From the airport to Hasselt or Diepenbeek: a guide for students
Coming to study at UHasselt, PXL or UCLL? Belgium has good trains, but Hasselt and the Diepenbeek campus are not on a direct line from any airport. Here is what each route really involves, and when a shared taxi makes sense.
Travelling with a lot of luggage, arriving late or coming as a group? Send your flight number by WhatsApp and I will tell you the price before you fly.
Your options from each airport
All times below are approximate and assume connections work out. Check the current timetable on the Belgian rail website before you travel. Late in the evening there are fewer trains and buses.
| Airport | By public transport | By taxi to Hasselt |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels Airport (BRU) | Train with one change, about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 | about 55 min |
| Charleroi (CRL) | Shuttle bus to Brussels, then train: about 3 h | about 1 h 15 |
| Eindhoven (EIN) | No direct link across the border: 3 h or more | about 55 min |
| Düsseldorf (DUS) | Several trains via Germany or the Netherlands: 3 h or more | about 1 h 35 |
| Maastricht Aachen (MST) | Bus to Maastricht, then bus to Hasselt: about 2 h | about 40 min |
Brussels Airport: the train works well by day
The station is under the terminal. You usually change once, often in Leuven, and reach Hasselt station in roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. From Hasselt station, buses run to the Diepenbeek campus. With one suitcase and a daytime arrival, this is the cheapest and simplest option, and I would take it myself.
It gets harder if you land after about 9 pm, have two or three suitcases, or need to reach a student room in Diepenbeek where buses stop early in the evening.
Charleroi, Eindhoven and Düsseldorf: where a taxi saves hours
Cheap flights often land at Charleroi or Eindhoven. From Charleroi you first take a shuttle bus to Brussels and then a train, about three hours in total. From Eindhoven there is no train across the border at all. On these routes a taxi cuts the journey to about an hour, and the difference matters most after a long flight.
Sharing makes it affordable
The price is for the ride, not per person. Four students fit in the standard taxi with three large suitcases. With the group taxi I take five or six. If you arrive on the same day as other new students, book one ride together and split it. Ask in your student group chat who lands on the same day.
How booking works
Send your airport, flight number, arrival time and your address in Hasselt or Diepenbeek. I reply with the price. On the day I follow your flight, so a delay is no problem, and I wait for you in the arrivals hall. You pay by cash or card at the end of the ride.
During the year
You can also call me for a ride home after a night out in Hasselt, an early train, a hospital visit, or the trip back to the airport at the end of the semester. I drive 24/7. More in English on the main English page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Brussels Airport to Hasselt?
By train with one change, in about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30, or by taxi in about 55 minutes. By day with little luggage the train is fine. Late at night or with several suitcases a taxi is easier.
How do I get from Charleroi Airport to Hasselt?
By shuttle bus to Brussels and then by train, about 3 hours in total, or by taxi in about 1 h 15.
Can several students share one taxi?
Yes. The price is per ride. Up to 4 passengers in the standard taxi, 5 or 6 in the group taxi. Tell me how many people and suitcases when you book.
What if my flight is delayed?
I follow your flight with the flight number and adjust the pick-up time. There is no extra charge for a delay.