멜베르그 주변 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

The Slagmolen (Slag Mill) is a centuries-old watermill building in Genk (Termien), situated right on the edge of the De Maten nature reserve and the Stiemerbeek valley. Dating back to 1523, it is probably the oldest existing building in the city and served as a functioning watermill for centuries. This mill was powered by the water of the Stiemerbeek stream and its tributaries, meaning the wheel turned as soon as there was sufficient water in the stream. This technique was typical of rural life in the past, and the stream was regulated to keep the mill running. This created the area around De Maten into a dynamic landscape of water features and ponds. Today, the Slagmolen is no longer a typical working mill, but its ambition is high: after a thorough renovation, the building will be operational again and serve as an official visitors center for De Maten, featuring an information desk, café, and meeting space for hikers and nature lovers. The opening of this center is planned for the summer of 2026.

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The Vlonderpad (Boardwalk) in the Stiemerbeek Valley is a charming and accessible walking path that is part of the green network around the De Maten nature reserve and the Stiemerbeek Valley near Genk (Belgium). The path brings you literally and figuratively closer to the water in wet and marshy terrain. You walk on wooden walkways that allow for a safe, dry, and atmospheric walk. The boardwalk is a partially wooden walkway constructed along a wet section of the Stiemerbeek Valley, the natural area surrounding the stream with its banks and marshes. Where the path would otherwise be muddy, the walkways guide you across the wet terrain, allowing you to walk peacefully while staying close to the water and experiencing the nature around you. On this path, you often walk along the stream between reed beds and wet vegetation. It feels like a beautiful transition between the more traditional forest and grassland path and a true marsh landscape. It's an ideal spot for birdwatching, spotting aquatic life, and enjoying the sensory experience of water and nature. The boardwalk is located in the Stiemerbeek valley near the De Maten nature reserve and is part of the walks marked out in this area. It's close to hiking trails around De Maten, such as those that visit the Augustijnenvijvers and Homeleswijer ponds, and can be easily combined with other trails in the region. Combine the boardwalk with a longer loop through De Maten for a full day of nature, allowing you to see both forests, ponds, and reed beds. Bring sturdy walking shoes; although the boardwalk ensures dry feet, the surrounding paths can sometimes be muddy or soft after rain. It's an easily accessible path and ideal for a relaxing nature walk or as a rest stop during a longer route.

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The Bumblebee in the De Maten nature reserve isn't just an animal or insect habitat, but a pond (étang), a water feature that forms part of the rich pond landscape in this beautiful nature reserve between Genk and Diepenbeek (Belgium). The Bumblebee is one of the many ponds in De Maten that together form the pond complex belonging to the De Wijers landscape (the land of 1001 ponds). This pond is located near waterways such as Schutwijer and Sint-Janswijer and is part of the hiking networks that run through the reserve. You'll encounter the Bumblebee when following routes that pass various ponds, such as the walks along Volmolenweg and the paths around the Slagmolen. These routes allow you to experience the character of De Maten and its variety of open water, reed beds, and wetlands that support a rich bird and plant life. The Bumblebee is located in the northeastern part of the reserve, not far from paths and other ponds that offer views of the water and nature. It's a lovely spot for quiet, bird song, and reflections in the water during your walk. Bring binoculars when walking around De Maten, as the ponds, including De Hommelaar, often attract waterfowl and other wildlife, especially early in the morning or at sunset.

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Homeleswijer is one of the characteristic ponds (wijers/ponds) you'll encounter during walks through the De Maten nature reserve in the Belgian province of Limburg. It lies within the watery landscape of the reserve, which is part of the larger De Wijers pond area, a network of natural and man-made ponds that originated from centuries-old fish farming traditions in the region. In De Maten, the Stiemerbeek stream and its tributaries formed the basis for pond complexes containing water features like the Homeleswijer. Dams and overflows made fish farming possible, creating a unique marsh and pond landscape full of reed beds, open water, and wet grasslands. Walking trails through De Maten—ranging from short loops to longer hikes—run along and around these ponds. They are true natural treasures: herons, waterfowl, and typical marsh plants can be found here, and information boards often line the path explaining the ecology and water management. Many walks along the Homeleswijer are signposted and start, for example, at the Slagmolen in Genk or at other access points in De Maten.

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Beautiful park

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Conical sundial designed by Javier Moreno Bores. The large instrument has Babylonian hours (counting from sunrise) and Italian hours (counting from sunset). The shadow caster is conical. This is a new type of sundial and only exists in this park.

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The sundial consists of seven triangular, hard stone blocks arranged in a quarter circle. The two short sides of the upper surface each indicate an hour. Next to each side, and parallel to it, lies an hour line in the ground, a copper strip flanked by a tile with the hour in red numbers. That hour 'strikes' exactly when the shadow of the upper edge of the block falls on the corresponding hour line. The edges on the south-west side serve the morning hours and run from 6 to 12 o'clock (solar time), the edges on the south-east side serve the afternoon hours, from 13 to 18 o'clock.

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The pop-up summer bar, called ‘Alice’s Garden’, is run by Stijn Simonaitis and Wim Croonen, owners of the cocktail bar Wonderbar in Genk-Centrum and the summer terrace Thor Terrazza at Thor Park. The doors of Alice’s Garden will open in mid-May. From then on, the summer bar will be open every day from 11:00 to 22:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, the bar will close at 23:00. Different hours may apply for events. The doors will close in early September.

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