Hoge Kempen National Park is Belgium's first and largest National Park. With 12 000 ha, it is home to many species of plants and animals. Special landscapes of purple heather, golden dunes, endless forests and magnificent fens invite you to explore the region. The terrils and shaft bucks characterise the horizon and betray the mining past of Belgian Limburg.
Thanks to 450 km of hiking trails spread over more than 90 hiking loops, the Hoge Kempen National Park is a favourite natural area for many hikers. And this has not escaped the notice of European Ramblers Association (ERA) either. This European organisation has been assessing and promoting hiking trails all over Europe since 1969.
In early 2025, 10 out of 90 walking routes were awarded the European quality label ‘Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe, Day Walk’. This walking seal is awarded to European walking routes with high scores for landscape variation, signposting, and infrastructure.
These 10 ‘TOP TRAILS’ make it even easier for visitors to choose from the wide range of hiking routes. These 10 hiking routes, with distances between 9 and 19 km, allow you to experience all the highlights of the Hoge Kempen National Park. Each TOP TRAIL represents a different landscape, vegetation and experience. The routes are spread throughout the National Park, and all start at a starting point or entrance gate with free parking and catering facilities. From the car park, all you have to do is follow the indicated colour to enjoy the unique experience of a TOP TRAIL.
To date, the TOP TRAILS in the Hoge Kempen National Park are the only hiking trails in the Belgium and the Netherlands that meet the criteria. These ‘Top Trails’ were made possible thanks to the support of Tourism Flanders as part of the Vlaanderen Natuurlijk relaunch project.
Hiking map Top Trails
You can also find the 10 Top Trails on our brand new regional map. It contains more than 90 hiking loops, including the ten Top Trails. All hiking loops easily combined on 1 clear hiking map.
The Regional Map of the Hoge Kempen National Park includes the hiking areas Terhills, Kattevennen, Lieteberg, Mechelse Heide, Pietersheim, Station As, Thorpark, Abeekvallei, Bergerven and Duinengordel. This map also shows the numbered walk alternates, making it easy to combine loops. Walking alternates mark the places where walking loops intersect. These intersections each have their own number, marked on the map as on the wooden hiking pole in the field. To go to another walk switch, follow the coloured symbol of a walk loop towards that walk switch.
The regional map has a scale of 1/38,000, and has textual explanations in Dutch, English, French, and German. All hiking loops together give this map 450 km of hiking pleasure. Each walking loop/Top Trail indicates where you can start, and which facilities are located there: from parking to catering facilities. Each starting point indicates which hike starts there, and of course which Top Trail starts there. Each time with clear information about which symbol (colour) to follow. It doesn't get any easier!
Buy your regional map of the Hoge Kempen National Park today right here.
THE TOP 10 TRAILS ON A ROW!
Top Trail Terhills (red) - Lakes, hills and mining history
Where 26 years ago the Eisden coal mine was still running at full speed, now the rarest of butterflies flutter around. You can enjoy a surprising landscape of forests, lakes and (mining) hills with spectacular panoramas! On this Top Trail, you will find both the ‘most beautiful panorama in Flanders’ and the spectacular pontoon bridge, a floating bridge between the green hills.
Top Trail Mechelse Heide (purple) - Heath, hills and forest
A tough 12 km route that takes you through the National Park's largest moorland landscape. The green forests provide a nice change of colour with the purple heather. And to complete the variety, you walk with views of two huge gravel ponds, and to the top of a sand hill that gives you views as far as Germany.
Top Trail Thorpark (yellow) - Mining landscape, junipers, and heathlands
This 16 km Top Trail gives you an insight into Limburg's mining past. From historic buildings to green mining rails you can climb for stunning views. Along the way, you walk on plank paths through the Stiemerbeek valley, past the largest concentration of juniper bushes, and through the typical Limburg pine forest.
Top Trail Dune Belt (yellow) - Dunes, deciduous forest and heathlands
Nostalgia and nature flow together on this lovely 14 km walking loop. You walk through gently rolling moorland landscapes with the occasional lone tree. Those purple and green colours contrast beautifully with the golden yellow dunes of the Duinengordel; a series of dunes including Belgium's highest land dune. Along the way, you also come across a remarkable number of chapels that provide a pinch of nostalgia.
Top Trail Pietersheim (purple) - wet heathlands, stream valley, mixed forests
This former ‘premium route’ is one of the toppers in the southern part of the National Park. The 11 km walk takes you through the Ziepbeek valley, with beautiful views from the Kempen plateau. Along the way, you will pass several ponds, viewpoints, bird huts, and nice resting places. A large part of the Belgian nature film ‘Onze Natuur’ was shot in this area. It is a top area with unique fauna and flora.
Top Trail Pietersheim (red) - Medieval castle, forests, streams
Starting at the medieval Pietersheim Water Castle, this Top Trail takes you through the Pietersembos, along the striking beech avenues, and via boardwalks through the Asbeek valley. 11 km of hiking fun on the red hiking loop!
Top Trail Bergerven (yellow) - Streams, lakes and watermills
This 15 km yellow route takes you through the wetland landscapes in the northern part of the National Park. The pond at Bergerven provides enjoyment for birdwatchers and quiet contemplators. The Bosbeek stream meanders with its pure water through the deciduous forests, and the short climbs to the sand hill offer beautiful views.
Top Trail Munsterbos (purple) - Stream valley, beaver castles, and chapels
Forest and water are the keywords of this Top Trail: the beautiful pond areas of the Hoefaert, the stream valley of the Munsterbeek with a beaver family as inhabitants, and the creeks and water mills at the Bezoensbeek provide the water landscape. Wooded footpaths with chapels and special memorials provide a nice variety.
