Hanzestad Hasselt

Hasselt is a small Hanseatic city with a rich history. In the historic city center of Hasselt you will find more than 70 national monuments and a canal belt. So there is more than enough to see here and we have not even included all the beautiful hidden places. The centuries-old town north of Zwolle is best explored on foot or from a boat. Stroll over the drawbridges and along the canal or view the city from the water and look for traces of the city's glorious past. Hasselt was mentioned as a Hanseatic city from 1367. The Hanseatic League was a trade alliance between different cities. The city flourished as a result of trade and Hasselt experienced two centuries of prosperity. During this time, much trade took place via the Zwarte Water, a river that was connected to the Vecht and the Zuiderzee. The merchandise consisted of sandstone from Bentheim, wood, barrels with beer and roof tiles that were manufactured in Hasselt itself.