The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Hasselt

Overall, this place and the surrounding area is a great practice ground for sand riding and has beautiful nature.

The Schulensmeer is the largest inland lake in Flanders. Numerous benches invite you to take a break.

Homeleswijer is one of the characteristic ponds (wijers/ponds) you'll encounter during walks through the De Maten nature reserve in the Belgian province of Limburg. It lies within the watery landscape of the reserve, which is part of the larger De Wijers pond area, a network of natural and man-made ponds that originated from centuries-old fish farming traditions in the region. In De Maten, the Stiemerbeek stream and its tributaries formed the basis for pond complexes containing water features like the Homeleswijer. Dams and overflows made fish farming possible, creating a unique marsh and pond landscape full of reed beds, open water, and wet grasslands. Walking trails through De Maten—ranging from short loops to longer hikes—run along and around these ponds. They are true natural treasures: herons, waterfowl, and typical marsh plants can be found here, and information boards often line the path explaining the ecology and water management. Many walks along the Homeleswijer are signposted and start, for example, at the Slagmolen in Genk or at other access points in De Maten.

On many walking and cycling routes in the green landscape around Bokrijk and De Wijers, you'll find benches specially placed in spots offering beautiful views of the ponds, reed beds, and water features. These resting places invite you to sit quietly, absorb the scenery, and listen to the sounds of nature. Walking or cycling along the paths, you'll often see these benches strategically placed in spots offering expansive views, for example, of open water or green fields, allowing you to truly relax and enjoy the surroundings. The benches are part of various signposted walking and cycling routes through De Wijers and Bokrijk, ranging from short loops along ponds to longer trips of several kilometers. What's special about these resting places is that they're more than just stops; they're integrated into the experience of nature itself. While you relax, you might hear reed birds, see dragonflies skimming the water, or simply experience the tranquility of the watery landscape. On some routes, such as walks around the De Wijers ponds or along the "Cycling through Water" route, these benches offer a vantage point perfect for a picnic break, taking photos, or simply enjoying the light on the water. The views and tranquility make these spots popular with walkers and cyclists of all ages.

On the outskirts of Genk lies Thor Park, a unique place where natural heritage and technology converge. This former mining site has been transformed into one of the official gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park, and you can feel it from the moment you enter. Here begins a landscape that has been constantly evolving: from industrial worksites to vast nature reserves where tranquil heathland and forests once again take center stage. Numerous walks depart from the park, taking you deeper into nature. The Klaverberg, a green slag heap towering above the landscape, offers expansive views of Genk and the surrounding forests. The Heiderbos welcomes you with open pine forests, soft moss, and heather vegetation that glows purple in summer. Even lower in the landscape lies the Thorpark Valley, a serene depression where water zones, young plants and birds, are slowly taking their place. Boardwalks lead you past heathland fens and wetlands so characteristic of the Hoge Kempen: quiet, fragile, and beautiful. It's an area built on the remains of vanished industry—a landscape that now speaks of restoration, resilience, and the power of nature. Yet, Thor Park is more than just nature today. It's also a breeding ground for the future. Where miners once dug down shafts, they're now working on solutions for tomorrow. Here you'll find EnergyVille, the research center for sustainable energy and smart energy systems. The site also boasts several modern business incubators and campuses where technology, design, and innovation reinforce each other. This tension between past and future—between old mining structures and sleek modern buildings—gives Thor Park its unique character. It feels like walking through a place that's constantly reinventing itself. Dotted between the buildings are paths and open spaces, artworks that perfectly complement the story of Thor Park. "Courteous Bow" and "Greeting" are beautiful examples: wooden sculptures that gently evoke human interaction and encounters in the heart of an environment that once revolved around labor and industry. They add a touch of poetry to the landscape. Thor Park is much more than a starting point: it's a place where nature embraces the past and where innovation shapes the future. An area where every walk brings a piece of history, a view, restoration, and tranquility, and where you enter the Hoge Kempen region with the feeling that the landscape has been waiting for you for centuries.

C-Mine in Genk is one of the most impressive examples of how industrial heritage can be given a new lease on life. What was once the bustling Winterslag Coal Mine is now a cultural and creative hub where art, innovation, and history converge. The site still exudes the atmosphere of its mining past but has been completely transformed into a place where experience takes center stage.

The Klein Vennetje (Little Fen) is a small, idyllic water area located in a quiet part of Genk. Surrounded by lush greenery and forests, this pond offers a tranquil oasis for hikers, nature lovers, and photographers. Despite its modest size, it plays an important role in local biodiversity and makes an attractive stop during a walk through the surrounding landscape. The pond was created by natural water deposits and the development of small streams in the area. Over time, it has developed into a valuable ecosystem where both flora and fauna flourish. Reed beds, damp banks, and adjacent trees provide a habitat for various birds such as coots, moorhens, and the occasional grey heron that comes to hunt here. Small mammals and insects such as dragonflies and damselflies also find suitable habitat in this pond.

https://www.nationaalparkhogekempen.be/nl/thorpark "Thorpark is a 10 km² area behind the former Waterschei mine and has been part of the national park since 2018. Here you'll find everything the Hoge Kempen has to offer: mining mountains surrounded by heath and pine forests, a beautiful stream valley, juniper berries, and inland dunes. A few striking buildings add a touch of character to the landscape: the As Children's Colony and the Waterschei Coal Mine (Thor Central). If you'd like to see what the UNESCO candidacy is all about, you'll find a nice taste here. You can already take a long walk there, but there's no entrance gate yet, as is familiar to the other gates. Thor Central will serve as a gateway in the future. Now you can visit this building, which serves as an event center, without obligation, take a guided tour, or enjoy a snack or a drink in beautiful historic surroundings. Thor Central is also the vibrant Heart of a growing business and science park where technology, research, energy and innovation are at the heart."