lizzy911

My boyfriend and I are staying with his family in Genk, Belgium for 5 days in mid-June. I guess I just assumed it was near Brussels, which I suppose it sort of is, as Belgium is a small country, but definitely a lot closer to the Eastern and Northern border with the Netherlands! Looks like Hasselt is the main connection site for rail. We won't have a car but are also open to taking buses (although for the first few days I hope his family will drive us to some local sites).

Anyway, if anyone has any insider info on this small town it would be much appreciated. It is sort of glossed out of the guidebooks, got the impression from the internet it is an old mining town with some nice scenery nearby. Their website is in Flemish which is not of a great help to me.

We will probably go around with my b/f's family during the weekend but will have 3 days to ourselves (possibly with another friend). Were thinking about a daytrip to Holland and maybe bicycling around. Any other ideas? We are young and this is the last part of our Europe trip so we aren't so interested in big cities but a castle could be nice.

Thanks so much for any info, it is very hard to find out on the internet and do not want to irritate his family who we barely know too much quite yet!

lizzy911

ttt probably in vain but worth a try

hopscotch

Genk doesn't have a whole lot going for it. Try www.viamichelin.com and then click the tourist site link.

Maastricht is nearby but there is no train. Maybe a bus. Otherwise train to Antwerp.

Tulips

Look Genk up on www.mappy.com, then click on tourist information and the nearest sites will come up.
Check www.nmbs.be for train schedules. Genk does have a trains station; Antwerp will take two hours by train, with change of train.
Do try to visit Maastricht; it is a lovely town, great atmosphere, lots of bars, restaurants. There are caves that you can visit (man-made caves, excavated for the natural stone, but very interesting to visit).
Tongeren, Belgiums oldest town, is also nearby.
I live in Antwerp, have never been to Genk, so can't help you with further info on the town. Have a great time!

lizzy911

Thanks for the advice... this should definitely be interesting, but hopefully we'll find things to do!

Tulips

lizzy, public transport in Belgium is generally quite good. Your bf's family will be able to advice you better on this. See if you can borrow or rent some bicycles to get around or to get you to the train station. And any town in Belgium will have some nice bars and cafes where you can sit (hopefully) outside in the sun and drink a Belgian beer, and enjoy the Belgian food.
Have a great time!

Tulips

Go to the local tourist office when you arrive and get some bicycle maps. There are some specific routes you can take. It's quite a pretty area to cycle in. Even though the website of the town is in Dutch, there's a link somewhere there for the tourist office, with an email. (click on 'toeristen' or 'bezoeker' (visitor)).
There's also an open air museum nearby; www.bokrijk.be

lizzy911

thanks again, will look into that.

On another note, these five days fall at the end of our month-long journey. We would like to bring a gift but we will be lugging it around for a month if we bring it from home (also we are flying low cost airlines with low weight limits). What would be an appropriate gift for 60-somethings from their 23 year old great-nephew? We are flying in from Rome so I was thinking something from that area? I really am torn on this-- I want to be hospitable but I don't want their gift to be destroyed or a burden in transit.

I also am not sure what the Belgian custom on this is.

Tulips

Here people would bring flowers, or a bottle of wine. You could get them some flowers once you get there, but then you wouldn't have anything to offer when you arrive. Maybe a good bottle of Italian wine from the airport. A prosecco would be nice (people here drink a lot of champagne and sparkling wines) Or a chunk of parmesan or olive oil from Rome? Belgian people like good food.

PalQ

Baedecker's Belgium guide says simply of Genk - "an industrial town on the edge of the coal mining district" - doesn't sound real promising but really any Belgian town will have its pluses - Maastricht yes close by.
You can't chose your relatives nor where they live! Like others said Belgium has a superb train and bus system - investigate one day travel passes.
Go to nearby Maastricht for the famous Dutch coffeeshops - more here than in most Dutch towns as French, German and Belgians, mainly youths, flock here to legally buy cannabis in the coffeeshops (well de factolly legally as Dutch laws tolerate if not legalize such sales.) If of a mind could be a neat escape from family pressures.