Genk

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Not to be confused with Gent.
Genk
Municipality of Belgium
Church of Saint Martin

Coat of arms
Genk
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°58′N 05°30′E / 50.967°N 5.500°E / 50.967; 5.500Coordinates: 50°58′N 05°30′E / 50.967°N 5.500°E / 50.967; 5.500
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Limburg
Arrondissement Hasselt
Government
 • Mayor Wim Dries (CD&V)
 • Governing party/ies CD&V
Area
 • Total 87.85 km2 (33.92 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2012)[1]
 • Total 65,264
 • Density 740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Postal codes 3600
Area codes 089
Website www.genk.be

Genk (Dutch: Genk, Dutch pronunciation: [ʝɛŋk]) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial cities in Flanders, located on the Albert Canal, between Antwerp and Liège.

History

Celtic and medieval origins

Genk probably originated as a Celtic village, and was converted to Christianity in the 10th century. The remains of a little wooden church dating from that period were found in the area. The first mention of Genk as Geneche can be found in a document dating from 1108, ceding the territory to the Abbey of Rolduc. Politically, Genk belonged to the County of Loon until it was annexed by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in 1365.

19th century

During a century of on-going industrialisation further south in Belgium, Limburg modernised only slowly: Genk remained unimportant and small, growing slowly to a population of 2,000 around 1900. The peaceful village was the home of landscape painters and writers such as Neel Doff.

20th century development

In 1901, André Dumont found a large quantity of coal in the nearby village of As. Soon after, the “Black Gold” was also found in Genk. After World War I, the village started to attract a large quantity of both Belgian and foreign immigrants, and quickly became the biggest city in Limburg after Hasselt, peaking to a population of 70 000. However, in 1966 the coal mine of Zwartberg closed down, and Genk had to develop new industries, mainly along the Albert Canal and highways. By the end of the 1980s, the two remaining coal mines at Winterslag and Waterschei were also closed.

Automotive industry

The Genk Body & Assembly factory of Ford Motor Company is the largest and most important employer in Genk today, employing some 5,000 people and building the Mondeo sedan and hatchback, the Galaxy (second generation, from 2006 and onwards) MPV/minivan, and the S-MAX sub-MPV.

The factory will close in 2014.[2]

Genk today

Genk is the industrial centre of the province of Limburg and offers over 45,000 jobs, making it economically the third most significant city in Flanders. 54% of the inhabitants are of foreign origin[3] from about 85 different nationalities, mostly Italians, Turks, and Greeks.

In 2000, Genk officially became a city. Genk was recently voted the friendliest city in Europe by the SEA Tourist Commission.[citation needed]

In 2004, the city of Genk named a street after Jacques Coghen, finance minister of Belgium in the 1830s.[4]

Sights

  • The biggest tourist attraction of Genk is Bokrijk (www.bokrijk.be), an open-air museum consisting of authentic relocated buildings (mainly dating from 17th till 19th century) from all over Flanders. In the summer season, historical Flanders comes alive in Bokrijk through numerous actors and re-enactment events.
  • Genk was established as one of the entrance "gateways" of the Hoge Kempen National Park, the first National Park in Flanders, at its opening in 2006.
  • Also noteworthy are the old coalmines of Zwartberg, Waterschei and Winterslag, surrounded by huge black mountains of dug up soil and coal remnants. Some of the mine buildings and housing can be visited.
  • Despite its industrial past and present, Genk is nicknamed 'De Groene Stad' (The Green City). It sports a nature reserve called "De Maten", the large recreational area Kattevennen (with the Europlaneterium), Bokrijk, and several other green areas. In sunny weather, you may also want to pay a visit to the Sundial Park (Dutch: Zonnewijzerpark).
  • The Europlanetarium Genk has a planetarium and observatory.

Events

  • Genk is home of Motives Festival, an annual event taking place in November and celebrating "new sounds of jazz." Recent performers have included the fiery piano jazz of Esbjörn Svensson Trio, funky saxman Joshua Redman, and futuristic electronics wizard Leafcutter John. Another musical event, Genk on Stage, takes place during three days in the summer.
  • Genk is also rich in tradition, with a colourful carnival taking place around Ash Wednesday, the May celebrations featuring the May Queen, a flowers parade and a huge fireworks finale, and finally the Saint Martin procession, in honour of Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most popular saints in Flanders.
  • In 2012 Genk will be host to Manifesta, The roving European Biennial of Contemporary Art, together with events such as the biennial of Venice and the Documenta in Kassel, Manifesta is one of the foremost art events of Europe. Manifesta 9 will take place from June 2 until September 30, 2012.

Famous and notable inhabitants

Sports

Genk's major football club, KRC Genk, promoted from second division in 1996 and quickly became one of Belgiums top clubs. They finished first in the highest football league in 1999, 2002 and 2011 and won the Belgian Cup in 1998, 2000, 2009 and 2013. Because of this success, the Cristal Arena (formerly known as Fenix stadium) of KRC Genk (place for 25 500 supporters) has become an important centre of both sport and non-sport activities in recent years.

Karting Genk is a kart racing CIK FIA track. In 2011 they held the World Championship.

Gallery

  • Concrete pedestrian footbridge at the coal mine in Genk Waterschei

  • Cafe, former watermill, Molenstraat in Genk

  • Built in 1844, Stationsstraat 13 in Genk

  • 'Turkish day' outside the 'Yunus Emre Camii' (mosque)

  • Kasteel van Bokrijk in Genk

  • Train station Genk-Goederen

  • Watermill

  • Mine cathedral of Christ the King

  • Mine shaft

  • Saint Anthony's Chapel

  • The Old Town Hall, built in neoclassical style

  • Church of Saint Eventius

  • Gereral Manager's mansion at the former colliery 'Les Liégois', Zwartberg

  • Slag heap of Waterschei

Twin cities

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2012 (XLS; 214 KB)
  2. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20054924
  3. ↑ http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/140127_Foreign_roots
  4. ↑ "Stad Genk heeft twee nieuwe straten (translated as: Genk has two new city streets)". City of Genk, Belgium. November 23, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2013. 

External links

Hasselt
Maaseik
Tongeren
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