HASSELT, the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg. Pop. (1930) 22,296. It stands at the junction of several important roads and railways from Maaseyck, Maastricht and Liege. It has many breweries and distilleries, and makes coarse gin called Hasselt spirit. On Aug. 6, 1831 the Dutch troops obtained here their chief success over the Belgian nationalists during the War of Independence. A septennial fete is held on the day of Assump tion, Aug. 15, in honour of the Virgin under the name of Virga Jesse. Fir trees and branches are planted in front of the houses. The figure of the giant who is supposed to have once held the Hazelbosch under his terror is paraded on this occasion as the "lounge man." Originally this celebration was held annually, but in the 18th century it was restricted to once in seven years. Hasselt is beginning to grow quickly as the industrial capital of the new Campini coalfield.