View source for Genk

{{Distinguish|text=[[Ghent]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Genk
|native_name             = {{nativename|li|Gènk}}
|type             = city
|picture          = Genk - Sint-Martinuskerk.jpg
|picture-legend   = Church of Saint Martin
|map              = Genk Limburg Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Genk in [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]]
|arms             = Genk wapen2.svg
|flag             = Genk vlag.svg
|province         = [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]]
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Hasselt|Hasselt]]
|nis              = 71016
|mayor            = {{Ill|Wim Dries|nl}} ([[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]])
|majority         = [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]], Pro Genk
|postal-codes     = 3600
|telephone-area   = 089
|web              = [https://www.genk.be/ www.genk.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|58|N|05|30|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Genk''' ({{IPA|nl|ɣɛŋk}}) is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] and [[City status in Belgium|city]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wet tot toekenning van de titel van stad aan de gemeenten Genk, Mortsel, Seraing en Waregem |url=https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/wet/1999/06/23/1999000594/staatsblad |date=23 June 1999 |lang=nl |website=www.ejustice.just.fgov.be |publisher=[[Belgian Official Gazette]] |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> located in the Belgian [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]] near [[Hasselt]]. The municipality comprises only the town of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial towns in [[Flanders]], located on the [[Albert Canal]], between [[Antwerp]] and [[Liège]].

==History==

===Celtic and medieval origins===
Genk probably originated as a [[Celt]]ic 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 [[Industrial Revolution#Belgium|industrialisation]] further south in Belgium, [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]] modernised only slowly: Genk remained unimportant and small, growing slowly to a population of 2,000 around 1900. The village was the home of landscape painters and writers such as [[Neel Doff]] and became an artist colony where over 400 landscape painters painted en plein air.

===20th-century development===
In 1901, [[André Dumont (geologist)|André Dumont]] found a large quantity of coal in the nearby village of [[As (municipality)|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 town 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.

In 2000, Genk officially became a city.

==Economy==
[[File:Genk KoolmijnWinterslag Schacht-Ontvangstgeb.jpg|thumb|upright|270px|Headstock at the former Winterslag Colliery]]
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]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In 1900, Genk was a quiet village with around 2,000 residents. At that time, Genk was known for its natural environment, popular among artists and painters who used Genk as a setting for their pieces. In 1901, coal was discovered in Genk and three mining sites were developed: Zwartberg, Waterschei and Winterslag (C-mine today). As a result, the population grew exponentially: today Genk has about 65,000 inhabitants with 107 different ethnic backgrounds. The mines had some good years, but in 1966 the Zwartberg mine closed, followed by Winterslag (C-mine today) in 1986 and Waterschei in 1987.

The [[Genk Body & Assembly]] factory of [[Ford Motor Company]] was the largest and most important employer in Genk until recently, employing some 5,000 people and building the [[Ford Mondeo|Mondeo]] sedan and hatchback, the [[Ford Galaxy#Second generation Galaxy .282006 to present.29|Galaxy]] (second generation, from 2006 and onwards) MPV/minivan, and the [[Ford S-MAX|S-MAX]] sub-MPV. The factory closed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20054924 | title=Ford plans to shut Belgian plant| work=BBC News| date=2012-10-24}}</ref>

===C-Mine===
The city went looking for new opportunities for the enormous mine sites on its territory, including the Winterslag site. In 2000, the idea began to grow to accommodate a creative hub in the buildings of the old coal mine of Winterslag. In 2001, the city of Genk bought the site from LRM (Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij) and the name "C-mine" was born in 2005. As regards content, the creative hub works on four cornerstones: education, creative economy, creative recreation and artistic creation and presentation. With a university college specialised in various artistic graduation subjects, an incubator for young entrepreneurs, a cultural centre, a design centre, a cinema, C-mine expedition, etc. the C-mine mission has succeeded. It has created 330 jobs in 42 companies and organisations, including around 200 jobs in the creative sector in 33 creative companies.

Each day, C-mine produces: games, apps, websites, sets for television, drones, light shows, design items, stage productions, etc. C-mine is a site of creative makers in each of the four segments.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.c-mine.be/Contact_Info/Over_C_mine | title=Over C-mine | website=www.c-mine.be | access-date=16 November 2016 | archive-date=1 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401151550/http://www.c-mine.be/Contact_Info/Over_C_mine | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sights==
[[File:Genk - Domein Bokrijk Kasteel.jpg|thumb|right|Chateau of the Bokrijk Estate]]
* The biggest tourist attraction of Genk is [[Bokrijk]], 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 [[Historical reenactment|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 slag heaps, 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'' ({{langx|nl|Zonnewijzerpark}}). The history of the landscape painters who visited Genk between 1840 and 1940 can be discovered in the Museum Emile Van Doren.
* The [[Europlanetarium Genk]] has a [[planetarium]] and observatory.

==Events==
* Genk was 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. This festival is celebrated no more.
* 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 was 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.{{update inline|date=July 2015}}

==Transportation==
Besides the Albert Canal, Genk has rail service to Hasselt and a small airport ([[Zwartberg Airfield|EBZW]]) {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of the town center. [[De Lijn]] is the sole bus transport service provider within Genk.

