www.hasselt.be
The capital of the province of Limburg, Hassel, is situated on the eastern part of Flanders. With 68.000 inhabitants an economically flourishing region the town is the commercial centre of the province of Limburg and ranks fourth on the list of the most important commercial centres in Belgium. The service sector is very prominent and the business affairs vary from large store chains to pleasant and exclusive boutiques, also thanks to the enforced mobility policy the city council of Hasselt quarantees good accessibility. The city of Hasselt takes the responsibility as concerns education and thus supports the different educational systems. The mobility plan, the bicycle friendly policy, the large sports infrastructure, the prevention policy and the environmental policy are all particular examples. All these elements also create an interesting residential and working environment for entrepreneurs who get more and more attracted to the provincial capital.

History:
Hasselt is a city with a historical past. People believe that the parish dates back to the 7th century. It cannot be determined when exactly Hasselt was promoted into a city, but in 1232 count Arnold IV of Loon renewed the Charter of City Rights. At that time Hasselt already was the first city of the county of Loon, in the immediate vicinity of the count’s residence at the Herckenrode Abbey in Kuringen.

Thanks to its central location in the county at the junction of the most important roads, the town developed into the main market and trading centre of this region during the 13th and 14th centuries. In the 15th and the first half of the 16th century, Hasselt became a prosperous cloth town. The building scheme of the Saint-Quintin’s Cathedral, with its numerous rebuildings and extensions between the 13th and 16th centuries clearly illustrates the growing prosperity of the city. In the second half of the 16th century, the cloth sharply declined, not only because of the rivalry of the English cloth, but also because of political and religious turbulence. In the 17th century, Hasselt’s cloth industry had almost disappeared. Amongst the new developed industries, the jenever distilleries need to be mentioned. Furthermore, Hasselt continued to be an important commercial centre.

In 1839, after the Belgian independence, Hasselt became the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg. Important public works were started and new buildings were constructed. The city lost its medieval outlook. The ramparts were demolished in 1846, the ditches filled up and replaced by a broad circular road, allowing further development of the city. In 1847, Hasselt had its first railway connection. In the middle of the 19th century, the jenever distilleries knew great prosperity. Jenever distillation even became one of Limburg’s most important industries. In 1860, Has selt counted 29 distilleries. As a related industry, one should not forget to mention the fattening of oxen which were fed with the wastes of the distilleries. In the 20th century, Hasselt grew up to be a dynamic and modern city becoming one of Belgium’s most important commercial centres.

Folklore and historic festivities live on in the hearts of the inhabitants and are considered as a most valuable cultural heritage. The Virga Jesse Festivities certainly are the most important. The Organ and Carillon Festival in the summer, the Jenever Weekend in October and many others show the liveliness of the city. Finally, Hasselt is an international city with worldwide relations. It has established sister-city relationships with Sittard (the Netherlands), Detmold (Germany), Itami (Japan) and Mountain View (USA, Silicon Valley).

Location:
Hasselt, capital of the province of Limburg is situated on the eastern part of Flanders.

Local economy:
Without doubt, the city of Hasselt is the commercial centre of the province of Limburg and ranks fourth on the list of the most important commercial centres in Belgium. The broad range of business affairs and services is a large force of attraction to the surrounding region. The business affairs vary from large store chains to pleasant and exclusive boutiques. The pedestrian shopping streets add to the comfort of shopping in the center of town. The events that take place in Hasselt, such as the shopping feast at the end of June, the fashion weekend and lots of other successful events give an extra asset to the local commercial life.

The service sector is very prominent in Hasselt as well. For example, the numerous local headquarters that have established in Hasselt, or the presence of the Vlaamse Huis (under construction) etc. Also thanks to the enforced mobility policy (Groene Boulevard, free public transport, …) the city council of Hasselt quarantees good accessibility. Since 1 July 1997, travelling by bus in Hasselt has been free of charge. Buses operate very frequently. They take you to the town centre in no more than 10 minutes. This means that tourists can reach all our sights easily. It reached every national and international newspaper cover when the city council announced that every Hasselaar could take the bus for free! Not only the free buses but also a special traffic policy is special to Hasselt.

A large traffic policy : very important, with among others a public transport policy, a mobility plan, a bicycle plan, a parking policy plan, renovation of the station environment, the Green Boulevard –the renovated ring road around the inner city, modifications to the large ring road,… A small traffic policy : a fast solution for the inhabitants with among others anti-parking poles, speed ramps, elevated cross-roads, gate effects,… Particularly making the public realise its importance by well-oriented actions such as Carfree days, biking to the shop, cycle pooling,…

All these elements also create an interesting residential and working environment for entrepreneurs who get more and more attracted to the provincial capital. On the numerous industrial sites on the territory of the city of Hasselt we find companies with a broad range of activities. The employment quaranteed by these companies is an enduring challenge for the council.
 

