De Melberg Nature Reserve

The Melberg is a green pearl that is surprisingly close to the city centre and offers a lot of variation in a small area: you will find forest, open spaces, heathland, dunes and drifting plains and you will experience a lot of difference in height during a walk. In the Melberg you can also find some juniper berries, which is quite exceptional these days. Definitely worth it!
In contrast to the slag heaps, the Melberg was not formed by mining, but a natural elevation in the landscape. The Melberg is located at the transition from the 80-metre flat and dry part of Genk (the Kempen plateau) to the 20-metre lower humid part (Zuiderkempen-Demervallei). This slope can be clearly felt and seen by the walker.

The Melberg is freely accessible on the marked paths. There are various walking routes in the area that vary in distance and difficulty. These routes start at the scout premises along the Melbergstraat, but you can start anywhere.
green walk: 2 km
blue walk: 3.1 km
red walk: 5 km

ACCESSIBILITYBy car, it is best to park at Jeugdhuis TNT: Melbergstraat 3.
There are many entrances on foot, for example via Meilweg, D'Ierdstraat, Aardlaan, Zonneweelde, Bremakkerstraat or Steeneikstraat.