cathedral. It was in this | | | | Parkhotel NV |
| place that the first settlements in the | | | | |
| Hasselt area were formed. The church, and | | | | Ibis Hasselt Centrum |
| especially the tower, reveals the different | | | | |
| building stages of the town. The lower part | | | | Express By Holiday Inn Hasselt |
| of it shows the remnants of the Romanesque | | | | |
| church that stood during the 12th century. | | | | Holiday Inn Hasselt |
| | | | |
| In the Kapelstraat, in proximity to the | | | | Entertainment: |
| Market Square is the Church of Our Lady. On | | | | |
| the same spot a chapel was built in the 14th | | | | The Ethias Arena and Grenslandhallen in |
| century by the members of the Our Lady Virga | | | | Hasselt are popular event centers. Both are |
| Jesse fraternity. The statue of the Virga | | | | known to be a foundation to stage an array of |
| Jesse, a Madonna statue belonging to the 14th | | | | events lining from classic to the |
| century is a popular tourist attraction. Some | | | | contemporary. The infrastructure of the |
| other interesting sights are the Baroque | | | | auditoriums and the seating capacity has to |
| Altar and the tombs of the abbesses of the | | | | be seen to be believed. Both the |
| Abbey of Herkenrode. | | | | entertainment venues are equipped with high |
| | | | quality acoustic sound. With an ultra chic |
| Things to do: | | | | infrastructure and fibre optic network, you |
| | | | can be assured to get the best in terms of |
| Among all things you can do when you are in | | | | visual appeal and sound. |
| Hasselt is visit its museums. | | | | |
| | | | Concerts, theatrical events, shows, fairs, |
| Hasselt has a museum called the National | | | | exhibitions, parties, dances, skits, sporting |
| Genever Museum, dedicated to the popular | | | | events are all played in Ethias Arena and |
| local drink, jenever. In the museum, the | | | | Grenslandhallen. Not only are they |
| visitors can learn about the history and the | | | | entertaining to the common public, but they |
| distillation of their favorite alcoholic | | | | also form a profitable avenue for business |
| drink. | | | | people to showcase and exhibit their products |
| | | | and services through seminars, meetings and |
| The Fashion Museum gives a nice overview of | | | | exhibitions. |
| the evolution of fashion. You can partake in | | | | |
| the theme expositions which are feature here | | | | Shopping is another form of indulging and |
| regularly. | | | | pampering oneself. In fact, more than 175,000 |
| | | | tourists come to the city each week to shop |
| The Stellingwerff-Waerdenhof Museum is home | | | | and it goes without saying the Hasselt is one |
| to rare historical artifacts and documents | | | | of the biggest shopping cities in Belgium. |
| about the history of the evolution of | | | | |
| Hasselt, Limburg and the County of Loon. What | | | | Kiewit in Hasselt is the venue for the annual |
| you get to see here are ceramic objects, | | | | Pukkelpop festival, which is Europe's biggest |
| church treasures, paintings and other | | | | alternative music festival with more than |
| articles of historic importance. | | | | hundred concerts being played at the end of |
| | | | August. Rimpelrock, a musical festival for |
| There are a lot of places and boutiques to | | | | the elderly people (over 50 years of age) are |
| shop from in Hasselt. The shopping street is | | | | also played here. |
| lined with ordinary fashion shops. The street | | | | |
| is broad and there is less traffic. After | | | | Biography: |
| shopping, you can relax your tired feet by | | | | |
| sitting on the benches along the pedestrian | | | | Author: Meredith Booney |
| sidewalks. | | | | |
| | | | Website: Meredith Booney is a freelance |
| The 'Fruitmarkt' reveals the first statue of | | | | travel writer with over 20 years of |
| many to follow. The first statue which meets | | | | experience writing for travel journals, |
| you when you enter the town is the equestrian | | | | newspapers and magazines. |