Maasmechelen

Maasmechelen is a town in the Belgian province Limburg, on the border with the Netherlands. It used to be an important mining town, but now all the mines have closed and some of the mining sites have been redeveloped into interesting sites.

Understand

• 1 Tourist Center, Zetellaan 35, ☏ +32 89 76 98 88, toerisme@maasmechelen.be. (updated Jan 2018)

Get in

Maasmechelen is well connected by road. Apart from regional and local roads leading to towns in the region, Maasmechelen is connected to the E314, leading to Brussels and Leuven as well as Heerlen in the Netherlands and Aachen in Germany. There's no train station in town, but the stations of Genk and Maastricht do have direct buses to take you further to Maasmechelen.

Bus services are ample, including Line 9 to Genk, 25 to Lanaken and Eisden, 61 to Maaseik and Tongeren and 63 to Maastricht (in the Netherlands). Line 178 connects Maasmechelen to Brussels, Leuven, Houthalen and Maaseik.

See

Maasmechelen and its surroundings were a mining area until the mines were closed in 1987. In an attempt to save remnants of this era, several of the main buildings were renovated and given a new destination. There's also a small "museum of the mine workers house", giving an insight in the daily life of miners in the 1930s.

• Chateau Vilain XIIII. A castle with a lovely English garden, originating in the late 15th century but renewed in the 18th century. Today, only the gardens are open for public. €1,5 admission for the gardens. 
• Connecterra

Do

Maasmechelen has some fine opportunities for hikers and bikers. A large part of the National Park Hoge Kempen, characterized by heathland and pine forests, is located on Maasmechelen territory.

• 1 Cultural Center Maasmechelen, Koninginnelaan 42, ☏ +32 89 76 97 97. (updated Jan 2018)

Buy

Shopping is a major reason for people from the wide region to visit Maasmechelen.

• 1 Maasmechelen Village. Attracts about 2.5 million visitors per year, many coming from neighbouring Germany and The Netherlands. The British owned outlet centre has over 100 stores where mostly clothes from well known brands are sold for discount prices. 

Eat

• 1 De Griek, Kruindersweg 12, ☏ +32 89 76 26 66. Greek restaurant. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Terhills Hotel, Zetellaan 68, ☏ +32 89 73 09 09. This hotel will offer you a unique experience since it is built inside the former main administration building of the Eisden mine. The Maasmechelen Village shopping centre is right next to it, as well as a cinema. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Hotel Porta Cité, Louis Mercierlaan 1, ☏ +32 485 73 30 01, info@hotelportacite.be. (updated Jan 2018)