Among travelers, Hasselt isn’t as well known as some other Belgian cities. But that’s what makes it such a fun place to explore: it’s off the beaten path and there’s no tacky souvenir shops, no chain restaurants and no risk of running into busloads of tourists. It’s the real Belgium,…
The idea for a museum of European history in Brussels was first proposed ten years ago by the then-president of the European Parliament. This month, The House of European History opened in the EU quarter and I was lucky to be among the first visitors. The museum is divided into…
Ever been to Hasselt? Hasselt, the capital of Belgium’s eastern-most province, is often overlooked by foreign visitors and Belgians alike. It doesn’t have the quaint charms of Ghent or Bruges, or the international cachet of Brussels or Antwerp—but that’s what makes a visit to Hasselt both surprising and rewarding. Each…
One of Antwerp’s most important buildings, its stadhuis (city hall), turns 450 years old this year and the city is having a year-long celebration to mark the occasion. The monumental building facing the Grote Markt opened its doors on February 27, 1565, and has been in continuous use ever since. It’s the only…