Top Trail Lieteberg (red) - History, forests and biodiversity
You set off through the centre of Zutendaal, a typical Limburg village town centre. Then you head into the greenery because Zutendaal is not called the ‘greenest candy of Flanders’ for nothing. Boardwalks, creek valleys, and forest areas on the plateau provide variety in the landscapes. Viewpoints at the Papendaal lakes provide resting points. And at visitor centre Lieteberg, you can visit the Barefoot Trail or the Insect Museum to finish.
Top Trail Dune Belt (purple) - Stream valleys, meadow views, brewery
In this Top Trail Duinengordel, you will discover the northernmost part of the Hoge Kempen National Park: the Itterbeek valley. In the northern part of the route, you experience a typical ‘Hoge Kempen’ brook valley with historic water mills and plank bridges to cross marshland. In the southern parts of the route, you will find yourself on the edge of the ‘Hoge Kempen’ Plateau with forests and grasslands.
Top Trails package
Are you convinced by our Top Trails? Would you like to come and experience all these wonderful hikes?
Then we have the ideal Top Trail package ready for you: four of the ten Top Trails in one fantastic three-day hike with accommodation (2 nights) in authentic hikers' cabins. 240€ for 2 nights for up to 4 people. Or 480 for eight people.
Two hiker's huts are available, each with four sleeping places. The two hiker's huts are next to each other, at the edge of the Mechelse Forest on both the National Park Trail and the Top Trail Mechelse Heide.
DAY 1:
On the way to the Hoge Kempen National Park, you can already discover our Top Trail Thorpark.
- Drive your car to the entrance gate Thorpark (André Dumontlaan 108, 3600 Genk). Here you will find several free car parks, catering facilities, toilets and an information board with walking routes.
- By public transport you take the train to Genk, and then bus 1 (15 min) to the entrance gate Thorpark.
- Here the Top Trail Thorpark (route/gpx/komoot) starts, follow the yellow symbol for a beautiful 16 km route through (juniper) woods, over plank paths, along ponds, and with viewpoints from the terrils
- After the hike, drive 15 km to the National park hikers' cabins (Spoorwegstraat 10, 3630 Maasmechelen) where you check in for 2 nights. (Or take bus 1 back to the station and then bus 44). There is parking next to the hikers' cabins
- Please note: it is best to book these hikers' cabins well in advance on this page. After reservation and payment, you will receive a unique code to use the hikers' cabins.
- There are (limited) cooking facilities in the hikers' cabins to prepare your own meal like on a real trek. Of course, you bring your own ingredients.
- If you do prefer to eat out, there are numerous options at the Pauwengraaf, 1 km from the hikers' cabins: from bakery, to restaurants to fast food.
DAY 2:
Near the hikers' cabins are 2 of the most beautiful Top Trails. Today you can do the Top Trail Mechelse Heide as well as the Top Trail Terhills
- After your breakfast, put on your hiking boots. You can start the trail immediately.
- Hike into the forest, and follow the purple symbol for 12 km for a varied hike between coniferous forests, heathlands, gravel puddles and sand hills on the Top Trail Mechelse Heide (route/gpx/komoot)
- Along the way, you can have lunch at Camping Salamander (at km 9) or after 12 km at the hikers' cabins, so there's no need to drag anything along.
- After lunch, you can also do the other hike: Top Trail Terhills (or save it for the next day).
- To get to the Top Trails Terhills, you must first follow a section of the National Park Trail (this symbol).
- Turn left behind the car park into the forest, and follow the National Park Trail symbol for 1km.
- You will pass a cemetery, and then go over a small hill. After descending the hill you are in the Terhills hiking area, turn left here.
- From now on, follow the red symbol for a surprising 10 km circular walk with 2 tough climbs, beautiful panoramas and a unique walking bridge over the water. (route/gpx/komoot)
- We recommend doing the hiking loop clockwise, so that you first do the ascent of the twin ridge (the toughest), then the hiking bridge, then the panorama ridge, so that before you embark on the last 3 km, you can relax with a drink at the National Park Visitor Centre.
- So you complete the loop around, get back to the hill, and return by the same route (past the cemetery) to the hikers' cabins for your second night.
DAY 3:
Today you can experience the fourth Top Trail: the Top Trail Pietershei
- Checkout is before 11am
- Say goodbye to the hikers' cabins, and drive 11 km to the boarding point at La Butte aux Bois (or take bus 63)
- At the free car park you will also find another hiking information board
- Start the 11 km hike, and follow the purple symbol for a nice variety of forests, valleys, plateaus and streams (route/gpx/komoot)
- After this hiking loop, you can take bus 66 and 45 back to Genk station
- If you want a nice finish, drive 4 km to Oud-Rekem, the most beautiful village in Flanders with some nice restaurants and drinking places.
- And enjoy after these 4 fantastic Top Trails in the Hoge Kempen National Park.
Are you satisfied with our advice, the signposting of the trails, the beautifully maintained nature, and the package we offer you here? Then help us make the National Park even better, with a voluntary donation to the National Park Fund. Nature thanks you.
Comfort hotel package
Would you rather stay in comfort? Then we have a carefree hotel package for you. Everything is taken care of, you don't have to find out anything more, or prepare anything.
- 2 nights in an authentic hotel near our National Park Visitor Centre
- Double room with private bathroom
- Includes breakfast and 2 x a four-course dinner at the hotel restaurant
- Hike these four Top Trails: Thor Park, Mechelse Heide, Terhills, and Pietersheim
- Includes maps, visitor guide, discount vouchers, hiking descriptions, GPX and Komoot
- 239€ per person
- Read the full hotel package programme, and/or book now:
These ‘Top Trails’ were made possible thanks to the support of Tourism Flanders as part of the Vlaanderen Natuurlijk relaunch project.
