Halen, formerly Haelen , is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg, to the west of Hasselt. On January 1, 2018, Halen had a total population of 9,461. The total area is 36.29 km2 which gives a population density of 261 inhabitants per km2. The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Halen proper, Loksbergen, and Zelem. During the First World War, on August 12, 1914, the Battle of Halen took place here near the river crossing of the Gete.