==Sports==
[[File:Cristal Arena 2013-02-21 opposite stand.jpg|thumb|[[Luminus Arena]]]]
Genk's major [[association football|football]] club, [[K.R.C. Genk|KRC Genk]], promoted from the second division in 1996 and quickly became one of Belgium's top clubs. They finished first in the [[Belgian Pro League|highest football league]] in 1999, 2002, 2011 and 2019 and won the [[Belgian Cup]] in 1998, 2000, 2009, 2013 and 2021. Because of this success, the ''[[Luminus Arena]]'' (formerly known as ''[[Fenix Stadium]]'' and ''[[Cristal Arena]]'') of KRC Genk (place for 25 500 supporters) has become an important centre of both sport and non-sport activities in recent years. In the 2016–2017 season Genk reached the quarter-finals of the [[UEFA Europa League]] by defeating fellow Belgian side [[K.A.A. Gent]] over two legs, one of which was a 5–2 win.<ref>[http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/sports/1.2913794 "KRC Genk humiliate AA Gent in Europa League clash"], ''Flanders News''</ref>

[[Karting Genk]] is a [[kart racing]] [[CIK FIA]] track. In 2011 it hosted the [[Karting World Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cikfia.com/competitions/cik-calendar/2011/genk/kz2/results.html | title=GENK&nbsp;/&nbsp;KZ2&nbsp;/&nbsp;Results : CIKFIA}}</ref>

==Demography==
24% of the inhabitants are of foreign origin from about 85 different nationalities, mostly Italians, [[Turks in Belgium|Turks]], and [[Greeks in Belgium|Greeks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/140127_Foreign_roots |title=1 in 6 Flemings has foreign roots |website=www.deredactie.be |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140127191222/http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/140127_Foreign_roots |archive-date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is believed that Genk has the largest Turkish community in Belgium relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.myria.be/files/Migration_turque_FR_020513_def_FR.pdf. |website=www.myria.be |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101085637/https://www.myria.be/files/Migration_turque_FR_020513_def_FR.pdf |title=Migration turque|last=Schoonvaere |first=Quentin|language=fr |archive-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Neel Doff]], writer (1858–1942)
* [[Jacques Germeaux]], former politician and former [[Belgian Senate|senator]] (b. 1956)
* {{Ill|Peter Vanhoutte|nl}}, former politician and former [[Belgian MP]] (b. 1956)
* [[Martin Margiela]], fashion designer (b. 1957)
* [[Jo Vandeurzen]], politician and [[Minister of Health]] in the [[Flemish region]] (b. 1958)
* [[Dirk Medved]], [[association football|football]] [[defender (football)|defender]] (b. 1968)
* [[Ronny Gaspercic]], [[association football|football]] [[goalkeeper (football)|goalkeeper]] (b. 1969)
* [[Karel Geraerts]], [[association football|footballer]] (b. 1982)
* [[Benjamin De Ceulaer]], [[association football|footballer]] (b. 1983)
* [[Siglo XX (band)|Siglo XX]], 1980's [[Coldwave]] band
* [[Claudio Desolati]], Italian [[association football|footballer]] (b. 1955)

==Twin cities==
* {{flagicon|BOT}} [[Francistown]], Botswana (since 2004)<ref>{{cite web |title=Stedenband Francistown|url=https://www.genk.be/stedenband|website=genk.be|publisher=Genk|access-date=June 11, 2024 | quote=Sinds 2004 heeft stad Genk een stedenband met de stad Francistown in Botswana.}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Cieszyn]], Poland
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Isparta]], Turkey
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[San Giovanni in Fiore]], Italy

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Genk - Woning Stationsstraat 13.jpg|Built in 1844, Stationsstraat 13, Genk
File:Genk - Voormalig gemeentehuis.jpg|The Old Town Hall, built in neoclassical style
File:Genk - Station Genk-Goederen.jpg|Train station Genk-Goederen
File:Genk - Christus Koningkerk.jpg|"Mine cathedral" of Christ the King
File:Genk Vogelkersstraat Watertoren.JPG|Water tower
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}
* {{Official|http://www.genk.be}} {{in lang|nl}}
* [http://www.krcgenk.be Official website of soccer club KRC Genk]
* [https://www.bokrijk.be/ Official website of the Open-Air Museum Bokrijk]
* [http://www.c-mine.be/ Official website of C-Mine Genk]
* [https://www.pingvalue.com Official website of Pingvalue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119050447/https://www.pingvalue.com/ |date=19 November 2020 }}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Genk
|N  = [[Opglabbeek]]
|NE = [[As, Belgium|As]]
|E  = [[Maasmechelen]]<br />[[Zutendaal]]
|S  = [[Diepenbeek]], [[Bilzen]]
|SW = [[Hasselt]]
|W  = [[Zonhoven]]
|NW = [[Houthalen-Helchteren]]
}}
{{Municipalities in Limburg}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Limburg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Genk| ]]