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Hoge Kempen National Park

National Park · 🇧🇪 Belgium
Area 126 km²
Time zone Europe/Brussels
Official website www.nationaalparkhogekempen.be
Hoge Kempen National Park

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Featured Lists

David Edgar / CC BY-SA 3.0

Hoge Kempen National Park: Essential Highlights

Flanders' first national park covers over 12,000 hectares of heathland and pine forests. This selection highlights the region's industrial evolution, featuring preserved coal mining infrastructure like Thor Central and the Museum van de Mijnwerkerswoning. It also includes the 12th-century ruins of Waterburcht Pietersheim, the Oudsberg shifting sand dunes, and several historic Gothic and Romanesque churches. Visitors can explore the monastic heritage of Munsterbilzen and Hocht or view the landscape from the Lieteberg observation tower.

16 places
Philippus van Gulpen (1792-1862) / Public domain

Regional Heritage Sites

This collection highlights the diverse historical landscape surrounding Hoge Kempen National Park. It features medieval ruins like the seat of the Lords of Pietersheim, the 7th-century Munsterbilzen Abbey, and the industrial legacy of 'mining cathedrals.' The list spans centuries of architectural evolution, from Romanesque and Gothic churches to traditional timber-framed farmsteads and water-powered mills. These sites preserve the religious, aristocratic, and industrial heritage of the Limburg region, offering insight into its transformation from a monastic center to a coal-mining hub.

20 places
Paul Hermans / CC BY-SA 4.0

Castles and Manor Houses

This collection highlights the architectural heritage surrounding Hoge Kempen National Park, featuring medieval ruins, 19th-century manor houses, and former monastic estates. Explore the 12th-century moated ruins of Pietersheim, the Cistercian abbey grounds of Hocht, and the stately Edelhof in Munsterbilzen. The list also includes modern observation towers at Lieteberg and As, which offer elevated views across the region's expansive forests and historic landscapes.

8 places
Ifs58 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Historic Places of Worship

Explore the architectural and spiritual evolution of the Hoge Kempen region through its diverse religious sites. This collection features grand early 20th-century "mining cathedrals" in Waterschei and Eisden, built to serve growing industrial communities. Alongside these are medieval-origin parish churches like Sint-Aldegondiskerk and the Neo-Gothic Sint-Dionysiuskerk. The list also includes smaller devotional sites, such as the 1947 Kapel van het geheim leger, which commemorates local resistance history.

18 places

Nature Viewpoints and Wetlands

Explore the diverse topography of Hoge Kempen National Park through its network of observation towers and natural vantage points. This collection includes the Oudsberg, the highest land dune in Flanders, and the 31-meter tall tower in As, which mirrors the region's mining heritage. Complementing these heights are tranquil wetlands and specialized fishing ponds like Ruwmortelven and the Ziepbeek Valley, providing essential habitats for local birdlife and quiet spots for recreational angling.

20 places
KB72 / CC BY 3.0

Water Mills and Farms

This collection features historic water mills and traditional farms near the Hoge Kempen National Park. Highlights include the Bosbeek mills in Opoeteren, such as the Dorpermolen and the Volmolen, which showcase traditional water management and wool processing history. The list also includes local agricultural producers, ranging from specialized blueberry farms to shops offering fresh poultry and regional heritage farmsteads.

7 places

Hoge Kempen National Park — Map

Hoge Kempen National Park — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 5° (feels like -1°) · extremes -8°–11°
  • -1° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 2 sunny days
  • 2 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 0 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 7° (feels like 1°) · extremes -7°–13°
  • 0° at night
  • 13 rainy days
  • 4 sunny days
  • 3 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 11° (feels like 6°) · extremes -4°–17°
  • 2° at night
  • 12 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in April

Fair
  • 15° (feels like 11°) · extremes -1°–22°
  • 4° at night
  • 11 rainy days
  • 8 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good
  • 19° (feels like 16°) · extremes 3°–25°
  • 8° at night
  • 13 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Great
  • 22° (feels like 20°) · extremes 7°–29°
  • 11° at night
  • 13 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in July

Great
  • 23° (feels like 22°) · extremes 9°–30°
  • 13° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in August

Great
  • 24° (feels like 22°) · extremes 9°–31°
  • 13° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Great
  • 20° (feels like 18°) · extremes 6°–27°
  • 10° at night
  • 11 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair
  • 15° (feels like 12°) · extremes 1°–22°
  • 7° at night
  • 13 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 9° (feels like 5°) · extremes -3°–15°
  • 3° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 2 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 6° (feels like 0°) · extremes -6°–12°
  • 1° at night
  • 15 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 1 hour of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 0 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Euro EUR € · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers
112
Electricity
Type C / Type E
230 V · 50 Hz
Languages
Dutch, French, German
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+32
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Hoge Kempen National Park
Drive
Thor Central
Walk
Ophaalgebouw

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Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata, Wikipedia, Tripomatic, Official websites.