THE SPECULAAS MAN

• “The Speculaas Man in Hasselt is a bronze statue that was unveiled in 1986 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal Association of Bread and Pastry Bakers of Hasselt. The statue was designed by the Limburg artist Kristien Praet and is located in Witte Nonnenstraat, near the Jenevermuseum.
• The statue symbolizes the famous Hasselt speculaas, a delicacy whose origins date back to the late 14th century. According to tradition, the speculaas was invented either by the baker Lieben or by Jozef Antoon Deplée, who was also a distiller. The name “speculaas” is believed to come from the word “speculeren,” meaning “to think” or “to invent.”
• The Speculaas Man is one of the many statues found throughout Hasselt, each reflecting a part of the city’s rich history and culture.
• In the image below, you can see the entrance of the Jenevermuseum on the right-hand side!”