As colliery

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As played a particularly significant role in the history of mining in Limburg. This was where André Dumont discovered the very first coal deposits, but the local council at the time was not in favour of a coal mine. You will find no mine shafts or underground passages here, but you can see clear signs of mining history.

In a small station

For years, As station played an important role in the coal extraction. This was the departure point for miners heading to the collieries at Eisden, Waterschei, and Winterslag, where the mined coal was transported over the coal track. Today one of the old train carriages accommodates a visitor center and you will discover 'The Yard' a graffiti art project on a few train units.

An elevated view

Nearby is a 31-metre high viewing tower. The tower is an exact replica of the drilling tower from which André Dumont discovered coal. Once at the top you have a great view of the station site and the surrounding landscape of the Hoge Kempen National Park.

Toegangspoort Station As - Station As Uitkijktoren

Gateway Station As

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Nature in all its glory! Station As is one of the gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park. Every year, thousands of cyclists take a refreshing break here during one of the rides. Nature, history and absolute enjoyment. You’ll have a fantastic day in As! Thanks to a well-equipped parking area, this is the ideal point from which to discover As.

As well as walking and cycling, you can climb a 31 metre viewing tower here too. In the visitors’ reception, laid out like an authentic train carriage, you will find all the information you need about the Hoge Kempen National Park and As.
Minitrein - Minitrein

Mini train

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The 1,300 m long narrow-gauge railway takes you in a miniature train through the beautiful nature of the Three Banks forest. On the way you pass the 31 m high watchtower of the Hoge Kempen National Park.

Between the months of April and September you can come and take a ride with the miniature train on Sundays. There are 3 rides each time at 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm.
Tickets must be paid for on the spot at the stop of the mini-train, watchtower Station As. Reservations can be made via toerisme@as.be

ATTENTION: In case of bad weather conditions the ride can be cancelled.

More information and timetable: www.stationas.be.
Fietsverhuur Station As - Dienst Toerisme Station As

Bike rental As Station

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Station As, one of the gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park, is the ideal starting point to admire nature in all its glory. Station As is located at junction 41 and offers numerous possibilities to start your cycling adventure. Thanks to the kilometres of car-free cycle paths, you can cycle through the vast heathland and be amazed by the amazing views!

Tip: Let yourself be tempted by the "cycling through the heathland" experience, where you cycle right through the National Park. Thanks to the panorama bridge, you can fully enjoy cycling "across" the heathland. Ash will undoubtedly surprise you!

Book your rental bike online at www.fietsparadijslimburg.be
On the day of your excursion, the bicycle will be ready and waiting for you at As Station.

Rental period 2023
From April 3 to September 28:
● Mon - Sun: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
● No bike rental on public holidays
● No bike rental on 3/05, 10/05, 19/05, 21/06, 10/07, 14/08, 8/09 and 13/09.

Offer:
● City bikes with or without child seat
● Children's bikes
● Electric bikes
● Tandem
● Cycling bags

Collecting a bike
● You can pick up the bicycle keys at the visitors' center of the Tourism Office Axis.

Returning a bike

April to June and September
● Non-electric bikes: possible after closing time until 7 p.m.
● Electric bikes: possible after closing time until 7 p.m.

July and August
● Non-electric bikes: possible after closing time until 9 p.m.
● Electric bikes: possible after closing time until 9 p.m.

Parking
Free parking within walking distance:
● Station As
● Leisure campus As: Schuttenbergstraat 2
Paaltje - Paaltje As

Small post in the Driebanken forest

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In the Driebanken forest, for those who look carefully, there is a small post with a date on it. This post is a concession post and was used as a vertex for underground mining. In As itself, no mine eventually came up because the then municipal government chose to remain an agricultural municipality.
Graffitikunstwerk "The Yard" - The Yard

Graffiti artwork ‘The Yard’

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The municipality of As, with the support of the culture council of As and in association with VZW Killerbee and Spray & Play, has painted four carriages as a wholetrain. Some fifteen professional Street Art and graffiti artists were involved in the project. During a graffiti jam, the train carriages were transformed into colourful eye-catchers at the station site. This is the very first time a jam has been organised on railway carriages in Flanders.

The artists are a mix of Belgian and Dutch top graffiti artists. They are both crews and individual artists, so each piece of the train was entrusted to a different artist or crew.

Visit this amazing, colourful art project at the station site!
Uitkijktoren - Uitkijktoren

Watchtower

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The 31-meter-high watchtower is a replica of the derrick that André Dumont used to extract the first coal from the ground in 1901. The watchtower is freely accessible up to a height of 25 meters. Once you reach the top, you can scan the horizon for the terrils of Eisden, Winterslag and Waterschei and have a beautiful view of the Hoge Kempen National Park.
André Dumont Monument - Monument Andre Dumont As

Monument André Dumont

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This monument is dedicated to the Leuven professor André Dumont. He discovered the first coal in Limburg on the night of 1 to 2 August 1901, namely in As. This was the start of Limburg's industrialisation and growth. From a region consisting of moors and small farms, this part of Limburg grew into a dynamic, multicultural region. Today, André Dumont's influence can still be felt: both hospitals and schools were named after him.
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