Editing Hasselt (section)

=== Hasselt speculaas ===
[[File:Speculaas.jpg|thumb|Hasselt speculaas]]
Hasselt speculaas is a type of [[speculaas]] originating from and only produced in Hasselt. It differs from the type of speculaas eaten in the rest of Belgium in its greater thickness, its smaller reliance on spices - which gives it a milder taste -, and in its structure, with a crispy crust and soft, doughy insides.<ref>[https://www.visithasselt.be/nl/blog/bak-je-eigen-hasseltse-speculaas  Bak je eigen Hasseltse speculaas] Visit Hasselt, 21.11.2023</ref>

Speculaas was baked in Hasselt as early as the 14th century. According to tradition, Hasselt speculaas was eaten with chilled Jenever. The early 19th century saw the introduction of the ''Spéculation de Hasselt'' - the Hasselt speculaas -, which was soon exported to [[Brussels]] and to Liège, among others. Until the [[Second World War]], Hasselt speculaas was only baked around [[Saint Nicholas Day]], since then it has been sold throughout the entire year.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210202050948/https://www.visithasselt.be/nl/hasseltse-speculaas Hasseltse Speculaas] Visit Hasselt, 10.12.2020</ref>