Genk

Best things to do in Genk

Genk's Unmissable Highlights

Genk showcases a transformation from a major coal-mining hub into a center for culture and nature. This list features the preserved industrial architecture of Thor Park, including the Thor Central and Ophaalgebouw, alongside the expansive Open Air Museum Bokrijk. Highlights include unique infrastructure like the 'Cycling through Water' path and the intersection of art and biology at LaBiomista. The city’s history is further explored at the Mijndepot and historic sites like Slagmolen, while the Cosmodrome offers a gateway to space exploration.

Genk's Unmissable Highlights — Map

A

LaBiomista

An evolving 24-hectare art project by Koen Vanmechelen on the former Zwartberg mine site. It features a sculpture park, an amphitheater, and the artist's studio, focusing on themes of biocultural diversity.

B

Slagmolen

A historic 16th-century water mill on the Stiemerbeek. It is one of the few remaining functional mills in the region and serves as a gateway to the De Wijers nature reserve.

Bokrijkbart / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Open Air Museum Bokrijk

The Bokrijk Provincial Domain is a park and museum complex near Genk, Province of Limburg in Belgium.

D

Ophaalgebouw

This industrial heritage site at Thor Park served as the hoisting building for the Waterschei coal mine, once housing the massive engines used to transport miners and equipment into the shafts.

E

Thor Central

The former main building of the Waterschei coal mine, now restored as a technology and business hub. The architecture reflects the industrial grandeur of the early 20th century.

F

Ventilatorgebouw

An essential part of the former Waterschei mining complex, this building originally housed the massive ventilation fans required to circulate air through the deep underground tunnels.

G

Galgenmolen

A historic wooden windmill originally built in the 18th century. It was relocated to the Bokrijk domain to preserve and demonstrate traditional Flemish milling heritage.

H

Kasteel Bokrijk

A 19th-century Neo-Renaissance castle situated within the Bokrijk Provincial Domain, surrounded by an arboretum and extensive parkland.

I

Mijndepot

Located within the Thor Park site, this museum preserves the heritage of the Waterschei mine through a collection of original tools, machinery, and historical documentation.

J

Cycling through Water

A 212-meter long bicycle path that cuts directly through a pond in Bokrijk. The path is sunken so that the water level remains at eye level on both sides.

K

Cosmodrome

Located in the Kattevennen nature area, this science center features a 360-degree planetarium and an observatory dedicated to space and astronomy.

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