Population:
With 68.000 inhabitants and an area of 10.233 ha, Hasselt is the commercial and service centre of the province. The province of Limburg is an economically flourishing region. As a result, the demand for qualified employees rises, so that education becomes even more important for this region. Therefore, Hasselt provides a large number of schools with a broad range of disciplines. This largely attracts pupils and students, even from far beyond the city borders. 42.017 toddlers, children, youth and adults follow courses in the numerous primary schools, secondary schools and colleges of Hasselt. The proximity of the university of Diepenbeek (now linked to the University of Maastricht, Nl. - Transnational University Limburg - for some scientific courses) and the different departments of higher education are a vital link in the education system of 14.506 students.

www.vigociudad.com
Vigo with a city population approximately 299.379 habitants, is the most populated city in Galicia (Spain), and the nucleous of a metropolitan area, which is a point of reference in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion due to its economic potential and its dynamic commercial, social and cultural life.

Local economy Vigo is the economic head of the south of Galicia and the nucleous of a wide socioeconomic area, also has one of the three free trade zones of Spain, this is very important for the industrial activity of the city, like the automobile (Citröen), which is one of the main economic activities of the city, together with the service sector and the fishing.

Vigo’s tourist resources make the city an attractive destination for spending a pleasant holiday on the Atlantic coast.

History:
Varberg’s history dates back to the middle Ages, with the city retaining features from the period when it was under Danish rule. After numerous wars and extensive fires during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the city has always risen from the ashes. The pride of Varberg is its fort, which was originally built as a castle by a Danish count in the late 13th century. In the 17th century, a fortress and moat were built around the castle. This mighty structure, perched on a rock overlooking the sea, has been the focal point of Varberg and life in the town for centuries.

Vigo was inhabited by castro dwellers and Romans. It experienced attacks by sea from English pirates and also had to fight on land against the French. The arrival of the Catalans boosted the city’s industrial development, which has not stopped growing since it was founded. At the end of the 16th century, the town had 868 residents, which rose to 15,000 at the end of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, Vigo’s liberal middle class took over the mechanisms of economic power. New industries were set up while communications improved and new plans were created to expand the city. In just over ten years the population doubled (there were 30,000 inhab. In 1910). As the century advanced, Vigo gradually absorbed the neighbouring municipalities of Bouzas and Lavadores. During the first third of the 20th century, the port of Vigo was linked to the image of thousands of Galicians boarding ships in order to emigrate to America. Another symbol is the tram, which began to function in 1914. The city was seething at that time with a great amount of social activities. There was an abundance of newspapers and weeklies, as well as political and trade union associations and organisations. All of this dynamic activity was neutralised by the outbreak of the Civil War.

Famous for: - Natural Bay and Ria. - Cíes Islands. - Sea Port with international importance. - Tradition of an open, cosmopolitan, industrial city with international projection. - The Vigo´s Ria has a special reference in the Julio Verne´s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. For example: “…The Spanish captains of the convoy protested against the decision. They wanted to be accompanied to a Spanish port, and if it could not be Cadiz, then Vigo Bay on the north-west coast of Spain, not blockaded at the time. Admiral de Châteaurenault was weak enough to obey these demands, and the galleons entered Vigo Bay…” “…Unloading the ingots from the galleons in Vigo port would have gone against their rigths. They therefore complained to Madrid, and persuaded the weak Philip V that the convoy should remain sequestered in the roadstead of Vigo without unloading, until the enemy fleets had gone away again. Now while this decision was being taken, the English vessels arrived in Vigo Bay, on 22 October 1702. Although outnumbered, Admiral de Châteaurenault fought courageously. But when he saw that the convoy´s riches were going to fall into the enemy´s hands, he burned and scuppered the galleons and so sank them with their enormous treasure…” “…Well, Dr Aronnax, we are in Vigo Bay, and you are now in a position to penetrate its mysteries…” “…Yes indeed, captain. Allow me, however, to tell you that in making use of Vigo Bay, you are merely anticipating the work of a rival company…” Julio Verne.

Location:
Vigo is the most populated city in Galicia (Spain), and the nucleous of a metropolitan area, which is a point of reference in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion due to its economic potential and its dynamic commercial, social and cultural life.

Population: The population of Vigo at the end of 2004 was 299.379 habitants

Education:
The city Council of Vigo developes its own education planning through the “Municipal Institute of Education” (Instituto Municipal de Educación) , which has a department for programation and another one for the orientation of the education. The municipal schools for music, theatre, games and chess are attached to this Institute.

