Editing Hasselt (section)

==Town centre==
The centre is mostly car-free and contains a number of historical buildings. Among the oldest buildings in the town centre are the [[St. Quentin Cathedral, Hasselt|St. Quentin's Cathedral]] (11th to 18th centuries) and the Refuge of [[Herkenrode Abbey]], the city's oldest civic building (1542). The ''Grote Markt'' (Grand Market) and the nearby streets are lined with restaurants brasseries, cafes and taverns.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

The Demerstraat and the Koning Albertstraat are the most important shopping streets, while the Kapelstraat and Hoogstraat house upscale shops and brands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2022-06-14 |title=Universiteit Hasselt helpt lokale handelaars vernieuwen |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/06/14/universiteit-hasselt-helpt-lokale-handelaars-vernieuwen/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lagere huurprijzen voor winkels remmen leegstand (zachtjes) af |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20220825_95320460 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=De Standaard |date=25 August 2022 |language=nl-BE}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Melaerts |first=Lauranne |date=2019-07-15 |title=Citytrip in eigen land: deze Belgische steden zijn geweldig om te bezoeken |url=https://newsmonkey.be/citytrip-in-eigen-land-deze-belgische-steden-zijn-geweldig-om-te-bezoeken/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Newsmonkey |language=nl-BE}}</ref> Another major religious building besides the cathedral is the [[Virga Jesse Basilica]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-26 |title=Escapadas en coche (o en tren) desde Bruselas que no te puedes perder |url=https://www.hola.com/viajes/galeria/2017052695045/escapadas-coche-cerca-bruselas/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=hola.com |language=es}}</ref> The churches must cede domination of the skyline of the city to the modern twin towers of the ''TT-wijk'' (TT Quarter), however. In 2003, the renovation of this complex, now including a shopping mall and a hotel, gave the centre a new boost. In 2004, Hasselt was the first city to receive the title "most sociable city in Flanders".<ref>{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2022-09-07 |title=Brewmine Tap is de eerste stadsbrouwerij in Hasselt sinds 1965 |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/09/07/brewmine-tap-is-de-eerste-stadsbrouwerij-in-hasselt-sinds-1965/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}</ref>