THE OLD PRISON

• THE OLD PRISON
• The Old Prison at Martelarenlaan 42 in Hasselt is a historic building with a rich past. It opened on 2 February 1859 as a prison, designed according to the ‘panopticon principle’ with a star-shaped floor plan. This design allowed guards to observe every cell corridor unseen, although a construction flaw prevented this from being fully realized. The prison was one of the smallest in Belgium and remained in use until 2005.
• After its closure, the building was renovated and reopened in 2013 as part of Hasselt University. It now houses the Faculty of Law and serves as an important teaching and research facility.
• The building is accessible via the city’s inner ring and by public transport. Reception is open Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 17:00 and on Friday from 8:00 to 16:00.