The rich history of Limburg’s past as a mining region, as well as the area’s natural treasures, are being showcased with a new long-distance walking trail, “Streek-GR”, launched by Visit Limburg and Grote Routepaden (GR).
Designed to take in a variety of landscapes, from ponds to pine forests and heathland, as well as the must-see panoramic vistas from the peaks of the old mining “terrils” or slag heaps, the 179-kilometre route links seven mining sites in Limburg. It can be walked in eight day-stages, with convenient accommodation and public transport connections along the way.
Meeting what Igor Philtjens, deputy chairman of Visit Limburg calls “the growing demand for long-distance walking,” the new thematic trail will be “a valuable addition” to the region’s tourist offer, he anticipates.
Limburg’s past
Limburg was transformed between the 1870s and the mid-20th century, from a community of 22,000 in farming villages into one of the most densely populated parts of the low countries – an industrial hub home to nearly a quarter of a million people serving the huge demand for coal. By the time the mines closed after 75 years, an estimated 600 million tonnes of the stuff had been produced.
The new trail immerses walkers in these seams of history. Beginning at be-MINE in Beringen and heading out to Terhills in Eisden and back, the route includes potential stops at the old mines of Houthalen, Zolder and Genk. Walkers can witness the vestiges of Belgium’s mining past at these sites, where industrial machinery and architecture has been innovatively restored in some instances.
A tribute to the region
Many long-distance GR routes are characterised by thematic concepts and are not just about careering towards a destination, but are about the journey, as Rik Röttger, chairman of GR explains. “A GR route is not the fastest way from A to B, but it is the most attractive,” he says. “With the Streek-GR Limburg Mines, we want hikers not only to enjoy the beautiful nature, but also to experience the rich history and culture of the mining region. It is a tribute to the past and a celebration of the transformation of this region”.
Route guidance with detailed maps, practical information and intriguing anecdotes about the countryside being passed through, are all available on the GR website and in (online) bookshops. Visitors and walkers will also be able to find the information at local tourist offices in the mining communities themselves, as well as on Visit Limburg’s site, although if you don’t speak Dutch, you’ll have to ask your browser to help translate the webpage to English.
