Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hasselt opened study bars, including ’t Scheep and Izy Coffee, giving students like Gaetan, Roar, Romaisa, and Adam quiet spaces to study during exams before January 9th, 2025.

As VRT News reported, Hasselt has opened study bars in the city centre to give students a quiet place to work. One of these is located on the first floor of ’t Scheep, which has been transformed into a modern study space. The room is arranged with desks and soft lighting. Hasselt now has several study bars across the city centre.

Students Gaetan and Roar visit the study bar regularly.

“Most students study in the library,”

they said.

“It can get too crowded or noisy, so we come here instead.”

“It’s quieter here, and the coffee is free. That’s a bonus,”

says Roar.

“On other days, we’re also surrounded by other students in the same boat. That gives us extra motivation to study.”

What study spaces in Hasselt offer students quiet spaces to prepare for exams?

Gaetan says he can focus better at the study bar than at home.

“I still have a lot of studying to do, but my first of four exams isn’t until January 9th. So I still have some time. Today I’ll study until noon, and then it’s straight into the Christmas party,”

he says.

Hasselt’s support for students is not limited to municipal spaces. Several private businesses are also opening their doors for focused study. One example is Izy Coffee on Koning Albertstraat. There, the couple Romaisa and Adam are studying, with laptops and notes spread across the table.

“I often come here because I can concentrate better here than I can at home,”

says Romaisa.

“There’s also a friendly atmosphere.”

“There’s construction going on at home, which is making a lot of noise, so I’m coming here to study,”

says Adam.

“I’m here almost every day. I plan to stay up until closing time. I don’t celebrate Christmas, and I prioritise my studies above all else.”

In 2023, a number of study bars have been established throughout the city center of Hasselt to provide students with quiet study environments. The first study bars opened their doors in late 2023, and more are expected to be added throughout 2024. The study bar concept has already been implemented by universities in Leuven and Ghent in 2022.