Tourism & culture:
Good beaches, suitable facilities for nautical sports, all kinds of musical concerts, the market of Pedra, the Zoo, the Cíes Islands… Vigo’s tourist resources make the city an attractive destination for spending a pleasant holiday on the Atlantic coast. Have a look at the turismodevigo.org web if you are looking for accommodation, city routes or simply want to find out more about the range of leisure activities. Local economy Vigo is the economic head of the south of Galicia and the nucleous of a wide socioeconomic area, which covers from the Morrazo Peninsula to the Portuguese border. Vigo also has one of the three free trade zones of Spain, managed by a Consortium (Zona Franca ), in which the City Council of Vigo and the Porth Authority also participate. This is a tax free area in order to facilitate the international trade. This is very important for the industrial activity of the city, like the automobile (Citröen), which is one of the main economic activities of the city, together with the service sector and the fishing.

www.jyvaskyla.fi
Jyväskylä is one of Finland’s five most important centres of growth. From beginning of 2009 three municipalities merged to a city with 130 000 inhabitants.Jyväskylä is situated in Central Finland, and it is 270 km from Helsinki, the capital, in a beautiful lake district with excellent possibilities for outdoor activities. In recent years the population of our area has grown at record speed compared to the country as a whole. Jyväskylä is in fact the second most popular place in Finland to move to. Finns have also ranked Jyväskylä as offering the country’s best environment in which to live and bring up children.

www.sabadell.cat / www.vaporllonch.net
Sabadell is the capital of the county of Vallès Occidental (Catalonia), a title shared with Terrassa since 1990. With a population of about 204.000 inhabitants, Sabadell has confirmed its position as a driving force for economic and urban development in the county and also in Catalonia and is facing the future with new projects that will strenghten this status.
The city represents an important communications point and has its own airport which is one of the top seven airports in Spain in terms of traffic for non-commercial passenger aviation.
Sabadell pioneered the Industrial Revolution in Catalonia with its textile mills, together with Terrassa. Thus, in the mid 19th century, it became the most important wool city in Spain, being nicknamed the Catalan Manchester. Even today many mills from that period can still be seen, with most of them having been refurbished as residential buildings or other services.

Location:
Sabadell is the largest city in the county of Vallès Occidental in Catalonia. It is in the south of the county, on the River Ripoll, aproximately 20 km north-west from Barcelona. Sabadell is located 190 metres above sea level and covers an area of 37,79 km².

History:

The first human settlements in the Sabadell area date from the prehistoric period. Farming and stock-breeding community found the Vallès plain to be a good place for crops, pasture and communications.

In Roman times a little village called “Arragone” existed near where the church of La Salut now stands, on the left bank of the River Ripoll. This grew into the town called “Arraona” or “Arrahona” in the Middle Ages. Another little village was built just on the other side of the river. This second village, called Sabadell, located on a plain, began to grow and its population was about 600 people (152 houses) in 1378. Sabadell was enclosed by a wall, but due to population growth in the 16th century, some houses were built outside the wall. At that time the first textile industries appeared in town, devoted especially to wool clothing. The wool industry grew over the next centuries, and in 1800 the town's population was about 2000 people. The 19th century brought two important developments to the town: in 1856 the railroad arrived, and in 1877 Sabadell was awarded the title of city. Specialization in the production of woollen fabrics made Sabadell into the leading wool textile centre in Spain. In the 1897 census the population of the city was 23.044 people. Due to this industrial activity, Sabadell got massive waves of immigration in the 50s, 60s and early 70s leading to an uncontrolled urban expansion and the creation of some new neighborhoods. In this period, the population was multiplied by eight.

Local economy:

During the 20th century Sabadell gained major industrial momentum, specially in the textile and metallurgy industries, and modernised its economy with services.

The 1973 oil crisis and Franco's death in 1975 meant an important change in Spain and, of course, in Sabadell. The economic crisis compelled the city to diversify its economic activities. New commercial and leisure areas (such as the Eix Macià) appeared next to the traditional industries, leading to important economic development for the city. Nowadays, the three principal activities in terms of services are retail trade, financial institutions and wholesale trade.

Sabadell is working to enable the development of nearly 660.000 square metres of industrial and tertiary facilities in several parts of the city. Can Gambús, Can Roqueta, Sant Pau de Riu-Sec and the airport area are the leading locations in this commitment to the productive economy in the city. More specifically, the transformation of the Sant Pau de Riu-Sec zone will provide the finest supply of the industrial land in the entire Barcelona conurbation. This will be one of the driving forces that will make it possible to increase Sabadell’s industrial facilities and create new jobs in forthcoming years.

