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Genk · Belgium

Hoge Kempen National Park

Known locally as Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Heath, pine forest, former gravel landscapes and broad walking networks form Belgium's first national park, offering a large-scale nature experience in otherwise densely settled Flanders.

Plan a trip here Website / visitor information
Hoge Kempen National Park Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0
Typical visit
2 hours 30 minutes
Setting
Outdoor
Region
Limburg
Last checked
10 Aug 2026

Why visit

Heath, pine forest, former gravel landscapes and broad walking networks form Belgium's first national park, offering a large-scale nature experience in otherwise densely settled Flanders. The visit is worthwhile because it brings several strands of Belgian history and landscape together in one clearly legible setting. Time on site can focus on heathland, pine forest, marked trails, while the surrounding streets, grounds or scenery provide useful context. It works especially well as part of a regional itinerary because the place adds a distinct subject rather than repeating the experience of nearby attractions.

What you will see

  • heathland.
  • pine forest.
  • marked trails.
  • gateway areas.

History

The national park was established in the early twenty-first century by linking and managing existing nature areas in Limburg, including landscapes shaped by forestry and extractive industries.

Visitor tips

  1. 1

    Allow enough time to understand the surrounding setting as well as the principal feature, and follow local signs where historic surfaces, protected areas or active public spaces affect access.

About Limburg

Belgian Limburg mixes Roman archaeology, coal-mining heritage, open-air museums and broad heath-and-forest landscapes linked by a strong cycling culture.

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More to see around Genk

All of Genk
Bokrijk Open Air Museum Genk · Belgium Historic farmhouses, workshops and village buildings from Flanders are assembled across a large park, giving material form to rural architecture, trades and domestic life. Cycling Through Water, Bokrijk Genk · Belgium A purpose-built cycle path drops below the waterline between two ponds, creating a striking landscape experience within the Bokrijk–De Wijers cycling network. C-mine, Genk Genk · Belgium Former Winterslag colliery buildings, headframes and industrial spaces have been converted for culture, design and creative uses while retaining visible evidence of Limburg's coal-mining era. Gallo-Roman Museum, Tongeren Tongeren · Belgium Archaeological collections trace human occupation in the region from prehistory through the Roman period, with particular relevance in Tongeren, Belgium's oldest Roman-founded urban centre. Alden Biesen Castle Bilzen · Belgium Alden Biesen's moated buildings, courtyards, church and gardens preserve the scale of a regional commandery of the Teutonic Order rather than a conventional aristocratic château.

Already worked out

Ready-made trips through Genk

All ready-made trips
Limburg Heritage and Landscape 3 days · 6 stops · Moderate pace Limburg Heritage and Landscape links complementary places at a pace that leaves time for museums, walks and local conditions. Check current site access, transport and seasonal arrangements before fixing each day. Belgium Grand Tour 12 days · 30 stops · Moderate pace Belgium Grand Tour links complementary places at a pace that leaves time for museums, walks and local conditions. Check current site access, transport and seasonal arrangements before fixing each day.