Genk
Things To Do
There are plenty of options in Genk for nature enthusiasts or outdoor lovers. De Maten is probably the most visited nature reserve. With 300 hectares of dunes, ponds, marshes and shrub heathland, it’s home to a wide variety of protected bird and animal species.
The Molenvijverpark (Mill Pond Park) is a 10 hectare town park, named after an old mill that once stood there. One of the highlights of the park is the collection of sundials in all shapes and sizes. They’re not only impressive scientific timepieces, but also beautiful works of art. One of the sundials, for example, is sculpted in the shape of an open book.
To learn more about science and nature in a fun environment, head over to the Kattevennen recreational area, home to the Europlanetarium, educational walks and the Georama or geological garden. The Europlanetarium is an informative and imaginatively designed exhibition on meteorology, astronomy and space travel. Outdoors, the exhibition is complemented by two interesting self-guided walks – the nature walk and the planet walk. Following the 2.6 kilometre nature path lined with various types of plants and shrubs gives an educational insight ecosystems and the environment, while the 1.4 kilometre planet path represents the solar system in miniature – four billion times smaller than its actual size. So with every step, you’re walking millions of miles at a time! There are information boards full of fascinating facts on all nine planets and the sun. The Georama is a beautifully landscaped garden dotted with different types of rocks and sediment explaining the formation and natural history of the Earth.
After finishing your educational visit, why not take a well earned break by indulging in some outdoor activities in the recreational area of the Kattenvennen park – such as football, skiing (on an artificial surface) or minigolf. There’s also a playground for younger ones.
The Molenvijverpark (Mill Pond Park) is a 10 hectare town park, named after an old mill that once stood there. One of the highlights of the park is the collection of sundials in all shapes and sizes. They’re not only impressive scientific timepieces, but also beautiful works of art. One of the sundials, for example, is sculpted in the shape of an open book.
To learn more about science and nature in a fun environment, head over to the Kattevennen recreational area, home to the Europlanetarium, educational walks and the Georama or geological garden. The Europlanetarium is an informative and imaginatively designed exhibition on meteorology, astronomy and space travel. Outdoors, the exhibition is complemented by two interesting self-guided walks – the nature walk and the planet walk. Following the 2.6 kilometre nature path lined with various types of plants and shrubs gives an educational insight ecosystems and the environment, while the 1.4 kilometre planet path represents the solar system in miniature – four billion times smaller than its actual size. So with every step, you’re walking millions of miles at a time! There are information boards full of fascinating facts on all nine planets and the sun. The Georama is a beautifully landscaped garden dotted with different types of rocks and sediment explaining the formation and natural history of the Earth.
After finishing your educational visit, why not take a well earned break by indulging in some outdoor activities in the recreational area of the Kattenvennen park – such as football, skiing (on an artificial surface) or minigolf. There’s also a playground for younger ones.