r/Hasselt • u/Forsaken-Night8645 • Apr 30 '26
Moving to Hasselt! Any advice?
Hey everyone!
I’m super excited to share that I’ll be moving to Hasselt this September to start my Master’s degree.
I’ve been looking at accommodation and Xior caught my eye. Does anyone have experience living there? Is it worth the price, or is it better to look for a traditional "kot"? I’m mostly looking for a good social vibe but also somewhere I can actually get some studying done.
Also, which neighborhoods would you recommend for students? I’d love to be somewhere where things are happening (bars, cafes, etc.) but still within a decent bike ride to the university.
A few other quick questions.How’s the student life during the week?Any "hidden gems" (bars/cheap eats) I should check out once I arrive?Is it easy to get around just with a bike, or should I look into a bus pass?
Thanks in advance for any help!
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u/oshner May 01 '26
I do like hasselt a lot. Living there for a good while, not as a student tho. Its not big but cozy and quaint. No to busy. The city itself has nice events. So its also good to keep in eye on those. The bars are a bit spread out. And sometimes a bit expensive. The irish pub has sports and karaoke every weekend. Cafe cafe and the bootstraat and sometimes parts of the trixxo arena have nice concerts and events.
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u/Forsaken-Night8645 May 01 '26
Thank you !! Would you say that student life is active then?
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u/oshner May 01 '26
There is a substantial student life buuuuut its a split thing between hasselt and diepenbeek.
1
u/Separate_Shine3423 May 03 '26
In hasselt itself it has been on a downward trend for years but at the start of the year there’s a student takeoff and on Dusartplein you have multiple cafés that attract students.
If u want to “party” you’ll have to take a bus or bike to Diepenbeek for TD’s every week and Praeses Verkiezingen (5-6 weeks of partying from april to may)
1
u/math_guy28 May 01 '26
I started my PhD this year here and so far I have been loving it! I have met someone in Xior and he told me that sometimes the kitchen is a little bit unclean, but for the most part its a good accommodation. Feel free to ask any questions
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u/Forsaken-Night8645 May 01 '26
Thank you for your answer! The thing about xior is that there aren’t many photos of the different rooms so I don’t know which one is more suitable for me, I don’t know if you can help me with that hahahaha
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u/Crazy-Reflection-972 May 01 '26
From a student perspective Hasselt isn't the biggest student city. Most student activity's are towards Diepenbeek at the University. While it definitely has it charms, I can be hard for a foreigner to blend in well and find a way here..
Met multiple people from all around the globe here in Hasselt, while some it went good, some didn't even finish their degree/Erasmus because of the city, and feeling they had here..
Xior and UPKOT have pretty strict houserules in comparison with other non school/gov associated student housing.
But as far as I know, it is decent housing, you have more contact with other students then most private student housing. But you probably have to share multiple facilities, like kitchen and sometimes showers.
1
u/Crazy-Reflection-972 May 01 '26
To add more to this. A bike is definitely gonna help you cause public transport sucks here. don't trust it.
I feel like the bars mentioned here are a good start.
These are my recommendations not all are my personal favourites, but these give a good view about the city and these are also known to stay open late.
Dussart plein has lots of cafe's and can be packed. Locals are split about going here tho. Mon cafe near the old city hall. Cafe Cafe, this is like a small club with lots of different people. O'Leary's has bowling and pool. Good for social gatherings or watch some sports.
De egel is cozy and worth the visit. Hemelrijck can be very busy but fun to meet new people.
There is more you can always DM me for a local guide, tips and tricks.
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u/Forsaken-Night8645 May 01 '26
Thank you so much!!! I’ll definitely write those recommendations down
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u/Practical-Animator-6 May 02 '26
Xior is a good place to have a kot and everyting within the city center is in walking distence, is you study on campus diepenbeek you have great public tansit to the campus. I have been on PXL (collage) in Hasselt for 4 years and it is realy fun. If you have more questiond you can always DM me, but my english is not that great, so mind that.
1
u/divicara 21d ago
If you're moving there for summer, I have a kot for sublet (super cheap, lower than most kots because I am looking for a sublet student asap lol) close to UHasselt/PXL. June to August. Let me know if you or your friend is interested!
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u/legendyuw May 01 '26
Don't
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u/Forsaken-Night8645 May 01 '26
What a great thing to tell someone who’s excited to do her masters abroad !
1
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u/artparade Apr 30 '26
All bars are walking distance from eachother. Café rené is the most popular atm but I also really like de egel and mons cafe.
Def check out Stout. Hidden gem.