Belgium - Hoge Kempen Rural - Industrial Transition Landscape

Geographically, the Hoge Kempen area covers the following municipalities partly or as a whole: As, Dilsen-Stokkem, Genk, Lanaken, Maaseik, Maasmechelen, Opglabbeek and Zutendaal. At the heart of the area lies Hoge Kempen National Park, which is surrounded by more forests, heath land and scenic areas, village centres, streams and the former colliers of Winterslag, Waterschei, Zwartberg and Eisden. Geologically, the area consists of the Kempen Plateau: a gravel sediment cone formed during the Ice Ages with very pronounced plateau edges due to the river Meuse cutting through its own sediment and resulting in the eastern drop.