Canyon Team Vlaanderen – Buitenmuur

Canyon Team Vlaanderen's tower in Hasselt

The buitenmuur ("outdoor wall") is a 12-metre outdoor climbing tower beside the Japanese Garden in Hasselt. The city owns it, and Canyon Team Vlaanderen (CTV), a Flemish canyoning club, manages and maintains it. CTV has fitted it with extra equipment to recreate canyon situations, and holds all the rope-technique work it doesn't do on rock here: free technique days, lesson days for its canyoneer courses and the GTE, the joint technical final test.

Climbing on the tower

The brick tower has holds, overhanging sections and top-rope anchors. Climbing is on top rope only: the tower isn't equipped for lead climbing, and CTV doesn't allow it. CTV's own activities take priority, and some of them can't be combined with climbing. Clubs and groups may only climb under a qualified climbing instructor.

Using it on your own

Outside CTV's activities, anyone can use the tower on their own initiative and at their own risk. Request a day through CTV's online form: the booking stands once it's approved and paid. The site is open from sunrise to sunset, and you lock the gate when you leave. You need KBF membership or your own insurance that covers climbing or canyoning, and individual users must be able to show proof of competence, such as a KBF climbing certificate. Nothing is provided, so bring your own rope, harness, belay device and helmet: helmets are compulsory on and near the wall. Park in the car park behind the tower.