Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Heath, forest and blue mountains

Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen lies between Maasmechelen and Genk and is the only national park in Belgium. What makes it special for photographers is the combination of open heathland, dark pine forest and the distinctive blue terril slag heaps, former coal mountains that give the landscape an industrial accent. That mix is nowhere near as pronounced as it is here.

The terrils are not simply background. They stand out sharply against an overcast sky, or on a misty morning give your image an almost surreal sense of depth. With a longer focal length, a 135mm or 200mm, you can really compress those layers together.

Heather bloom and autumn colours

Two moments are worth planning your visit around. August is the time of the heather bloom. The purple carpets are at their finest then, especially in the early morning light when the dew still sits on the shrubs. Come early, the sun is low and the light is soft and warm. September and October bring the ferns and trees into gold and red. Combined with the pines, you have a colour palette that needs very little processing.

Compositions and light

The expanse of the heath calls for a clear subject in the foreground. An old tree, a path or one of the information boards along the walking routes can fulfil that anchoring role. A wide angle works well when you want to convey that sense of space. For the terrils in the distance, a longer lens combined with mist or a hazy sky just after sunrise is ideal.

Overcast weather is your friend here. Hard midday sun makes the heath look flat and colourless. A grey sky with some texture gives structure to the landscape and keeps the tones of the heather far more visible.

Practicalities

The park has several entry points. The Connecterra in Maasmechelen and the Mechelse Heide are easily reached by car. Parking is available at the various visitor centres. The park is freely accessible, but keep to the marked paths. Drones are not permitted without an exemption. During the heather bloom the park can get busy at weekends, a weekday morning is quieter.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen (officiële site)
• Natuurpunt: Mechelse Heide
• Wikipedia: Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen