Hasselt Things to Do

1 more image

Walking around city centre shopping area. No cars allowed, plenty to see and do. Especially Demerstraat and Koning Albertstraat are well-known, the latter has just been repaved which is a blessing of you're wearing heels. Or are clumsy.

Kapermolen Zwembad (Public Swimming Pool), Elfde Liniestraat, 5 mins walk from city centre

The best place to go when you've done your sightseeing bit in the city centre and are moving towards the Japanese Garden, which is the biggest and prettiest of Western Europe. You can easily walk to this garden via the Kapermolen Park, where you also find the public swimming pool. In summer the outside pool is the ideal place for a dip or to spend some time sunbathing. Mind the crowds though, also Belgians are keen to get some tan! In summer the indoor pool is usually also open but much quieter if you feel sporty. Another option for swimmers is the indoor pool of SAS Radisson Hotel/Passage Fitness First in the TT-Tower Building.

Right on the main shopping street in Hasselt you'll find this cute little statue. Brussels has their statues -- little boy and girl peeing - and this has a cute story of the people being thankful for having good water. He is named for the River Demer as the Demer Manneke.

De ZWARTE MARKT is located in Tessenderlo, about 25 km from Hasselt.

It is a very large indoor market only open on Sunday (9.00 untill 18.00). You will find there all different kind of things (clothes, old things, hobby, books, etc..) and there is a unique atmosfere.

Officially, this splendid Open Air Museum lies on the territory of the city of Genk, in the "Park Midden-Limburg" but it is close enough to Hasselt to consider it one of the major attractions in the region around Limburg's capital.

The domain of Bokrijk is some 550 ha large and consist of woods, gardens, farmland and ponds. The large playground is a real treat for children.

Most of all, the Bokrijk Open Air Museum is known for its magnificent collection of old Flemish houses and farms. A large part of the Flemish countryside must have look like this around 1850. You can walk through the entire park and admire the cottages and farms of the different Flemish provinces : East and West Flanders, The Campine region, Brabant, and of course Limburg.Since a few years, also a small old city can be admired, with a caf? in a cellar included.
In some of the houses local people portray the old professions of way back when (farmers, barbers, shoemakers, basketry makers, and so on...). In some of the farms restaurants have been installed, so that the visit can be combined with a good healthy traditional Flemish dish.

The Open Air Museum is open from March 29 till September 30, every day from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. The rest of the provincial domain is open all through the year.

The Fashion Museum gives a nice overview of the evolution of fashion. Moreover, regularly theme expositions are organized. Also here a brochure can be obtained at the Tourist Infomation with an outlined "fahion-walk" through the streets of Hasselt.

4 more images

The Japanese garden in Hasselt is the largest one in Europe. It has a big ceremony house in the central part of the garden. Here there are held teaceremonies which one can participate in. On the central court there are several festivities durring the year such as cherryblossom viewing, sakefestival, o-bon, koi-nobori, degustations of the japanese kitchen,...
One thing that i like a lot about this place are the koi (japanese goldfishes)in the centerpont near the ceremony house. They are so cool. You can feed them (food is for sale at the entrance) and they come and eat out of your hand. the fish even let them be carresed, really funny. Especially for kids this is fun.
The best time to view the garden is in spring when the cherryblossoms are at their most beautiful. But there is always some part off the garden in bloom, so it's nice troughout the whole time it's open . This is from 1st april untill 30th october.
From Tuesday to Friday 10.00 -17.00; on Saterdays, Sundays and public holidays 14.00 - 18.00
Closed on Monday and Easter Sunday
Tickets: 3€
For more info about the activities mail the city of Hasselt

Indeed once a year jenever is flowing out off a statue in the streets off Hasselt. This is at the Jeneverfestival. The city is then full off happenings People drinking Jenever and having fun. You can see also traditional folk entertainment like dancing and singing. It's much fun and it continiues till early in the morning. This Year it's on 16 and 17 off october (2004). But if you can't make it this year, it usually is around that date.