Hasselt Netherlands sightseeing
The Hanseatic city of Hasselt in the Netherlands is one of the five Hanseatic cities that we visit on our tour through the Hanseatic region. I was particularly excited about her. After all, it was the birthplace of Kilian van Rensselaer. I had heard of him many times on my visits to New York City heard. I wanted to know more about him. But more on that later. First we start our tour of the city at the town hall, where we meet our guide. He wants to show us Hasselt Netherlands and its port and sights.
Renaissance town hall - a splendid specimen
Hasselt is located on the Zwarte Water and is connected via this river with the Zwarte Meer. The seafarers had access to the IJsselmeer and finally to the North Sea. Today Hasselt is inland. The Oude Stadhuis is one of the most beautiful buildings in Hasselt with its Renaissance facade. Next to it stands the Stephanuskerk, the church of the reformed community of Hasselt. We are lucky. There are two men leaving the church, who let us in at our request. Usually the church is closed.
The Stephanuskerk in the city center of Hasselt Netherlands
The inside is barren. White walls and dark wooden benches shape the interior of the church. Our companion Freek Lene points us to the organ. “This is famous in Holland. Organ concerts take place regularly in this church, which attract visitors from all over the country. ”A Bible of the Reformed Church lies on a wooden table. "This is what you read out for devotions," explains Freek. “The residents of Hasselt are very religious. The church is full every Sunday. ”On one side wall we discover a mural of St. Christopher, the saint of travelers. This dates from the Middle Ages, when the church was still Catholic.
Kiliaen van Rensselaer - what connects Hasselt with New York?
The most famous son of Hasselt is Kiliaen van Rensselaer. He is the reason, why I wanted to visit this city. Van Rensselaer was born in Hasselt in the second half of the 16th century. He was governor of the Dutch West Indies Company, and as such was instrumental in founding the Dutch colony in North America. His colony Rensselaerwijk was one of the first, the Dutch established in today's US state of New York. His birthplace is in Hasselt. It is not open to the public though.
Historic buildings and the Hasselt Hay Festival in the Netherlands
From van Rensselaer's birthplace we walk past historic buildings such as the holy guest house and the seven houses. These were available to the poor and sick of the city. On the way to the Hasselt Canal, we pass side streets that are colorfully decorated. We even discover Christmas trees in a street at the end of August. Freek tells us that every street is decorated according to a given motto for the hay festival. One of them this year is the "Christmas" theme.
The canals of Hasselt Netherlands
We particularly enjoy our walk along the Prinsengracht. Ships still sailed on the canals until the sixties of the last century. Today they form the backdrop for the magnificent merchant houses, that stand on their banks. Here you will find no hustle and bustle. Benches stand on the banks of the canal and invite you to take a break. Here you can enjoy Hasselt perfectly.
Conclusion: Hasselt Netherlands is a quiet city on Zwarte Water
Hasselt in the Netherlands is a city that seems a bit sleepy. We see few people on the street. We hardly ever meet tourists. Most of them act like locals who are quick to do some shopping before rushing home. Hasselt is hardly developed for tourism. We were lucky that the sexton gave us access to the church. Usually it is closed. Nevertheless, Hasselt is worth a stop and a walk. Its canal with the captains' houses, the seven houses, the birthplace of Kilian van Rensselaer and the town hall are well worth a look. Here we found the time we had for the city to be just right. A good hour for a tour is enough to get an impression of the Hanseatic city on Zwarte Water.
That has to be in your suitcase for your visit to Hasselt
Do you like to travel by motorhome?
- Do you want to rent a motorhome? Then you will find information and a selection in these booking options here. Rent a motorhome or a camper near you here. Or would you prefer to stay overnight in a roof tent on the car? Also the overnight stay in camping tents is possible.
- Check our packing list for campers to see whether you have packed everything for your motorhome tour.
- You can stay overnight at Camping Zwolsedijk, Zwolsedijk 18, 8061 RD Hasselt, The Netherlands. But there are other campsites near Hasselt. There you can after a day trip in a Dutch Oven or on the portable grill or maybe on a campfire . You can also find Dutch oven accessories here.
- Practical accessories for the mobile home you can also find here.
- Why is a folding e-bike useful when camping?
Travel Arrangements
Parking at the airport
Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.
How to reach us
Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. KLM and Lufthansa will follow Amsterdam. From there, it's best to take a car, because that's the only way you're flexible enough to get to know the localities in the region better.
Rental car
Cheap rental cars and e-cars - book quickly and easily here
Accomodation
Book your accommodation here *
Camping in the Hanseatic city of Hasselt
Motorhome enthusiasts can leave their motorhome at the De Molenwaard marina at the port of Hasselt Netherlands and walk into town. What you need for motorhome tripscan be found here. With our Motorhome packing list You'll never forget anything again.
Do you already know:
- Beautiful cities in Holland
- Easter holidays
- The island of Texel
- Kampen in the Netherlands
- Deventer Holland
- Hanseatic city of Elburg
- Harderwijk things to do
- Keukenhof
- Holland landmarks
- Netherlands travel destinations
- Hanseatic city of Stendal - a city in the Altmark
- Famous places in Rotterdam
- Discover the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
- Compare motorhome prices here.
- Or do you prefer to travel with him Rooftent or Tent?
Source for Hasselt Netherlands: on-site research. We would like to thank Das Andere Holland for supporting this trip. However, our opinion remains our own.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
