Walking in Hoge Kempen National Park Thorpark Trail

This walking adventure begins at Thorpark, one of the nine gateways to Hoge Kempen National Park. The Waterschei Coal Mine once stood here. As you walk, you’ll not only enjoy beautiful landscapes but also discover the rich mining heritage of this region. You can explore this history in a high-tech way at Thor Central. The immersive film Thor Experience and the Thor app, featuring virtual and augmented reality, take you on a journey through past, present, and future.

Start: Thorpark Gateway - André Dumontlaan 67 - 3600 Genk

The Waterschei Schans goes back much further in time, to the late 17th century. At that time local villagers were granted the right to build “schansen” – fortified refuges where they could hide from roaming bands or marauding soldiers. The Waterschei Schans was extensively reconstructed in 1980. Since 2017, it has been part of Schansbroek neighbourhood park, within the Stiemerbeek Valley.

Following the former railway line known as the Kolenspoor, you enter a completely different landscape. This is where the climb up the first spoil heap of the day begins. These distinctive hills were created from mining debris. When material was brought up from the mines, the coal was separated and used, while the remaining stones were piled up into large mine-stone mountains. The Waterschei spoil heap has two summits: The northern cone remained untouched after the mine closed and became naturally overgrown. On the southern summit, grass and flowers were deliberately sown.

At Klaverberg, you’ll encounter a remarkable natural phenomenon: a ring of oak trees These trees grow in a circular formation, sprouting from the roots of a dead or cut main trunk. When this process repeats itself over time, the circle of trees gradually becomes larger. After passing these unusual trees, continue across the inland dune known as Klaverberg. Nearby, you’ll also find parts of the unique Opglabbekerzavel, a distinctive heath landscape.