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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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The Bokrijk Open-Air Museum is a large and charming museum park in Genk (province of Limburg, Belgium) that offers a unique glimpse into rural life, crafts, and culture of the past. The museum is part of the broader Provincial Domain Bokrijk, a park of approximately 550 hectares where natural heritage and recreation converge. The open-air museum opened its doors to the public in 1958 when the province of Limburg initiated the project in response to the rapidly changing housing and landscape after World War II. The goal was to preserve historic buildings, traditional crafts, and agricultural elements before they were lost to modernization and urban expansion. In Bokrijk, you'll find more than 140 authentic historic buildings, including farms, mills, workers' houses, barns, and even an old church. Many of these buildings have been dismantled from their original locations and rebuilt brick by brick in the museum park to preserve them for future generations. The museum is divided into several themed areas, each showcasing a different aspect of rural life. Kempen – with a focus on crafts such as bread and textile production, and workshops where artisans demonstrate their techniques. Haspengouw – where costumes and living history actors bring life around 1900 to life, and you can see historic farms and animals. East and West Flanders – tranquil cultural landscapes with craft demonstrations by, for example, a herbalist, tanner, and miller. The Sixties – a unique exhibition that visualizes daily life in the 1960s with realistic settings such as a café, gas station, and living rooms. At Bokrijk, it's not just about buildings but also about experience and participation. Visitors can view historical crafts up close or actively participate in workshops such as bread baking or pottery making. There are also educational trails with various signposted walks through the museum itself. Besides the open-air museum itself, the grounds offer much more. De Wijers – a large pond area that you can explore, among other things, via the Cycling Through Water attraction, where you literally cycle through the water. Bokrijk Arboretum — a remarkable botanical garden with a collection of trees and shrubs that can be admired year-round. Open-air playground — the largest free playground in Flanders, popular with families with children. The park itself is accessible year-round, but the open-air museum has a seasonal opening: it is open from April 5th to November 2nd between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, except Mondays outside school holidays. The Bokrijk Open-Air Museum offers a comprehensive journey through time through Flemish rural life, from centuries-old farms and craft traditions to daily life in the 1960s, in a way that is educational, interactive, and appealing to all ages.

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The view of the lakes and slag heaps in the Klaverberg nature reserve is one of the most impressive panoramas in the Genk region and the Hoge Kempen National Park. Here, a landscape unfolds where rugged industrial history and young, resilient nature seamlessly blend. From elevated points, you can look out over glistening waterways, undulating heathland, and the striking silhouettes of the slag heaps, silent witnesses to the mining past. The slag heaps, formed from the waste from the coal mining of the former Waterschei mine, today form green hills reclaimed by nature. What was once a symbol of heavy industry is now a haven for hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers. The slopes bear a mosaic of grasses, lichens, pines, and birches, while in some places, rare plants have managed to survive thanks to the specific soil structure. At the foot of these slag heaps lie lakes and ponds created by subsidence and water extraction after the mine closures. These pools reflect the sky, the ridges, and the surrounding vegetation, creating an almost picturesque backdrop. In clear weather, you can see the water glistening serenely among the greenery, dragonflies skimming the surface, and waterfowl finding their way along the banks. The view changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, the heathland turns a fresh green, interspersed with purple accents from flowering heather. In autumn, warm shades of rust brown and golden yellow take over the landscape, while in winter, the bare slag heaps create an austere, almost mysterious atmosphere. Each season tells its own story here.

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In the Heiderbos, part of the Hoge Kempen National Park, lies one of the area's most unique natural treasures: the juniper heath. This landscape is rare in Belgium and recalls centuries-old semi-open heathlands once grazed by sheep and maintained by the local population. The jagged juniper berries, sometimes several meters high, give the area an almost mystical aura.

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Deep in the woods around Thor Park and the Klaverberg, the old train tracks still lie, silent witnesses to Genk's industrial past. These tracks were once the lifeblood of the Waterschei coal mine: wagons full of coal, and sometimes even workers, would rush along the rails, connecting them to the rest of Limburg and Belgium. Today, the tracks are abandoned and partly overgrown with moss, ferns, and young trees. The contrast between the rusty steel and the green vegetation makes it a particularly photogenic landscape. During walks, you can follow the tracks along winding forest paths, sometimes almost completely hidden by fallen leaves and undergrowth. The old train tracks are more than just decorative: they tell a story of labor, industry, and the transformation of the landscape. Hikers experience both the tranquility of the forest and the historical power of the industrial past, making every step along the tracks feel like a connection between then and now.

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The Thorpark Pond forms a beautiful, tranquil focal point in the landscape surrounding the former Waterschei mine site and is now a popular stop for hikers exploring the Hoge Kempen National Park. The pond is situated in a green-covered depression between the Klaverberg slag heap and the surrounding forests, where nature has slowly but surely taken over the traces of the industrial past. On the banks, you'll find reed beds, willows, and open water where dragonflies hover above the surface and moorhens forage among the vegetation. The pond also attracts a variety of songbirds and amphibians, making it a small but valuable piece of biodiversity within the larger nature park. In calm weather, the water reflects the slag heap, the clouds, and the meticulously restored mine buildings of Thor Central... a beautiful contrast between history and renewal.

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On the outskirts of Genk lies Thor Park, a unique place where natural heritage and technology converge. This former mining site has been transformed into one of the official gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park, and you can feel it from the moment you enter. Here begins a landscape that has been constantly evolving: from industrial worksites to vast nature reserves where tranquil heathland and forests once again take center stage. Numerous walks depart from the park, taking you deeper into nature. The Klaverberg, a green slag heap towering above the landscape, offers expansive views of Genk and the surrounding forests. The Heiderbos welcomes you with open pine forests, soft moss, and heather vegetation that glows purple in summer. Even lower in the landscape lies the Thorpark Valley, a serene depression where water zones, young plants and birds, are slowly taking their place. Boardwalks lead you past heathland fens and wetlands so characteristic of the Hoge Kempen: quiet, fragile, and beautiful. It's an area built on the remains of vanished industry—a landscape that now speaks of restoration, resilience, and the power of nature. Yet, Thor Park is more than just nature today. It's also a breeding ground for the future. Where miners once dug down shafts, they're now working on solutions for tomorrow. Here you'll find EnergyVille, the research center for sustainable energy and smart energy systems. The site also boasts several modern business incubators and campuses where technology, design, and innovation reinforce each other. This tension between past and future—between old mining structures and sleek modern buildings—gives Thor Park its unique character. It feels like walking through a place that's constantly reinventing itself. Dotted between the buildings are paths and open spaces, artworks that perfectly complement the story of Thor Park. "Courteous Bow" and "Greeting" are beautiful examples: wooden sculptures that gently evoke human interaction and encounters in the heart of an environment that once revolved around labor and industry. They add a touch of poetry to the landscape. Thor Park is much more than a starting point: it's a place where nature embraces the past and where innovation shapes the future. An area where every walk brings a piece of history, a view, restoration, and tranquility, and where you enter the Hoge Kempen region with the feeling that the landscape has been waiting for you for centuries.

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This peaceful bench overlooking the Klaverberg nature reserve is one of those spots where you simply want to sit for a while. Situated on a slight incline in the landscape, it offers a magnificent view of the Klaverberg, one of the iconic mining hills of the Hoge Kempen National Park. Here, nature, history, and tranquility converge in a charming stop for hikers.

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