Discover Genk and beyond

During this short bike tour you will mainly get to know Genk, a medium-sized city in Belgian Limburg. The city has been shaped by its recent history surrounding the coal industry. Not only did this result in earlier work, but also tension, sadness due to various mining accidents, renovation, urbanization and mixing of races and peoples. But decades after the mines closed, the city has become remarkably multicultural! It all started on May 20, 1901 when the Liège professor André Dumont discovered a coal seam in the neighboring village of As. In 1902 coal was also found in Genk. On June 3, 1914 at half past two in the afternoon the first coal was brought out. Not long afterwards, Genk opened the mine of Winterslag and a little later the mines of Waterschei and Zwartberg.

The mines attracted tens of thousands of workers to this region, including many immigrants. The then small town of Genk experienced three waves of immigration: in the 1920s and 1930s from Poland and Ukraine, then from Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal and from 1964 from Turkey and Morocco. As a result, approximately one third of citizens are of immigrant origin. The Italian community is the largest and includes approximately 10,000 people. There are approximately 85 nationalities in Genk. The multicultural character is reflected in various cultural and religious institutions: Genk has four Turkish mosques, three Moroccan mosques, a Ukrainian Orthodox church, a Ukrainian Catholic church and a Greek Orthodox church.

You will also find an exceptional number of multicultural food shops throughout the city.
The cycle route starts near the former Waterschei mine. This so-called mine site, a collective name for all the buildings and equipment surrounding the mine, has been converted into an industrial estate with a science park; the Thor Park. The main building and the shaft trestle have been preserved. less impressively preserved. Only a few associated houses of the executives from that time can still be found. What you can still see is the mine slag heap, a bump in the landscape where waste and soil from the mine tunnels was dumped. Just past Zwartberg you will pass the Limburg Police Museum, which is a nice stop if you want to know more about police work in this part of Flanders.

Genk is located on the edge of the Hoge Kempen National Park. This park covers approximately 5,750 hectares and was festively opened on Sunday, March 26, 2006. You will find extensive forest plots of mainly conifers and heathlands. From the city you cycle directly through wonderful greenery. On the south side of Genk you pass Het Wik, a varied nature reserve with ponds, alder forests, peaty birch forests, gale thickets and the like. More than 80 bird species breed here.

Back in the built-up area of Genk, you cycle past the former Winterslag mine. This mine site has been converted into the C-mine, a beautiful cultural complex with a cinema, theater, catering industry and other creative activities. If you feel like watching a movie after the bike ride, this is the place to be. Furthermore, Genk has no fewer than three shopping centers. During the summer months there is a large and busy flea market in the center on Sundays. If you want to explore the Hoge Kempen National Park even better from Genk, take cycle route number 255262'Enjoy in Genk\\\'.