The best city hikes and walks in Dilserbos

Between the trees of Thorpark, in the shadow of the mining past, lies the intimate artwork "Lichtsporen": https://youtu.be/vcjk4VUmrCc

Western headframe II of the Waterschei mine. The mine site originally had two shafts with identical headframes of the A-frame type, built in 1922 to the design of and by S.A. de Construction en de Chaudronnerie d'Awans in Bierset-Awans.

Thor Central is a powerfully impressive industrial building that was protected as heritage after the closure of the mines. As part of the search for a meaningful function for the Waterschei mining site and the option to develop the site into a technology park, the assignment to give this beautiful building a new future was also included. Thor Central is the beating heart of the Thor Park site. Besides the Food Plaza with restaurant Partaasch and brasserie Lampada, the building mainly has a business function, with meeting rooms, an auditorium, a central reception, and even a daycare center. Events and exhibitions are regularly held here.

The Triumphal Arch is a striking work of art in Genk, symbolizing power, memory, and transformation. Unlike classical triumphal arches, which often celebrate military victories, this arch refers to a different kind of victory: that of a city and region that reinvented itself after the end of the mining industry. The artwork fits within the broader Limburg narrative in which industrial heritage has acquired new cultural and social significance. The shape of the triumphal arch evokes associations with passage and transition. It is not a closed monument but an open structure that you can literally walk under. This invites reflection on the past of hard labor and mining, but also on the future and resilience of the community. The arch functions as a marker in the landscape and as a symbolic gateway between past and present. Situated in an urban and landscape context strongly connected to the former mining sites, the Triumphal Arch connects with other repurposed locations in Genk, such as C-Mine and the slag heaps. Together they tell the story of a region that has not erased its industrial history but has transformed it into a source of identity, creativity and pride.

The Vulex lake has been given a fitting new purpose with the successful Terhills Cablepark: here you can (learn to) wakeboard or waterski in a safe and fun way. More info: https://www.terhillscablepark.be/

It's lovely to cycle here on the dike. There's always something to see on either side, and the people you meet are very friendly and seem happy. It must be the beautiful surroundings.

At the edge of the Meuse Valley, where nature and recreation converge, lies the Maasmechelen water park and water-skiing lake: a vibrant place where relaxation, sport, and landscape converge. This area forms a captivating contrast to the tranquil slag heaps and vast natural areas in the surrounding area and demonstrates how the former industrial landscape has been repurposed as a recreational hub. The water-skiing lake originated from old gravel pits that dominated the view along the Meuse River for decades. After the industrial activities ceased, these lakes were given a new purpose. What was once an excavated lunar landscape gradually transformed into a clear lake with recreational facilities surrounded by greenery and open space. This repurposing fits perfectly within the broader narrative of the region: an area that has reinvented itself from economic exploitation to nature, relaxation, and experience.

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.