Limburg (Belgian Province)

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Introduction

The province of Limburg is located in the North-East of Belgian. Capital of this province is Hasselt. It shares it's name with the Dutch Province Limburg. These two provences used to be one province, but were divided when The Netherlands and Belgium became separate states.

Geography

In the east it borders to the other Limburg, and the border for a large part follows the river Meuse. In the North it also border to the Netherlands. In the south it border to Liege, and the in the west to Antwerp, and Flemish Brabant.

Cities

• Hasselt
• Maaseik
• Genk
• Tongeren
• St. Truiden

Sights and Activities

Biking

Limburg is a paradise for bikers, there are a lot of routes that can be done. Along the Meuse (Maas in Dutch), you can even crossover to the other Limburg in the Netherlands, as a part of the route is going through the Netherlands. You can cross the river, at one of the cable-ferries.

National Park de Kempen

Limburg is the greenest of the provinces in Flandres. National Park de Kempen was the first national park in the region, and is still a popular place to go for a walk. Look for the wildlife that lives there, and all the flowers and plants that grow in this park. A good time for a visit is, the time when the heath is blooming. Large parts of the park, will excist of a carpet of pink and purple.

Events and Festivals

O.L.S.

The O.L.S. is a gathering of marksmen guilds of both Dutch and Flemish Limburg. In the early afternoon there is a big parade through the town that organises the O.L.S. After the parade, there are prices awarded in all kind of categories ranging from the best marching band to the most beautiful Queen (every guild has a King. That's the man who won the marksmen contest of their own guild). The 6 chosen marksmen of every guild compete with each other to be the best marksmen of all guilds present. In 2007 there were 159 competing teams. They need to aim at small cubes mounted on a high beam, and each member of the team needs to shoot off 6 cubes. If they miss one cube the team can't continue. The team that doesn't miss wins the contest. The contest always continues a week later on Saturday, with a select group of contenders, as it gets too dark before there is a winner on the first day.

The O.L.S. is held on the first Sunday of July and is held in the town that won the marksmen contest the previous year. Last year's winner stages the festival, so the location changes every year, depending on who won the shooting contest, so it can be in either the Netherlands or in Belgium.

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep