Cycling comfortably through the forest, via a bike bridge over the heath, a visit to Limburg's mining past, and along two observation towers.

Text and photos Stan Verelst

Meet at the parking lot with KP 41, near the station of As (V). Depart towards KP 40 and turn left after the station. Cycle past the observation tower (1) and further through the forest, along a winding asphalt path. When you exit the forest, turn right into Driebankenstraat. Cross the priority road straight ahead and cycle through Schuttenbergstraat and past Community Center De Drieschaar to the first intersection. Cycle straight with a left-right twist straight ahead to KP 40. Straight ahead towards KP 39. ● After a turn you will come to a priority road. Follow it right until you can turn left onto Vlasroot. You ride past the monument of Leuven professor André Dumont, who discovered the first coal in Limburg in 1901. Then turn right onto the Kantonnale road. ● At the intersection with the large flower box, go straight ahead. Ignore the side roads and the signs for dead-end roads and continue cycling straight ahead along a cornfield and through the forest to KP 39. Turn left through the forest to KP 512. Again, turn left, winding through the forest towards KP 508. To your left, behind the forest, is the 115 meter high spoil tip of Waterschei. Unfortunately, you cannot see it. When you exit the forest, you will be at KP 508 and continue cycling straight towards KP 509.

Thorpark

You ride past the Luminus Arena of KRC Genk and then turn left onto a forest road. When you exit the forest, cycle straight at the roundabout, over the wide bike lane, next to the dual carriageway. Further on, turn left into Thorpark (2). Follow the bike path until you can turn right towards Thor Central. You ride past the mine shaft and the buildings of the former coal mine of Waterschei and at the end follow the bike path to the right to the main entrance of Thor Central. Turn left, along the information board about Thorpark up to the busy road. Turn right and cross to the other side of the N744 via the traffic lights. ● Cycle left there, and after the Brico of Waterschei, turn right into Haneveldstraat. At the split at the square, turn right into Hermesdijkstraat and at the T-junction you cycle straight with a right-left twist into the dead-end road. You enter the forest and at the end of the road, turn right and then, just before a small bridge, take the path to the left, next to Stiemerbeek. ● At the next small bridge, cross a path straight ahead, at the second cross a traffic road, and at the third turn left and follow the narrow road for cyclists. After a football field, you come back to populated areas and cycle until you reach a priority road. Turn right, cross the E314 and on the other side turn left into Driesweg. At the end, turn right through Zevenbonderstraat. You cycle through a residential area with scattered buildings until you can turn left into Braambesstraat. This street is partially reserved for cyclists and walkers.

Apenstaart

At the T-junction, turn right, and at the next intersection, go straight into Zuster Eduardalaan. A street with one-way traffic, but not for cyclists. You ride next to the buildings of the Apenstaart after-school childcare, to the T-junction. Turn right until you reach the intersection. ● Go straight through Reinpadstraat, where there is also one-way traffic, but not for cyclists. You ride along the buildings of Atlas College (3) to the crossroads with KP 509. Turn left, towards KP 250. Cross the N723, with the OLV of Fatima church (Bret-Gelieren) on your left, straight ahead and cycle past the arboretum of Bret to the T-junction. Turn right through Schaapsdries. ● Ignore all side roads and cycle along the edge of the forest and the impressive residences until you can turn left into the parking area next to the former rest home. Then descend sharply to the right, cross Europalaan (N75) and descend the spiral bridge to KP 250. Turn right, towards KP 30. Cycle through Molenvijverpark to the crossroads and turn left onto Hoogzij.

Walking to 't Stasjon

You cycle past Heempark of Genk and under the N750 and find yourself in the bend of another road. Go straight through the forest until you can turn right into Kielstraat. The street becomes car-free further on. Continue cycling through the forest until you reach KP 30 in the nature and recreation area of Kattevennen. ● Go straight towards KP 29. You cycle past the snowboard dry slopes (4) with observation platform and turn left at the end of the road, continuing until you reach the five-way junction with the field cross and KP 29. Turn left towards KP 534. ● You cycle past the nameplate of Zutendaal and turn right between Lindenhof and the Lourdes Grotto of Wiemesmeer (5), into Veugenstraat. At the end, cross a priority road via a bike lock and cycle straight into Boeneveldstraat. Follow that through the forest to KP 534. Turn right towards KP 251. ● Via a bike path through the forest you emerge into the bend of Pandenstraat and follow it straight until KP 251. Turn left towards KP 252. After 1.5 km on the bike path, next to the traffic road, you arrive at KP 252. Go straight towards KP 550. At a fork, choose diagonally right and continue until you reach KP 550. ● Turn left via the wooden bike bridge through Mechelse Heide (6) and further on, cross the bridge over the E314 and continue through the heath to KP 551. Cross Steenweg on As via the sluice for cyclists and turn left towards KP 565. Follow the bike path next to the N763 until just before the bridge over the N75. Turn left into the forest until KP 565 and then go straight ahead, via the beautiful bike bridge over the N75 to KP 41.
As a conclusion, you can step into 't Stasjon, a popular spot for cyclists, where you can enjoy a bite and a drink on the terrace on the platform or inside.

Thor Central
Thor Central is centrally located in Thor Park, the former mining site of Waterschei, one of the seven coal mines in the Kempen coal basin. The mine was operational between 1924 and 1987, with a total production of 72 million tons of coal. The main building of the mine is now a business and event center. There is also the Food Plaza, featuring restaurant Partaasch and brasserie Lampada. The former coal mine warehouse is now an exhibition that gives an overview of the history and work in this coal mine. Surrounding Thor Central is a technology and science park of 93 hectares.

Spiral Bridge
Just before junction 250, you descend via a spiral bridge into Molenvijverpark. Spectacular descent among the trees. A mini version of the larger "cycling through the trees" route from 2019. But this bridge was already opened in 1991.

Observation Tower Station As
The observation tower is 31 meters high and a replica of the drill tower with which André Dumont extracted the first coal in 1901. It is freely accessible up to a height of 25 meters. You have a beautiful view over the Hoge Kempen National Park and can see the spoil tips of Eisden, Winterslag, and Waterschei.

Cycling through the Heath
‘Cycling through the Heath’ is a car-free route of 4 km between KP 550 and KP 551, which runs through Mechelse Heide (700 ha). A wooden bike bridge of 294 meters long, 3.5 m wide, and 6.5 m high, is the longest cycling experience in Limburg so far.

New observation platform in Kattevennen
Sport Vlaanderen and the City of Genk have established a state-of-the-art dry slope for snowboarders, with a large (35 m) and a small (20 m) ramp. From the visitor platform of the highest tower, you get a wonderful view of both slopes and the forests of the Hoge Kempen National Park. You reach it via the ‘bliksempad’, an experience path with a whimsical shape. The opening of the lookout is scheduled for the end of October 2021.