The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Melberg

The former mine site Winterslag is now a cultural center. The beautiful machine house of the former Winterslag coal mine was formerly used to generate compressed air for the drilling machines. These machines were powered by compressed air, not electricity, to avoid the risk of sparks that, in combination with mine gas, could lead to explosive situations. There is plenty to do in and around the former mine buildings, including the C-mine Expedition, an underground adventure route. An absolute recommendation for anyone who wants to discover the rich mining history of Genk! C-mine also offers a year-round program with projects, exhibitions, and performances. The impressively restored energy building forms the vibrant heart of C-mine. It houses, among other things, the C-mine Visitor Memorial, where you can get answers to all your questions about the location and experiences in Genk and the surrounding area.

The heath landscape is a remnant of a historical, extensive agricultural ecosystem. Of the area of heath that existed around 1850, about 5 percent remained at the end of the twentieth century. The remaining heathlands are now nature reserves or are used as military training grounds. Today, heath is scarce in Flanders and still covers 0.6 to 1 percent of the total area: about 7,700 to 13,000 hectares. Nevertheless, the heath landscape is of great importance for the preservation of biodiversity: 13% of the most endangered animal and plant species in Flanders can be found in the heath landscape.

The name Maten is related to the English "meadows". The area is part of De Wijers, a pond complex on the transition from the Kempens Plateau to the Demer Valley. On the poor sandy soils of the Kempen, fish farming was a source of extra protein. As early as the Middle Ages, series of ponds were created by means of simple cross-dikes in the valley. The overflow from one pond simultaneously forms the supply for the next pond. For the ponds in De Maten, the Stiemerbeek valley was dammed up several times. As fish farming became more intensive in the first half of the twentieth century, many ponds were given separate inlets and outlets. In De Maten, you will still find a mix of both systems. The water management is therefore a complex part of the management of one of the oldest nature reserves in Flanders.

The Chapel Our Lady of the Earth is a charming, rural chapel that has been a silent witness to the Genk countryside for centuries. It stands on a small elevated spot – “d’Ierd” refers to the higher ground – and was traditionally visited by residents who came to pray for protection and prosperity. Today, it is an atmospheric stop during a walk or bike ride, to relax for a moment amidst the fields and greenery.

Lovely blossoms to be spotted here too

Genk's town hall is centrally located on the Stadsplein and forms a recognizable point in the heart of the city. The modern building houses the main city services and is a lively place where residents can go for administration and information. Thanks to the open environment around the square, it is a pleasant stop during a walk or bike ride through the center.

The Schemmersberg nature reserve is located between Genk and Zonhoven, on the western edge of the Kempen Plateau. The name Schemmersberg is derived from 'twilight', which means shadow or shade. Within this 40-hectare area, there is a large sand pit where sand was extracted for many years in the past for the production of wet sand. Heather still grows on and around the sand hill.

The building itself is five hundred years old and carries an impressive history. It survived the Eighty Years' War, the Napoleonic era, and both World Wars, and was due for renovation.