Hasselt is Belgium’s smartest city

Hasselt, the capital of Limburg province, is the smartest city in Belgium, according to a survey carried out by the technology industry federation Agoria. The survey looked at the number of digital companies, air quality and energy consumption, among other criteria.

Hasselt finished with a score of 85 from a possible 100 points, far ahead of Namur, in second place with 69 points, followed closely by Leuven (68), Mechelen (66) and Genk (63).

The survey, which looked at the 20 largest cities in the country, is a worthwhile measure for residents and investors alike, Agoria said. “Investors look worldwide for the most suitable location for their activities,” the organisation said. “Criteria such as quality of life, mobility, air pollution, energy policy and know-how form part of that decision.”

Among the other criteria studied were the state of the buildings and the volume of household waste produced. Hasselt scored well in all five areas. The worst-scoring city in Flanders was Antwerp.

The best of Belgian cities, however, are still behind world leaders such as Copenhagen, Barcelona and Helsinki, Agoria said. “What is lacking is large-scale applications at the level of the city or neighbourhood. Think, for example, of linking thousands of households to heating networks, the use of smart energy meters, electric buses with the necessary charging infrastructure and intelligent traffic management.”

Photo courtesy Musica