Economic activity in the city has grown in recent years. In 1991 it had 5.366 companies with 46.439 employees whereas at the end of 2008 there were 6.380 companies and 55.536 employees. Sabadell has a diversified economy. About 71,2% of companies and 76,2% of jobs are in the services sector. Even though the city is a major commerce and services centre, it still holds onto its industrial past: about 14,4% of companies and 14,4% of jobs are directly related to manufacturing. In addition there are many workplaces and jobs which are classified as being in the tertiary sector but which owe their existence to industrial activity. In terms of big industrial sectors, the metallurgy ranks first ahead of other traditional industries such as textiles and garment. The number of self-employed people has also increased significantly in recent years. Sabadell’s business structure is dominated by small and medium sized companies.

Education:

Sabadell is moving towards the society of the future, a society in which information and knowledge will be the leading players. The area where the city of Sabadell is located, is an educational hot spot with the presence of important university campuses such as the University’s Advanced Design School (ESDI), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). In Sabadell there are already three universities and two university-linked foundations. The Illa Municipal Art School of Sabadell is a municipal centre for teaching art and design which is highly regarded in the state education sector. The Municipal School of Music and Intermediate Conservatory is a music education institution for students aged 6 years and up located in our city.
 

www.kortrijk.be

Kortrijk is located in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium, Flanders near the French border. We have 75.000 inhabitants and are the 6th biggest town in Flanders. Kortrijk is the centre town of and urbanised area of 280.000 people, our city dates from medieval times and we have some historic buildings that are classified as world heritage by UNESCO.

History :

We have a past in Textile industries, mainly FLAX. But in recent years we have developed into a city filled with SME’s that have reconverted after the textile crisis in the 70s. We are also known for our building materials mainly tiles and bricks. Our world wide most famous enterprise however is BARCO VISION, known for it’s digital projection and video walls. One of our most important trumps is the modern and big infrastructure for fairs. We have several big fairs in Kortrijk. Two are very well known. Bus world which has branches in Shanghai and Mumbai, even in Istanbul this fair for busses and touring cars is known. The other is Interior: this is the second biggest for interior design and furniture after the Milan fair.

Location:
Kortrijk is situated next to the expanding French city Lille. We have joined Lille and Tournai in the first ever European Grouping Territorial Cooperation in the European Union. We are part of the Euro district and it will be a challenge to find our role as a medium sized town in this Metropolis. Since the 90s we are adapting our policy by enhancing centre function and we are giving our city a new drive. The first step was the overall improvement of our public spaces.

We combine international architects with our local engineers. The market place was designed by Bernardo Secchi from Milan and for our pedestrian area we worked with Jordi Farrando from Barcelona. One of the biggest project is the calibration of the river Leie that runs through the city centre. It is part of the trans European network connection between Le Havre and Rotterdam by waterway for vessels up to 4000 tons. This project means we are building 7 new bridges over the river, the challenge was to change this technical infrastructure into an opportunity to create a new city image and to experience the quality of water in the inner-city.

Local economy:
Next to the improvement of public spaces we have also chosen to inject a shot of enterprises in the city centre by constructing a new inner-city shopping mall of 35000 square meters that will hold nearly 100 new shops. It was a conscious decision -not free of risk- to construct this mall in the city centre and in the existing pedestrian area and not in the periphery. The opening is foreseen for march 2010 and we hope it will give a new commercial boost to the city.

The city baseline is KORTRIJK, city of innovation creation and design. In order to develop this baseline we have created a platform of 5 stakeholders on regional level where we combine the public sector with the economic world and the educational institutes. Our University is leading our country in gaming , multimedia and product design. One of our urban development programs tries to change the BUDA Island into a creative nest for artists. An old cinema complex, brewery tower and factory building are adjusted to create space for creativity and art production. We are also home to the Flemish institute for Research and design in the field of plastics, and the Flemish competence centre for industrial design also known as Flanders in shape.

The next big thing in Kortrijk is the construction of a modern knowledge centre -as a driver for the development of the railway station neighbourhood also in the centre of the city. We combine the library of the 21st century with life long learning and with multimedia and music institutes. We have selected the well-known American architecture office REX that constructed the library in Seattle. We are at the moment in the phase of financing the project. We are not unfamiliar with the concept of European project and networks. For example in E government we have been involved in some interreg projects.

Most recently the innofestival project in the 7th framework program PRO INNO has been approved, together with our partner Barcelona , Milan, Lisbon, Vilnius and Talinn. We are going to organise the European innovation week called innovation festival for the next three years. Themes witch capture our interest are Life Long learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, library of the 21st century, waterfront development and E- government and E -care.

We hope that Eurotowns has the strength to develop impact on the European agenda to do more for the medium sized cities.