Summer trips outside Brussels part 2/4: Hasselt

Hasselt, the capital of Belgium’s eastern-most province, is often overlooked by both foreign visitors and Belgians from the bigger cities. It doesn’t have the quaint prettiness of Ghent or Bruges, or the international cachet of Brussels or Antwerp but that’s what makes a visit to Hasselt both surprising and rewarding. Each discovery feels like a personal revelation, a well-kept secret that only a select few are privy to. And Hasselt is not without its charms.

See

In the 19th century, Hasselt was the biggest producer of jenever, a spirit closely related to gin. The Jenever Museum, housed in a former distillery, recently received a complete makeover and uses modern, interactive technology to tell the story of jenever production in the Low Countries. Admission includes a tasting in the museum’s jenever cafe. For fashion lovers, the ModeMuseum offers small, well-curated, changing exhibitions dedicated to both Belgian and international designers, as well as historic and current fashion trends. Hasselt is also home to two top Belgian designers, Nicky Vankets and Stijn Helsen, both of whom have their flagship stores in the city centre. Just outside the city centre, Herkenrode Abbey (above) was once an important religious and political institution and is now a heritage site. The historic buildings have been fully restored and now house a visitor centre and restaurant, with extensive gardens and walking trails. Surprisingly, there’s a Japanese garden just outside the city-centre.

Explore

The area around Hasselt is perfect for exploring by bicycle, with its flat terrain and extensive bike paths. The easy-to-use bike path network, based on numbered intersections, was developed in Limburg and then spread throughout the country. The province prides itself on being bike-friendly, with plenty of accommodation and cafes near bike routes.

Eat

Hasselt’s motto is Hoofstad van de Smaak, which translates as Capital of (Good) Taste. Its residents pride themselves on their refinement in dining, fashion, culture, and all aspects of the Burgundian lifestyle – seen as the legacy of the cosmopolitan Dukes of Burgundy. At Het Smaaksalon brasserie, housed in a restored mansion next to the city tourist office, top chef Giovanni Oosters offers a changing menu of local specialities featuring regional products. Nearby, artisanal bakery dePaifve specialises in Hasselt speculaas, a local variant on the ubiquitous spice cookie. Hasselt boasts two Michelinstarred restaurants, Aan Tafel bij Luc Bellings and JER, along with many other fine dining establishments popular with locals. Dining out in Hasselt is both a common occurrence and a ritual that lasts three or four hours, as friends indulge in several courses and a few bottles of wine, finished off with coffee and dessert.

Stay

In addition to its luxury hotels and B&Bs, Hasselt has a brand-new youth hostel, next to the train station. Accommodation in the modern, eco-friendly building include dormitories and private and family rooms.

http://www.toerismelimburg.be/en