Hasselt
Hasselt, "Capital of taste" is the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg and has 70,000 habitants. Hasselt is located to the "Albertkanaal" and the "Demer", between the "Kempen" and "Haspengouw", in the middle of in the Euregio.
Historical:
Hasselt was founded in the 7th century on the Helbeek, a tributary of the Demer. The name Hasselt came from ‘Hasaluth’, which means hazel wood. It was one of the better cities of the then county of Loon, whose borders were approximately the same as the current province of Limburg. Hasselt was first given a name in 1165 and shortly thereafter received the much sought after city charter. In 1232 this status was officially confirmed by count Arnold IV. Even though the city of Borgloon was the official capital of this small principality, Hasselt was to become the biggest city thanks to its favourable setting and to the proximity of the count’s castle and the Herkenrode abbey in Kuringen. In 1366 the county of Loon was part of the diocese of Liège and remained so until the annexation by France in 1794. Maastricht became the capital of the area that was then called the Department of the Lower Meuse. After the defeat of Napoleon and the union with Holland, the name Limburg was adopted. Even when Belgium gained its independence, this name was retained and the name ‘Loon’ disappeared. In 1839 Hasselt became the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg
Transport:
It is easy to get to Hasselt because Hasselt is a traffic junction of important traffic-arteries from all directions. The most important traffic-artery is the highway E313 Luik-Hasselt Hasselt-Antwerp. Further hasselt has been enclosed by 2 ring-ways. The large ring-way must keep the traffic out of the centre of the city. The small ring-way, the so-called "Green Boulevard", must keep the traffic out of the trade centre which is because of this almost pedestrian. There are also important traffic-arteries to Tongeren, Sint-Truiden, Genk, Diest and Eindhoven. You can aso visit Hasselt by plane. The city lies near the airport of Brussels, Luik and the Maastricht-Aachen Airport. Private aircrafts can land in Hasselt itself, on the airport of Kiewit.
External links:
- Gaz de France Stars (WTA-tennis tournament).
- City of Hasselt (Official site of the city of Hassselt, information available in English).
- Herkenrode (Abbey of Herkenrode).