imported>Pi bot: Changing locally defined but nonexistent Commons category (Category:National park Hoge Kempen) to the one from Wikidata (Category:Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen)

2025-06-13T08:59:08Z

Changing locally defined but nonexistent Commons category (Category:National park Hoge Kempen) to the one from Wikidata (Category:Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen)

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{{Short description|First National Park in Flanders, Belgium}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Hoge Kempen National Park
| iucn_category = II
| map = Belgium
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of Hoge Kempen National Park
| photo = File:Mechelse Hei 050806.JPG
| photo_caption = Heathland in the Hoge Kempen (Mechelse Heide)
| photo_alt = Heathland with sparsely scattered bushes
| location = [[Limburg, Belgium|Limburg]], [[Flemish Region]], [[Belgium]]
| nearest_city = [[Genk]]
| coordinates = {{coords|51|00|N|5|40|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = 67 km<sup>2</sup> (to be expanded to 110 km<sup>2</sup>)
| established = 2006
| visitation_num = 700,000
| visitation_year = 2010
| governing_body = Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos
}}
'''Hoge [[Campine|Kempen]] National Park''' (''Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen'') is the first [[National Park]] in [[Flanders]], [[Belgium]]. It is located in the [[Campine]] in the East of the Province of [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], between [[Genk]] and the river [[Meuse]] (Dutch: ''Maas'') Valley. It includes the elevated ground that defines the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] between that river and the low ground of the [[drainage basin]] of the river [[Demer]] that covers most of Belgian Limburg.

==History==
It was opened on Sunday 29 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countdown2010.net/article/first-national-park-opened-milestone-for-belgiums-countdown-2010 |title=First National Park opened – Milestone for Belgium's Countdown 2010 |publisher=countdown2010 |date=2006-03-23 |accessdate=2008-09-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224193324/http://www.countdown2010.net/article/first-national-park-opened-milestone-for-belgiums-countdown-2010 |archivedate=2011-02-24 }}</ref> Covering 67 square kilometres, it forms part of the [[Natura 2000]] network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurosite-nature.org/IMG/pdf/057_bpn_poster_hkempen.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012131700/http://www.eurosite-nature.org/IMG/pdf/057_bpn_poster_hkempen.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-12 |title=The National Park Hoge Kempen |publisher=Eurosite |accessdate=2008-09-18 }}</ref> The area is mostly [[heathland]] and [[Temperate coniferous forest|pine forest]]. It was first established in 1990 within the ''Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland'' as part of a progressive policy to advance nature reserves in Flanders.

In May 2011 it was placed on [[UNESCO]]'s Tentative List for consideration as a [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage site]]. On 23 March 2012, the nine municipal councils, the Province of Limburg and the Flemish government signed a letter of intent to support the application of the Hoge Kempen National Park for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage.

The national park has revealed plans to expand its territory to more than 100 square kilometres.

In the 1990s, the park was the place of origin of the now-widespread [[numbered-node cycle network]].<ref name=Bollen>{{cite web |last1=Reymen |first1=Nele |title=Hugo Bollen: Fietsroutenetwerk |url=https://www.wanderful.design/nl/interview/hugo-bollen-fietsroutenetwerk-2/ |website=Wanderful.design |access-date=19 April 2021 |language=nl-NL |date=11 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="BD">{{cite web |last1=Wagenbuur |first1=Mark |title=The Numbered Junction Network for recreational cycling |url=https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2019/09/25/the-numbered-junction-network-for-recreational-cycling/ |website=Bicycle Dutch |access-date=19 April 2021 |language=en |date=24 September 2019}}</ref> Designer Hugo Bollen wanted something short; he felt it was important that the signage not contain too much information.<ref name=award>{{cite news |last1=WITMAN |first1=DOOR BOB |title=Wegwijsprijs |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/wegwijsprijs~b0a26907/ |work=de Volkskrant |date=12 November 2013 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> RLKM estimates that the network brings 16.5 million euros of revenue to Kempen in Maasland annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fietsroute-netwerk – Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland |url=http://www.rlkm.be/nl/recreatie/fietsroute-netwerk/ |website=www.rlkm.be |access-date=2021-04-20 |archive-date=2009-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527064825/http://www.rlkm.be/nl/recreatie/fietsroute-netwerk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Nationaalparkhogekempen.jpg|thumb|Map of Hoge Kempen National Park]]{{Verification|date=June 2022}}
The park is in the province of [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], covering territory in the municipalities of [[As, Belgium|As]], [[Dilsen-Stokkem]], [[Genk]], [[Lanaken]], [[Maasmechelen]] and [[Zutendaal]]. As well as extensive woodlands, it includes existing protected natural areas such as the Mechelse Heide, Zipebeek Valley (''de Vallei van de Ziepbeek''), Bog under the Mountain (''het Ven onder de Berg'') and the Neerharer Heide.

The Hoge Kempen (or ''Kempens Plateau'') is a large area of scree formed from rocks that were deposited in the [[Ardennes]] by the [[Meuse]] during the last Ice Age in the south east of Limburg and covered with sand blown by sea winds. Over time a relatively deep valley was eroded by the [[Grensmaas]]. The slope of the plateau to the west of the Maas valley is steep and rises 45 metres to form a step of sorts. This step runs 20 kilometres from [[Opoeteren]] at [[Maaseik]] near Lanaken in the north to [[Gellik]] in the south. Over half of this step lies within the park and the height of land above this reaches 102 metres.

The area is crossed by several major highways that presented a challenge as to how to maintain eco-diversity across the fragmented parkland. Construction took place of the Kikbeek ''eco-velo-duct'' over the E314 near [[Maasmechelen]] and also near [[Zutendaal]]. The ''Toeristiche Weg'' built 60 years ago on the Mechelse Heide was closed to road traffic as part of the park planning. This paved road will become part of the Limburg cycling network. West of the Kikbeek eco-duct will be a eco-valley and another eco-duct over the E314.<ref>[http://www.hbvl.be/limburg/maasmechelen/maasmechelen-krijgt-ecovallei-onder-e314.aspx Maasmechelen krijgt ecovallei onder E314 (''Maasmechelen gets ecological valley below E314'')], 15 February 2012, Het Belang van Limburg</ref>

Another element to aid the recovery of the park was the restoration of the source of the Kikbeek at [[Opgrimbie]]. This resulted in the upper course of the brook being redesigned with a controllable flow that helped restore the natural water level in the area. Due to years of excavation of white sand evidenced by the many craters, the water level had fallen. Inside the boundaries of the park there are still some enclaves where there are some residences, gravel and sand quarries and industrial zones. The Government of Flanders currently owns 85% of the land in the park.

==Ecology==

The habitat is mostly coniferous trees and heath land. There are some deciduous trees, dunes, marshes, streams, dry valleys, ponds, gravel pits and former mine spoil heaps. Typical flora and fauna include juniper; [[Ulex europaeus|gorse]]; [[Erica cinerea|bell heather]]; [[Myrica gale|sweet gale]]; [[Lycopodiella inundata|club moss]]; [[Narthecium ossifragum|asphodel]]; [[dragonfly]]; [[Plebejus argus|silver studded blue butterfly]]; [[Papilio machaon|swallow tail butterfly]]; [[Melitaea cinxia|Granville fritillary butterfly]] ; [[Rana arvalis|Moor frog]]; [[Epidalea calamita|Natterjack toad]]; [[Coronella austriaca|Smooth snake]]; [[Viviparous lizard|Common lizard]]; [[Lampetra planeri|Brook Lamprey]]; [[Dryocopus martius|Black woodpecker]]; [[Red fox|Red Fox]]; [[European pine marten|Pine marten]]; [[Caprimulgus europaeus|Nightjar]] and [[Capreolus capreolus|Roe deer]].

