After 32 years, the non-profit organisation that organises the annual Jenever festival – Jeneverfeesten – is coming to an end due to financial risks in continuing the tradition and event.
Every year on the third weekend of October, the residents of Hasselt celebrate the tradition of Jeneverfeesten. Jenever is a liquor close to Gin that originated from Belgium, the Netherlands, northern France and parts of Germany. Hasselt is one of the jenever cities in Belgium alongside Deinze, Aalst and Liège.
Beginning in 1990, Jeneverfeesten became one of the largest city festivals in Belgium, according to the organisation. There is dancing, music, street theatre, a museum that produces jenever, as well as parades and a culinary village.
Credit: Facebook / De Hasseltse Jeneverfeesten
The organiser of the event, Jean-Pierre Swerts, told VRT that Covid-19 and obligations to the environment have made the festival more expensive to put on.
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While the non-profit organisation that usually puts on the festival is winding up its operations, but the city will continue its traditions, as the city considers Jeneverfeesten a holiday of Hasselt.
The city has told the organisation that the event will continue either organised by the city itself or outsourcing it through a larger company.
