The choice of Hasselt as the location for our immersion residence is not a coincidence as Hasselt is located near the linguistic borders of Germany, Vlaanderen (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Walonia (French-speaking part of Belgium).

Hasselt (Limburg) is an important commercial centre in Belgium and it is a paradise for shoppers. The shopping streets are pretty and dotted with colorful terraces and stylish shopping arcades. Hasselt is known around the world for its extensive and exclusive fashions, the Fashion Museum and the special Fashion Circuit.

Hasselt is the gin City ‘par excellence’. The Borrelmanneke and the National Jenever Museum have become the symbols of Belgium’s gin capital.

The history of the county of Loon is brought to life in the Municipal Stellingwerff-Waerdenhof Museum, the Herkenrode abbey and refuge. Art can be found all over Hasselt: in the cathedral and the Virga Jesse Basilica, in the museums, the Beguinage and the numerous art galleries, in the parks and the streets and on the ‘Groene Boulevard’

Hasselt is also the city with the biggest Japanese Garden in all Europe; it is the city of the Grenslandhallen, Kinepolis, Pukkelpop, the Genever Festival, delicious Hasselt Speculoos and the - free – city buses.

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. In 1839 Hasselt became the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg.