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Target price (adult) € 0,-

Contact information

+32 89 39 10 86 toerisme@as.be www.as.be

Location

Stationsstraat 124, 3665 AS

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EnergyVille

EnergyVille unites several research institutions for sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems. EnergyVille strives to rank among the top five in Europe in the field of innovative energy research. It concerns a major redesignation of the former Waterschei mining site.

Terril en picknickplaats Thor Park - Picknickplaats Thor Park
Copyright Kris Van de Sande

Slag heap and picknick spot Thor park Waterschei

The spoil tips in Genk are real beacons in the landscape. Do you know how they came about? These ‘mountains’ consist entirely of piles of waste rock removed from the different layers of the coal veins. If you see a spoil tip, there used to be a mine in the vicinity! These ‘waste mountains’ unexpectedly created their own microclimate, enabling you to discover a wide range of unique plants and animals over there today. The spoil tip was declared a protected landscape in 1999. You can climb to the very top. Don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes.

Thor is a very special urban park, noted for (among other things) its various cycle trails, footpaths and picnic spots. It’s a relaxing environment for employees on the site, but also for those living round about and for visitors who want to experience the area’s natural beauty.

The Arch - The Arch

The Arch

The Berlin artists’ collective ConstructLab designed a wooden construction and lived in it for four months while developing a building brick from plastic waste. Genk citizens, visitors and chance passers-by were invited to make a brick from plastic bottle tops which were used to cover a 7-metre-high, participatory artwork called ‘The Arch’.

Thor Park Waterschei - thor 1

Thor Park Waterschei

Heritage and nature converge in Thor Park. Begin your visit at Thor Central, the main building on the site of the former Waterschei colliery, before setting off to explore the surrounding area with its imposing spoil heap, footpaths lined with little stone men and attractive picnic spots.
The 30-hectare Thor Park is part of the magnificent Hoge Kempen National Park. You can explore the park either on foot, or by bike using the Limburg bicycle network. The Schansbroek (stream), the Klaverberg (inland dunes) and the Kolenspoor (coal railway) are all nearby. The remarkable landscape is a combination of rare flora and fauna, magnificent industrial mine buildings and the garden suburbs. Hence the application for their classification as UNESCO world heritage.
Imposing spoil heap
Thor Park’s old Waterschei spoil heap, made up of waste rock adjacent to the coal seams removed during coal mining, is a nod to Genk’s rich mining history. In 1999 the spoil tip was given listed status, but you can still climb it. Just follow the little stone men to the top. You can contribute your own little stone man. At the top of the tip, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the impressive colliery and the KRC Genk football stadium.
The 11 walks map
To make the Thor Park area accessible to the public, eleven new walks ranging from 2 to 16 km have been mapped out. They are outlined in the handy THOR PARK map of walks, a total of more than 40 km of signposted footpaths. Information about the area is also provided. The map is available from F&B outlets at Thor Central, the main building on the site next to the C-mine Visitor Centre, or online via the National Park webshop.

Thor Central - Thor Central

Thor Central

Thor Central is an impressive industrial building which was given listed status after the closure of the mines. The option of turning the site into a technology park came up when looking for a new and meaningful use for Waterschei colliery, one that would give this magnificent building a bright new future.
Thor Central is now the beating heart of the Thor Park site. The Food Plaza is worth a visit in its own right, with the Partaasch restaurant and Lampada brasserie open to the public every day. The building is also well equipped for corporate events with meeting rooms, an auditorium, central reception and even a crèche. Exhibitions and events are organized here on a regular basis.

Mijndepot Waterschei - Mijndepot bezoek

Mijndepot Waterschei

Fancy a unique visit to the Waterschei mine building? You can! Go on a trip in spring and summer with a former mine worker. He intersperses the tour with his personal stories. You will learn all about Genk's rich past and its mine site during the exhibition ‘Mijndepot’ with film and image material and objects from the mine.

Steenmannetjes - Steenmannetjes

Little stone men

On the path to the right of Thor Central, 12 little stone men or small piles of basalt mark the shortest route to the top of the spoil pit. The principle is simple: you walk from one heap of stones to the next. Everyone will come across them at some point, suddenly and unexpectedly. And you are duty-bound to add your own little stone man!

Christus Koningkerk - Chirstus Koningkerk

Church of Christ the King

The Church of Christ the King, a so-called ‘mine cathedral’, is located in the garden suburb of Waterschei, near Waterschei coal mine. The colliers would come here to pray for their safe return and to seek comfort when a fellow miner failed to do so. The church was designed by Gaston Voutquenne and built between 1935 and 1936. It is a yellow brick cruciform church with a distinctive tall, slender tower crowned with a dome. The concrete skeleton has anchored the church, like the headframes, in the landscape for many years.

Panoramapunt Mechelse Heide - Mechelse Heide

Panoramapunt Mechelse Heide

This is the highest point of the National Park. It is 104 metres above sea level. You see here huge vergezichtegen to in Netherlands and Germany and on a clear day, even down to the high FENS

Casino Modern - Casino Modern Waterschei

Casino Modern

Don’t be mistaken, Casino Modern has nothing in common with Casino Royale. You will not find any roulette or poker tables here. The ‘casinos’ built by the mine managers served as community buildings and meeting houses of the mining region. Casino Modern is nowadays a theatre with boxes and a foyer and a workshop for visual artists (FLACC). The building also features a café and an exhibition space.

Tuinwijk Waterschei - Tuinwijk

Tuinwijk Waterschei

When you walk through Waterschei garden city, you will discover just how much of a cultural melting pot Genk truly is. Go for a stroll through the middle class suburbs in the mine cities and discover in the main shopping streets a huge variety of shops, restaurants and clubs from the different nationalities that have coloured Waterschei garden city over the years.

Stalenstraat - Stalenstraat

Stalenstraat

Stalenstraat was constructed to connect the mine with the garden suburb in the heyday of black gold. As such the street attracted a great deal of pedestrian traffic and became a flourishing commercial and entertainment centre. You’ll still find small shops of every description, including ethnic fruit and vegetable shops selling Greek and Turkish specialities. A feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds! The many cultural clubs of various nationalities add a further touch of colour to this convivial working-class street.

Ruiternetwerk Duinengordel - Paardrijden Duinengordel

Ruiternetwerk Duinengordel

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Toegangspoort Mechelse Heide – Maasmechelen

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Ukrainian Catholic Church

The Ukrainian Catholic community purchased an empty lodge called ‘Terminus’ belonging to Waterschei coalmine and turned it into the Josyf Slipyj centre to a design by E. Lambrechts. The space for the congregation and the altar space are separated by an iconostasis painted by Sister Elisabeth of the ‘Vita et Pax’ priory in Schoten in 1960. The Byzantine-style stained-glass windows were made by Armand van Rompaey between 1990 and 1992.

Overdekt zwembad Prinsenpark - foto shutterstock zwemmen

Overdekt zwembad Prinsenpark

The indoor pool Princes park in Maasmechelen is open all year round. Here you can swim undisturbed, free swimming or amuse you with recreational game material.

Mijnkathedraal Sint-Albertuskerk - Mijnkathedraal zwartberg

Zwartberg Mine Cathedral

One of the nicest examples of architecture from Genk's mining past is the mine cathedral. Be sure to have a walk inside, as it was designed by Henri Lacoste, one of the leading architects of his time.

Go back to the golden years of the mines. In those days the mining companies in Limburg had churches built in all the cities. You immediately understand why they were given the name 'cathedral'. They are true giants. The majority are made of brick, with the exception of the Winterslag cathedral, which is made of natural stone.

What you need to make sure you see in Zwartberg mine cathedral are the crystal stained glass windows by Val-Saint-Lambert. These are not the usual glass in lead, but massive chunks of coloured crystal. As a result, people from Genk also call the mine cathedral 'the church with 7,000 sparkling crystals'.

Tevhid Moskee - Tevhid Moskee

Tevhid Moskee

In 1964 the Turkish miners came together on the Paul Lambert Avenue in a wooden building. Now here is a nice building with minaret. This is a tower from which the imam calls the faithful to prayer. At the back of the mosque you see a bulge. This is the niche where the imam stands for leading the prayers. This nis is facing towards the East, in the direction of Mecca.

Expeditie Geocaching - Geoaching

Geocaching expedition

Armed with a GPS and with the help of a guide, go on a treasure hunt and, who knows, you may very well find hidden treasure!

Ontdekkingsexpeditie - Ontdekkingsexpeditie

Expedition of discovery

Join a guide on an adventurous expedition of discovery packed with action and interesting nature facts.

Tuinwijk Zwartberg - Tuinwijk Zwartberg

Zwartberg City Garden

The garden city – often referred to as a ‘cité’ - built in Zwartberg was a copy of the garden suburb in Seraing [Province of Liège]. The plan consisted of a circular ‘square’ - Place Cockerill - with a statue of industrialist John Cockerill. This was the Cité-Noord (North) where the mine’s executives had their houses. There was a clear hierarchy between the Cité-Noord and the Cité-Zuid (South), which consisted of small workers’ houses. They all had a garden, of course, because garden suburbs had to earn their name! The two cités were separated by a railway line.

De Oudsberg, de hoogste landduin van Vlaanderen! - Duinengordel-oudsberg-2

De Oudsberg, de hoogste landduin van Vlaanderen!

Terhills Cablepark - Beachbar & strand

Terhills Cablepark

Terhills Cablepark is known for its great atmosphere. Experienced trainers teach you how to wakeboard in a fun and safe environment. We also have a big aquapark with obstacles varying in size and difficulty level. It's the perfect activity for groups of friends, bachelor parties or companies.

We have a miniramp, trampoline, the most beautiful sunsets in Limburg and a wide variety of drinks at our beachbar if you prefer to chill. The opening hours can be found on our website

At Terhills Cablepark we also have a great restaurant that serves delicious food.

Toegangspoort Kattevennen - Genk - toegangspoort Kattevennen (c) Hugo Thomassen

Toegangspoort Kattevennen - Genk

Corpus: Picknickplaats Kattevennen - Picknickplaats Corpus
Copyright Luc Daelemans

Corpus: picnic spot Kattevennen

Tucked away in Kattevennen just behind the Visitor Centre you’ll find a picnic spot with a difference. Named Corpus, it was designed by nature artist Will Beckers. Visitors sit cheek by jowl in a large mown circle, cocooned by a sculpture made of corten steel and tree branches. A unique experience!
“Corpus embodies the growth process between Man and Culture by making a connection with Nature.” – Will Beckers
If you prefer not to lug your own picnic around, why not order a picnic basket packed with goodies from the C-mine Visitor Centre? It will be delivered to you free of charge.

Cosmodrome - Cosmodrome 1

Cosmodrome

If you are fascinated by the vast universe, then head for the Cosmodrome in the Hoge Kempen National Park in Genk where the high-tech, 360° projection room will take you on a spectacular, star and comet-studded journey into space, past, present and future. A breathtaking experience, whether you are 6 or 66!

1 ticket = 3 experiences
And don’t forget the permanent exhibition, ‘The Big Bang’. Starting right at the beginning of the cosmos, 13.8 billion years ago when the concept of time didn’t exist, it traces the evolution, from the Big Bang to the present day.
To finish, you are taken to the observatory, which is equipped with an exceptionally large telescope and a 360° automatically revolving platform. When the weather is clear, you can even observe the sun.
For the film programme, consult the calendar on the website.
Tip
In Kattevennen you’ll find a picnic spot with a difference just behind the Visitor Centre. Named Corpus, it was designed by nature artist Will Beckers. Visitors sit cheek by jowl in a large mown circle, cocooned by a sculpture made of corten steel and tree branches. A unique experience!

Koninginnepark met standbeeld Koningin Elisabeth en kiosk - standbeeld Sint Elisabeth in het park

Koninginnepark met standbeeld Koningin Elisabeth en kiosk

On 16 October 1922 brought her Majesty Queen Elisabeth Eisdense a visit to the Garden District. The descent of the Queen in the mine at the time made such an impression on the people that built a park with the statue of the Queen. The image is of white Carrara marble, In the Queen's park is also a kiosk where numerous events take place

Passantenhaven Eisden - passantenhaven

Passantenhaven Eisden

A marina with related facilities. The key for the current cabinets are available at tourism Maasmechelen.

Toegangspoort Connecterra - Maasmechelen - Lange Terill

Toegangspoort Connecterra - Maasmechelen

Kikmolen Maasmechelen - Speeltuin en Zwembad

Kikmolen Maasmechelen

Take a splash in our beautiful 2.7 ha natural swimming pool. Relax on our expansive lawn or on the solar island and enjoy a snack and drink on our cozy terrace.

More sense of adventure? Discover our two spectacular water slides!
The longest water slide takes you through the many bends with a devilish speed. In the tube slide you can even slide with your own rubber boat!
The little ones can splash around to their hearts. The soil is only 30 cm deep and runs very gently to a maximum depth of 1.80 m.

Children can romp in our large playground. Slide down the slide, crawl into the carousel, dive into the swing basket. Climb the space net or conquer the climbing fort!

In short, everything to spend a nice day with the children.

Mijnmonument in Zwartberg - Mijnmonument Zwartberg

Mine monument

Did you know that on October 1st 1966 Zwartberg was the first of the seven Limburg mines to be closed? Industrial heritage was not a hot topic at the time so the whole plant was mercilessly razed to the ground. However, to commemorate it a mine monument was placed on the concrete slab which covers Shaft II. It features five mineworkers standing on and around the symbolic headframes. They embody the men who came to work in the mine from every corner of Belgium and Europe. Their descendants made the Zwartberg district their home and still live there today.

Do you want more inspiration? Contact us and we will help you.

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