Location: Zonhoven
Top Things to do in Zonhoven
Countries
The 10 Best Things to Do in Zonhoven, Belgium
Zonhoven is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. On January 1, 2007, Zonhoven had a total population of 20,060. The total area is 39.34 km² which gives a population density of 506 inhabitants per km².
Restaurants in Zonhoven
1. Bokrijk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 487 reviews
Bokrijk is the biggest open air museum in Belgium, located in a beautiful and natural environment. The place for a nice day out with lots of activities for individuals, families, schools and groups.
Reviewed By Lynn0416 - Centurion, South Africa
It shows Belgium culture very well. You can spent anything from a hour to half a day there depending on how much time you have. It's so relaxing walking around there. I loved the piglets walking around. If you can't walk everywhere, they have a hop on hop off facility.
2. De Teut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
3. Herkenrode Abbey
Overall Ratings
4 based on 180 reviews
Reviewed By RHAHJ - Nijmegen, The Netherlands
The Herkenrode abbey is an old and quite impressive site. It is worth a visit, but I would recommend skipping the museum. Entry is 5 euros, and for that you get an elaborate explanation of the history of the abbey, starting with the counts of Loon, through the wars between Loon and Liège and subsequent wars, through rich and poor times, until the confisquation by Napoleonic troops, at which point all the property was sold. That is the reason that few original items are on display. And that's the reason why I would recommend researching the history of this place for yourself, on the internet (though one can see that they put an effort into using modern presentation techniques, with touch screens, audioguides, and plain written text). Loon is probably the least known of the counties in the Lowlands, and interesting because of that. The small castle in Kuringen is nearby. The stadsmus museum in nearby Hasselt has a few original items from the abbey.
4. Ter Dolen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Reviewed By guillermovilas - Hasselt, Belgium
No food served on the Terrace in summer apart from a cheese plate and a plate mixed of cheese and ham and more.
These plates are big and accompanied with very tasty bread and butter.
People mostly come here to have a good beer or another drink on the very pleasant Terrace.
Personnel were friendly
I do recommend it
5. ZLDR Luchtfabriek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
6. Circuit Zolder
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Steph_FR-BE - Schaerbeek, Belgium
Went there for the last race of the season "Race Promotion Night" on the 9/11/13: mix of Renault Clio, Suzuki Swift, BMW and Porsche. It was free on this particular event and you could walk within the paddock. What I liked about the circuit was that you can walk around at least half of the circuit, the rest can be seen from the terrasse of the paddock building. Really great to see all corners during this 3 hours race.
7. Mining Museum Beringen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Het Mijnmuseum tells the story of the mines and mining in Limburg. The new museum opened in april 2012 and is highly interactive, with testimonials, a huge touchscreen and lots of audio and moviefragments. There is also the possibility to visit the underground simulation with an enthousiastic guide (ex-miner) to experience how the mineworkers had to work. There are programs for families, groups and schools.
Reviewed By NinjaNeko - Antwerp, Belgium
My dad was a miner here, so were my grandfathers. Growing up in Beringen in the 80s the mine was part of life, always in the background, and its cultural heritage still lives on long past its closure.
I never bothered visiting the museum, figuring I knew what it was about anyway. But my dad really wanted to show his kids "what a tough life" he had ;) And I must say the museum exceeded my expectations. I was a bit disappointed we couldn't go down the actual mine tunnels anymore (too dangerous and they've been sealed off) but the basement exposition of how the underground looked was very well done too. My dad was an enthousiastic guide, but we also had one of the official guides join us in the basement and he was excellent.
On some Sundays larger parts of the museum are opened up (with official guide tour).
Outside there's a café where you can try out the local "koolputtersbier" ("coal miner's beer") and have some food. Actually the outside of the mine complex is rather interesting too if you're into industrial architecture.
One of the old mine terrils (the debris excavated from the mines) can be climbed as a vantage point (for free), and the other one is being turned into an "adventure hill" with mountainbike track etc. And by the end of the year they'll open up a diving school on the premise as well, we'll probably return then so my boyfriend can give that a try, it sounds very cool.
A surpisingly nice way to spend an afternoon.
8. Japanese Garden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 410 reviews
Reviewed By Derek B - Bracknell, United Kingdom
This is a lovely place to visit, it is well kept but not overly so and it was quite reassuring to see they have problem plants as well. There are many attractive acers which will be worth another visit in the autumn.
The lake has some huge koi which have no fear of people and actually almost climb out of the water when being fed.
There are toilets but no refreshments, when I queried this I was told a café would encourage noise which would detract from the garden. But there are improvements being made and there will be a café built outside the garden.
Allow around an hour for your visit.
9. Platwijers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
10. Hoge Kempen National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 126 reviews
The Hoge Kempen National Park in a nutshell.The Hoge Kempen National Park covers 5700 ha and stretches across the municipalities Dilsen-Stokkem, Maasmechelen, Zutendaal, Lanaken, Genk and As. The Hoge Kempen is the largest woodland and nature reserve in Flanders. Extensive pine woods alternate with purple flowering heathland. Large lakes were left behind where sand and gravel were extracted. The highest ‘peaks’, 100 meters high, offer magnificent views. It is home to many rare and exceptional animals. Encountering a roe is not exceptional and butterflies like the swallowtail butterfly brighten up the summer. Special inhabitants are the slippery snake, the antlion and the European beewolf. Large stones and small boulders attest to the last ice age and lend it all a magical feeling.The Hoge Kempen National Park welcomes people with a ‘heart for nature’. That is why five locations have been selected as ‘Gateway to the Hoge Kempen National Park’: Stations As in As, Pietersheim in Lanaken, Mechelse Heide in Maasmechelen, Kattevennen in Genk and Lieteberg in Zutendaal. The gateways have car parks, information kiosks, cafeterias and additional attractions. It is your starting point for walking, cycling and horseriding. Admission to the gateways and the National Park is free. The National Park is not fenced off.
Reviewed By Mollehol - Belgium
This large piece of nature is quite something. It's easily accessed and has a lot of beauty in it. We went here with our bike and enjoyed the nature to the max. Great place!
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