Hasselt, a gem in the IJssel Delta, has a Heerengracht, a Brouwersgracht and a Prinsengracht, but isn’t that in
Amsterdam? Yes also, but this is Hasselt, which is located within the IJsseldelta National Landscape, north of
Zwolle. You’ll find many intact medieval buildings with beautiful facades along the canals. In addition to the atmospheric
old streets, you can still see the contours of the old city walls and the 16th-century Town Hall. At the edge of the city,
three limekilns are still open to visitors. In addition to being a Hanseatic city, Hasselt is also a pilgrimage destination.
Pilgrims have been coming to the city since 1355.
- Hasselt has a canal belt with a Heerengracht, Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht: small Amsterdam
- Hasselt is small, but counts no fewer than 70 national monuments
- sail through the canals and be surprised by picturesque drawbridges and beautiful canal houses
- the limekilns are old industrial monuments, tour incl. coffee / tea and lunch
Travel report:
On a lovely, sunny day, we visited Hasselt, a small Hanseatic city in the IJssel delta. Take a right after the bridge across the Black (Zwart) Water, and you’ll drive straight into the old city centre. We were surprised by the many, beautiful paths along the canal and in the city centre. In this small city centre is the Grote or Sint-Stephanuskerk (Great Church or St. Stephen’s Church) and the old town hall with its beautiful medieval facade. Wandering through the city, we followed the canal to the old limekilns, which functioned as the cement industry in times past. Just outside the city, by the water, is De Zwaluw, a mill from the 18thcentury. Hasselt is a small Hanseatic city with approx. 70 monumental buildings. There is also a small part of the old city wall left. It was lovely to walk along the Black Water on this sunny day and to watch the boats sailing by.