==Tourism==

The park is open to the general public and each municipality has its own gateway to the park. These are:
*Connecterra: The gateway at the border between the municipalities of Maasmechelen and Dilsen-Stokkem acts as the main gate of the national park.
*Kattevennen: This is the gateway in Genk and is themed on the cosmos. Here is the Cosmodrome and a recreation area.
*Mechelse Heide: The gateway in Maasmechelen leads to the Mechelse Heide nature reserve, a vast purple heath land.
*Pietersheim: The gateway in Lanaken is located in the Pietersheim castle, which is a Romanesque castle ruin at the Pietersembos.
*The Lieteberg: The gateway in Zutendaal has the theme of the insect world. The visitor center is located in an old gravel pit that was once a mating station for bees.
*Station As: The gateway in As has the theme of the industrial past of the region. The lookout tower at the former As station resembles a coal drilling tower typical of a century ago.

There is a 200 km network of hiking trails within the national park. Some 40 loop-shaped walks were designed with a length between 3 and 14 km. The start of these hiking trails is at one of the 6 entrance gates. The cycle paths in the national park form part of the [[numbered-node cycle network]], the Kempen and Maasland Regional Landscape part. In addition, within the national park there is a 140 km network of mostly unpaved bridleways and paths that connects the rider and heart of the Limburg Kempen. These are organized via a node system similar to the cycle node network.

Since 2022 [[Cyclo-cross Maasmechelen]] which is a [[Cyclo-cross|cyclo-cross]] race part of the [[UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup]] has been held in the park.

Support from the European Union has meant that there are a number of Rangers on hand to help all visitors.

==Awards==
In April 2008, project manager [[Ignace Schops]] received the Goldman Environmental Prize (the "Green Nobel Prize") in San Francisco.<ref>[http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/europe The Goldmanprize for this project The 2008 Goldman Prize Winner]</ref> Schops and his RLKM project group got this prestigious award for the original way they managed to protect a large area of valuable nature in a relatively densely populated area. It recognized the concept of integrating nature, agriculture, economy and tourism. On 7 May 2008 he was honored in the European Parliament, also as an example project where public authorities and private initiatives cooperated successfully.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Connecterra - hoofdtoegangspoort van het Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen 18-06-2018 11-42-55.jpg|Connecterra, a gate to Hoge Kempen
File:Lieteberg 5-04-2019 14-06-44.jpg|Lieteberg park centre
File:Eisden Schachtbokken.jpg|Abandoned mineshafts (2018)
File:View from terril on lake and terrils in national park hoge Kempen - Connecterra.JPG|Lakes and forests (2013)
File:Hoge Kempen - Vallei van de Kikbeekbron en omgeving (11).JPG
File:Hoge Kempen - Vallei van de Kikbeekbron en omgeving (8).JPG|Trees encroaching the heath
File:Mariabeeld (Eduard Nulens 1954) Hesselsberg 5-04-2019 13-27-59.jpg|Statue
File:Ecoducthogekempen.jpg|Ecoduct Kikbeek
</gallery>

==See also ==
* [[Campine|Kempen]] also known as De Kempen, a region in Belgium and the Netherlands, also called Kempenland or Campine.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen}}
* [http://www.rlkm.be/en/hoge-kempen Hoge Kempen National Park homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119024519/http://www.rlkm.be/en/hoge-kempen |date=2022-01-19 }}
* [http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/europe The Goldmanprize for this project]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Belgium]]
[[Category:Parks in Flanders]]
[[Category:Geography of Limburg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Limburg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 2006]]
[[Category:Genk]]
[[Category:Maasmechelen]]

Hoge Kempen National Park - Revision history

imported>Pi bot: Changing locally defined but nonexistent Commons category (Category:National park Hoge Kempen) to the one from Wikidata (Category:Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen)