Hanseatic city of Hasselt (in the Netherlands): the hotspots for food, drinks and to do's
On to Hasselt! So then we go to Plopsaland in Belgium? Uh, no... We want to wake you up, because there are two place names that can bear the name Hasselt and one of those two is in the Netherlands. Both are nice, but the one in our own country is easier to reach for many Dutch people. Hasselt falls in the list of the oh-so-fine Hanseatic cities. We check out all kinds of Hanseatic cities during the Hanseatic year (and will certainly return to lovely Hasselt). So you should not be across the border from Belgium, but north of Zwolle in the province of Overijssel, on the Zwarte Water.
A city full of character with attractive facades, leafy streets and hidden places. History meets good catering and cozy places. What are we going to do? Hasselt is small, so everything is within easy walking distance. Voila, some nice spots in Hasselt.
First things first: start with a small warm-up. With the Pilgrim Walk you can stretch your legs while the history of the pilgrimage site comes to life, completely with a modern twist. During this walk we say goodbye to the old-fashioned maps and follow the route via the information kiosks and QR codes. Ever made a virtual pilgrimage? You can also check that off your bucket list.
After that walk you know everything ins and outs from Hasselt. We won't reveal too much, but Hasselt was already a well-known place of pilgrimage in the 13th and 14th centuries (making it one of the oldest in the Netherlands). So chock full of history. Fun fact you will learn during the walk: according to an old legend, a drunkard bumped into a priest, causing the sacred hosts to fall to the ground. The result: a terrible flood that will be remembered as the Marcellus flood. Oops.
The legs are stretched, then it is time to give them some rest. You collapse for that De Linde. A lovely place on the canal with a good story where they also serve tasty dishes. From Tuesday to Saturday you are welcome in the restaurant for a coffee break with homemade pastries, an extensive lunch, a high tea (de Linde has its own tea line!), a good meal or a barley drink from the tap. When the weather is good, you can sit on the terrace – and really do that – because the view of the canal has such a wonderful holiday feeling.
De Linde is an initiative of the JP van den Bent foundation, where supervised workplaces are offered.
Hasselt is far from Amsterdam? Maybe a little, but the relationship between the cities is clearly visible. With street names such as Baangracht, Heerengracht, Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht, it is almost a kind of small Amsterdam. It is certainly a lot more relaxed than the capital.
Lunch is where you make plans for dinner, right? This is easy in Hasselt, because there is no shortage of catering establishments. A hip place? Yes, they also have that in this historic city. Bee Eating & Drinking De Stadskamer this is the place to be for a beautiful interior and cozy seating areas. Tip: let the chef surprise you with a surprise menu with fresh ingredients and as much local as possible. They also make good drinks boards here: loaded fries, well-filled nachos and of course the classics are not missing (because is a snack board without cheese sticks and bitterballen)? There is less choice for vegetarians.
Exploit? A walk around the water, great plan. Water has always played an important role in the Hanseatic city. A remnant of this is the Stenendijk, the oldest masonry sea wall in the Netherlands. If you're in the area anyway.
Because it is so wonderfully relaxing in Hasselt, you simply stick around for another night. The atmosphere of the casual city naturally extends to your home. Especially knocking on your door Bed & Breakfast Borghoeve. Then you book your own mini farm with a view over the meadows. Four people can stay here, but a couple must sleep on the sofa bed. In the morning you wake up to the fresh air, probably some cows mooing and a well-stocked refrigerator full of regional products (only on Saturdays and Sundays).
One more for you to do. Visit the Lime Kilns, a piece of cultural and industrial heritage. For years, lime kilns were an important industry in this Hanseatic city. The lime kilns were used for the manufacture of shell lime (an important component of masonry mortar and concrete, right). There are few people in the area who did not earn their living from this.
Good story, but what are we doing there today? The lime kiln complex has been restored and opened to everyone. A small museum furnished with tools, attributes, archive documents and images. Nice to have a sniff.
The lime kilns and the museum are open from April 1 to October 31.
Hasselt is a short half hour drive from Zwolle, so you can combine it nicely: rural and urban, cozy and bustling. During the day perhaps take the boat across the water and explore Hasselt, in the evening eat out in Zwolle. Or do it the other way around: lunch and shopping in Zwolle to join the Stadskamer in the evening and find your bed at B&B Borghoeve.
