Discover and enjoy Hasselt by bike
More than 2 million tourists visit every day around 2.000 km of bike routes and lanes in Limburg. Nobody can resist to spend a sunny day discovering Hasselt and its unique cycle route network. Let’s find the best places on the road. Would you like to join me on this journey?
Our trip starts at the annex building of the UHasselt University and following Cycling Route 95 in direction of the outskirts of the city. While you are enjoying the green and blue surroundings of Hasselt, you can see the awesome Albert Canal, which received its name by the king of Belgium Albert I.
The Albert Canal was constructed from 1930 through 1939. The German construction company Hochtief AG worked on the canal between 1930 and 1934, but it was completed by Belgian companies.
The place is surrounded by old factories. One of them is very striking due to its chimney of a gelatine company. That landscape is attributable to the belgium economic industry sector.
Additionally, you can see the Hasselt Prison which was inaugurated in 2005. It serves as a prison and house of sorrow. Just behind the prison is located Concentra nv, a Belgian media group founded in 1879 .The Limburg original publication, that became in daily in 1933, is actually one of the most popular newspapers in the province.
Moreover, you can see luxury apartments and others in process to construction. In spite of these works, the canal is plenty of fancy yachts and a relax ambient to enjoy the next landscapes.
During the route, a combination of green and blue covers your emotions. Two imposing bridges next to each other cruise the canal. This area isn’t only important for economically reasons, besides it’s remarkable for social recreation such as fishing, cycling or running.
It is well known that Belgium is a beer counrty where you can find more then 750 kinds of beer. Belgium has a big diversity because there are a lot of local beers. So if you are enjoying a sunny day, you have to go to Jessenhofke Biobrouwerij, place very popular for its artisanal beers. It’s irresistible not to sit in their confortable terrace and enjoy the landscape with a special beer in your hands and Albert Canal in the background.
Leaving the Canal behind and going deeper into nature, you can appreciate a nice protected area to walk. During your trip, you will find the Herkenrode Abbey which was an abbey of the Cistercian order in 1217 in the Netherlands.
Until the French Revolution, the abbey has alternate periods of violent decay and huge blooms. After 1820, the abbey church, the monastery and a large part of the original monastery buildings disappeared due to fire and destruction. The abandoned abbey farms and the 100 hectares of nature reserve around the site are now restored and re-established with respect for the past. For this reason, the function of the building has changed to an experience centre.
Not far from there, we can find a private initiative that consist in a romantic garden called Limburg Lavandel, place really recommended in summer time due to the smell of itsflowers. In this place, you can get all kinds of lavender products such as lavender liquor, lavender pralines or even essential oils.
If you continue that trip you will see a nature reserve called De Wijers with very singular species of fauna and flora. The nature reserve, that consist in 1001 ponds, it’s plenty of vegetation and animals in particular fishes, herons or frogs. Also in this area you can perform a wide range of group activities for example horse riding, cycling or running.
Last stop on our bike trip was the Japanese Garden which is considered the biggest Japanese style garden in Europe. It’s the perfect place to take a rest and for contemplation and meditation.
The garden is located between the city centre and the main ring, more specifically on junction 97 of the Limburg cycle routes network. Based on a 17th-century model, the garden is open from April to October and holds various events in relation with Japanese culture.
The sensation of peace and relaxation takes you completely, nevertheless when you start to approach to Hasselt the noise of the traffic starts to break your natural paradise.Our trip has finished. Are you sure you want to return home after undergoing the Limburg Cycling Paradise?
