The best hikes from bus stations around Hasselt

The Stiemerbeek valley contains marshy thickets, with a number of herbs. Prominently present are the yellow loosestrife, the purple loosestrife and the meadowsweet. Hoverflies and longhorn beetles can be seen when they seek nectar on the flower heads of the giant hogweed and the angelica. Furthermore, various species of butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds and amphibians can be found. The Stiemerbeek flows along the edge of the Kempen Plateau and is quite deeply incised there. Springs can be found in the sloping banks. Although the stream has been straightened, the plots along the stream represent high natural values. The Stiemerbeek valley forms a connecting link between the Bosbeek and the nature reserve De Maten.

De Klaverberg is a largely wooded sand dune and also the name of the surrounding nature reserve on the border of the Belgian municipalities of As, Genk and Oudsbergen. It borders the Opglabbekerzavel heathland and other wooded nature areas. The area is named after the cloverleaf-shaped blown sand dunes, which form a, mainly wooded, dune ridge over a length of approximately 1.7 kilometers. The sand dunes probably originated as a result of the blowing away of sand that was exposed by overgrazing and too frequent turf stripping of southwestern heathlands. Klaverberg on an 18th-century Ferraris map De Klaverberg is overshadowed by the remediated spoil tip of the former Waterschei coal mine, with a top of up to 155 meters above sea level. These scenically most striking witnesses of the mining past cover a part of the dunes.

The Klaverberg is a largely wooded sand dune and also the name of the surrounding nature reserve on the border of the Belgian municipalities of As, Genk and Oudsbergen. It borders the Opglabbekerzavel heathland and other wooded nature reserves. The area is named after the cloverleaf-shaped sand dunes, which form a mainly wooded dune ridge for about 1.7 kilometers. The sand dunes possibly originated from the blowing sand that was exposed due to overgrazing and too frequent sod cutting in southwestern heathlands. Klaverberg on an 18th-century Ferraris map The Klaverberg is overshadowed by the remediated slag heap of the former Waterschei coal mine, with a summit up to 155 meters above sea level. These most visually striking remnants of the mining past cover a part of the dunes.

The Klaverberg is a largely wooded sand dune and also the name of the surrounding nature reserve on the border of the Belgian municipalities of As, Genk and Oudsbergen. It borders the Opglabbekerzavel heathland and other wooded nature areas. The area is named after the cloverleaf-shaped drifting dunes, which form a predominantly wooded dune ridge over a length of approximately 1.7 kilometers. The sand dunes probably arose as a result of the wind-blown transport of sand that was exposed due to overgrazing and too frequent turf stripping of southwestern heathlands. Klaverberg on an 18th-century Ferraris map The Klaverberg is overshadowed by the remediated spoil tip of the former Waterschei coal mine, with a top up to 155 meters above sea level. These most striking landscape witnesses of the mining past cover a part of the dunes.

The mine spoil heap or 'stone mountain' on the Klaverberg is one of the silent witnesses to Limburg's glorious industrial past. What miners brought up from the deep underground were raw coals. Only half of the volume consisted of real coal, the rest was mine stone. These were thrown onto a 'waste heap', although 'heap' is a relative concept. The mine spoil heap on the Klaverberg is 165 meters high. At the top, you have a phenomenal view of the surroundings. What was once a waste mountain has now become a nature reserve. The European Union even designated this spoil heap and its surroundings as a habitat directive area.

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.

In the southwest of Zonhoven, along the Hasselt-Mol railway line, lies the Platwijers nature reserve. The area covers approximately 100 hectares. Platwijers mainly consists of artificial fish ponds and grasslands. The introduction of water enriched with nutrients has not proven beneficial for the rich flora. As a result, the vegetation is increasingly overgrown with bushes. However, this nature reserve is primarily known for its rich bird population. Numerous species find a suitable resting and breeding place here. Most paths in the nature reserve are therefore closed to the public, as the birds would otherwise be too disturbed.

As you can notice for yourself along the way, there are different types of ponds: wetlands where nature is central and can take its course, recreational ponds, breeding ponds that are still used today for professional fishing, and private ornamental ponds, like this one. You can rest here on a bench and enjoy the water lilies when they are in bloom.