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Belgium’s Hoge Kempen National Park is an oasis for day trippers or weekend visitors. Small but mighty, Hoge Kempen features some of the country’s most unique flora and fauna, as well as miles of trails that are perfect for hikers and bikers. As a bonus, it’s located near the entertaining city of Genk.
Strange beauty
When it comes to first impressions, Belgium’s Hoge Kempen National Park might give you whiplash. The drive to the park winds through tidy villages and thick forests. And yet, once you leave the parking lot, the main path into the park is surrounded by terrain that feels as if it could have come from the deserts of the American southwest.
And then, you turn the corner and find a sandy beach and large lake with a wondrous playground for children of all ages. But, turn up a scrubby hill and you’ll plunge into a cool pine forest. The bonus? You’re only getting started.
A hiker’s (or biker’s) paradise
Though the park is only 22 square miles, it contains more than 120 miles of trails, including lots of short loops that are family- and dog-friendly.
Hitting the trails is the best part of Hoge Kempen, for many reasons. First, you can find solitude fast. This isn’t as obvious as it might seem, since the national park is located in one of the most densely populated parts of Europe. But the sheer number and variety of trails make it almost certain that you can get some quiet time (or at least some ‘alone with excited and noisy kids’ time).
Secondly, the trails display all the beauty that the park has to offer. They wind around and through some of Belgium’s most stunning natural scenery, including sprawling fields of purple heather pocked here and there by black bogs. In a thirty-minute stretch, you can feel like you’re in Italy (the aforementioned beach), Arizona, and Scotland. It’s not a bad deal.
The trails also allow you to get glimpses of some of the rarer wildlife in Belgium. Birdwatchers love Hoge Kempen, and even people who aren’t into ornithology find themselves impressed when they spot a falcon or hawk. If you’re lucky (and if you find yourself there on a sunny summer day), you might also see a lizard or even a rare smooth snake.
A fun bonus: nearby Genk
Although the name might sound funny to an English-speaker, Genk is an absolute blast. A 10-minute drive from Hoge Kempen, it offers plenty to do for an overnight or weekend trip. Visitors can find a variety of interesting shops, restaurants or bars.
Family fun is there for the taking, too: it’s easy to rent a bike for a city tour or a quick trip to Genk’s famous “Cycling Through Water” experience (which is really cool!). Other highlights include Karting Genk, where basically anyone can drive a winding Formula One-style track in a surprisingly powerful go-kart, or a trip to see Genk’s footballl club, Racing Genk.
When to go
Hoge Kempen National Park is excellent during every season, but is especially vivid in the autumn when the heather turns the park purple and the green pines seem to glow. As with most national parks, Hoge Kempen is busier during the summer.
Getting there
By car, Hoge Kempen National Park is approximately 3 hours, 15 minutes from Kaiserslautern.
Due to regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, travel to neighboring countries may not be allowed. Please verify the status before making plans to attend. For U.S. government employees, including service members, remember to always follow command regulations, which may be different than host nation policies.
