Hassailt 2023. by Wouter Van der Zwan

About "Hassailt 2023."

by Wouter Van der Zwan

About the artwork

Because of the rich history of shipping in Hasselt and the many shipyards at the time, a group from the then still existing VVV and the historical society came up with the idea of organising a nautical event, with the theme of bringing back to life the shipping of earlier times on the Zwarte Water and in the canals, and so the first edition was held in July 1992

Hassailt takes place every five years in the beautiful Hanseatic city of Hasselt in Overijssel. The event is organised in cooperation with the association het historisch bedrijfsvaartuig (LVBHB) which holds its annual reunion in the historical centre of Hasselt.

The ships moored in the city canal, near the historic lime kilns and at the Zwartewater quay can count on thousands of visitors from home and abroad each year.

During Hassailt, it is possible to view the ships during a beautiful walk along the canals and the Zwartewater, and take a look on board some of the ships.

Besides the presence of the many ships, numerous fun and friendly activities take place along the route where the ships are moored and in the centre of the beautiful Hanseatic city.

The Landelijke Vereniging tot Behoud van het Historisch Bedrijfsvaartuig (or LVBHB) is a friendly club of people dedicated to preserving old commercial vessels. These are ships, which more than 50 years ago upheld Hollands Glorie on the Dutch, German and Belgian rivers and canals.

These are not only cargo ships, but also fishing vessels, ferries, parlevinkers, work boats - we even have a member with an old bridge pontoon. In short: ships of all kinds, sailing, towed or motorised, that kept the economy of the Netherlands going.