Genk

When it comes to cities in Europe, Genk is something of a baby. It’s located in the Limburg province of Belgium and was only officially declared a city as recently as 2000

  • Historic
  • Museums & arts
  • Parks & green space
  • Touristy
  • Wining and dining

Genk

When it comes to cities in Europe, Genk is something of a baby. It’s located in the Limburg province of Belgium and was only officially declared a city as recently as 2000. Since then, however, it’s been voted the friendliest city in Europe and, with more than 84 nationalities represented amongst its population, it offers a welcome that’s cosmopolitan as well as friendly.

History

Genk was originally a collection of smaller villages dating back as early as the 10th Century. Up until 1900 it remained sparsely populated and attracted a population of only 2,000 people. A significant number of the inhabitants were writers and artists attracted by the tranquillity of the location and the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

All of this changed in 1900, when coal was discovered in Genk, leading to the development of three separate mines and a massive boom in the population. Today, as is the case in much of Europe, the mines have been closed down, but Genk continues to re-invent itself and develop a distinctive personality of its own. The elevation to city status was merely the latest step in this ongoing process.

 

See places to stay

Map

Main features

The Green City

Despite its industrial heritage Genk has been nicknamed ‘The Green City’ and this is reflected in the presence of De Maten, a nature reserve, and green spaces such as Sundial Park. Slightly further afield lovers of the great outdoors can enjoy access to the Hoge Kempen National Park, the first of its’ kind in Flanders. The link to the natural world is emphasised again in the form of Bokrijk, a park and open air museum complex on the outskirts of Genk. The historical aspect of the attraction takes the form of more than 100 original buildings relocated from across Flanders, dating back as far as the 17th Century, and chosen to tell the story of rural and urban life in the region. During summer, the exhibits are bolstered by the presence of actors in traditional costumes re-enacting events from times past.

Shared Image: