Hasselt

Art & Culture
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Indulge your senses in art galleries, museums, and experience the cultural side of Hasselt

Top Spots for all Things Creative

Are you ready to get inspired by a world of art, design and culture? From creative hubs filled with the best galleries, museums, and ongoing exhibitions, to imaginative centres and workshops frequented by locals - check out the coolest curated spaces in Hasselt. The scene here is dynamic and endlessly evolving, whether you're an architecture admirer, a culture vulture, or an art and design enthusiast. Feed your creative side and dive right in!  Explore activities on the map Paint brush icon

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Meet Hasselt

Why go to Hasselt?

This friendly town is Limburg’s capital, set along the Demer River in the heart of the province. Visitors to Limburg usually stop-off in Hasselt, drawn by the market-town’s museums, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Hasselt is definitely the biggest and busiest town in the province - busy by Limburg standards that is - but as you’re in Flanders’ ‘greenest province’ you’re never far from a spot of nature. Whether that’s in the city’s own gardens or if you venture out to one of the countless nature reserves and parks found around Hasselt.

Side note: people from Limburg or ‘Limburgers’ are known as the friendliest people in Belgium so enjoy the hospitality here!

What you need to know about Hasselt

Gin galore

Hasselt is known for its Jenever gin. The Jenever Museum is totally dedicated to the Dutch gin where you learn all about how it’s made and (most importantly) try out 100 different gins at the bar. Drop by Hasselt in October for the Jenever Festival for extra gin. Or, if you’re coming by on Christmas, you’re sure to see Jenever on sale at the market.

Beautiful sights

Limburg is known for showing off Mother Nature for a reason. Even the urban Hasselt has natural highlights you can’t miss. The Japanese Garden is the biggest of its kind in Europe. Experience the beauty of Japan right in Belgium.

Want to see beautiful buildings? Hasselt has that too. Hasselt has plenty of historic abbeys to explore, all pretty in their own way. But Herkenrode Abbey is just on the outskirts with tons of nature around to wander.

Museums you need to see

Gin. Fashion. Art. Roman history. There’s a museum for anything and everything in Hasselt. What’s your style? Urban explorers can spend a whole day museum hopping or dive in deep into your special interest. You can’t beat the Modesmuseum for fashion history in Hasselt. Or get your art history goggles on at Art Museum Z33. Whatever museum you choose, you’re sure to learn something new in Hasselt.

When to go

It's a good place to go all year round. There’s plenty to do in the colder, wetter months and a well-known Christmas village pops up for six weeks in the Winter. Spring sees the Japanese Garden hosts a cherry blossom festival. Limburg comes into its own in the warmer months when Hasselt is a good place to spend a day before exploring the rest of the province.

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Best weather: Jun - Aug
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Tourist season: Jun - Aug
Dates for Your Calender
Apr - Itami Festival at the Japanese Garden (Cherry Blossoms)
Aug - Pukkelpop
Oct - Jenever Festival
Nov - Jan - Winterland Hasselt

Transport

Getting There:

Hasselt is well connected, by bus and train, to major Belgain cities and several surrounding European cities such as Maastricht in the Netherlands.The city does not have an airport, so flying into Brussels is the best option.

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By Car

Hasselt is easily reached by car from the motorways E313 and E314. Multiple airports are within a 1 hour drive ( Brussels, Liège, Antwerp, Charleroi, Cologne/Bonn, and Düsseldorf)

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By Train

Hasselt Station. Trains 15, 21, 21A, 34 and 35. The station is a short walk from the city centre. You can catch a train to Hasselt from all major train stations in Belgium.

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By Plane

Brussels Airport-Zaventem is a 1 hour direct train ride from Hasselt. You can also fly in from the Limburg Regional Airport and take a 1 hour bus ride from Saint-Trond.

Getting Around

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On Foot

Hasselt is a fairly small city. It’s best to go around by foot and bike with the occasional bus trip.

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By Car

The city is small so you probably won’t need to use a car for the most part. We recommend parking in areas outside of the city centre as barriers are in place to limit traffic and parking can be more expensive.

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By Bus

The city is very walkable but regular De Lijn buses will take you to almost anywhere you’ll need to go. One journey will cost around 2€ and the tickets will be valid for an hour.

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By Bike

Cycling is a good way to get around the city and explore the city's surroundings. By Bike: renting a bike is easy and cheap in Hasselt. Go to Blue-Bike right by Hasselt Station. Rent 1 bike for 4 hours for 1.15€. You can rent bikes and e-bikes from Fietspunt Hasselt for 10-25€ per day. Or rent a bike from the Herkenrode Abbey Site for 10-20€ per day, the abbey is just on the outskirts of Hasselt and gives you immediate access to Limburg’s extensive cycle route network.

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Taxis

taxis in Hasselt can be expensive. You can easily get a taxi at the train station during the day. At night, you’ll see lots of taxis at Kolonel Dusartplein taking the nightlife partygoers back home.

Essentials

Emergency numbers: Police (urgent): 101 Fire, ambulance, police: 112
Language: Flemish (Dutch)

Tourism Office

Visit Hasselt

Website: https://www.visithasselt.be/

Address: Maastrichterstraat 59, 3500 Hasselt

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 011 23 95 40

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