Hasselt

.

The centre

The town centre of Hasselt is not large but very sociable. The centre is mostly car-free and contains a number of historical buildings. Among the oldest buildings in the town centre are the St. Quentin's Cathedral (11th to 18th C.) and the "Herkenrode Abbey refuge house" (1542). The "Grote Markt" (large central market square) and the nearby streets are lined with pubs, restaurants and taverns.

The Demerstraat and the Koning Albertstraat are the most important shopping streets. In the Kapelstraat and the Hoogstraat are expensive shops with the most famous brands. Another major religious building, besides the cathedral, is the Virga Jesse Basilica. Both have to cede domination of the skyline of the city to the twin towers of the "TT-wijk", however; the renovation of this complex (now including a shopping mall and a hotel) in 2003 gave the centre a new boost. In 2004, Hasselt was the first Belgian city to receive the title "most sociable city of Flanders", and has since claimed the title of "Capital of Good Taste"; likewise, Hasselt is also considered an exemplary city regarding pedestrian facilities in the centre.

Monuments, parks and public fields

* The abbey of Herkenrode in Kuringen
* The Airfield of Kiewit
* The different historical buildings and museums in the city
* The Japanese garden
* The Kapermolenpark
* The National Bank of architect Henri van Dievoet.
* The nature field Kiewit
* The Refugehuis of the abbey of Herkenrode
* The St. Quentin's Cathedral [http://www.gargouilles.be/hasselt/003.jpg] , [http://www.gargouilles.be/hasselt/002.jpg] , [http://www.gargouilles.be/hasselt/005.jpg] , [http://www.gargouilles.be/hasselt/006.jpg]
* The town park, to the cultural centre
* The Virga Jesse Basilica [http://www.neosvzw.be/images/res104072_7.jpg] , [http://www.neosvzw.be/images/res104072_8.png]

Museums

* National jenever museum
* Urban Fashion museum

Famous inhabitants

*Adrien de Gerlache, officer of the Belgian Navy and leader of two Belgian Antarctic Expeditions (1866-1934)
*Axelle Red, singer-songwriter (b. 1968)
*Guy Bleus, artist (b. 1950)
*Hendrik van Veldeke, first writer from the Low Countries known by name (c. 1140-c. 1190)
*Steve Stevaert, politician (b. 1954)
*Willy Claes, politician and former Secretary General of NATO (b. 1938)

Events

*Also many events take place in the Ethias Arena, the largest arena in Belgium.
*Kiewit is the location of the yearly Pukkelpop (Pimplepop) festival, one of Europe's largest alternative music festivals with over a hundred concerts, at the end of August. Rimpelrock (Wrinklerock), a festival with music for people over fifty, is held at the same location. The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was held in Hasselt.
*The Kermesse, now only septennial, not only commemorates the Christian story of the foundation of the town, but also preserves traces of a pagan festival.

Twin and partner cities

*GER: Detmold
*JPN: Itami, Hyogo
*NLD: Sittard
*USA: Mountain View, California

ee also

*Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005
*Speculaas

References

External links

* [http://www.hasselt.be Hasselt (official site of Hasselt).]
* [http://www.herkenrode.be Abbey of Herkenrode]
* [http://www.ethiasarena.be Ethias Arena]
* [http://hasseltisverkocht.worldshake.org/ Fair Trade City Hasselt (campaign site).]
* [http://www.hasseltlokaal.be HasseltLokaal - citizen journalists providing news of Hasselt]
* [http://www.pukkelpop.be Pukkelpop]
* [http://www.visitflanders.com Tourism Flanders]
* [http://www.toerismelimburg.be Tourism Limburg]
* [http://www.uhasselt.be Universiteit Hasselt (University of Hasselt)]