landmark
Vrijthof Maastricht
A grand cafe-ringed square anchored by two medieval churches in the Netherlands' oldest, most Burgundian city.
12 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeBelgiumFlanders
Bilzen
Flanders, Belgium · Europe
About Bilzen
Bilzen works well as a base: 5 minutes from Beverst, 13km from Hoge Kempen National Park.
Bilzen is in Flanders, Belgium, with about 30,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Beverst, about 4 km away.
Bilzen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɪlzə(n)] ) is a former municipality and city located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On 1 January 2025, the municipality merged with Hoeselt to form the new municipality Bilzen-Hoeselt.
In 2021, Bilzen had a total population of 32,536. The total area is 75.90 km2 which gives aRead more
population density of 426 inhabitants per km2.
Bilzen consists of the city of Bilzen and the following villages: Beverst, Eigenbilzen, Grote-Spouwen, Hees, Hoelbeek, Kleine-Spouwen, Martenslinde, Mopertingen, Munsterbilzen, Rijkhoven, Rosmeer, and Waltwilder. In 1977 they all became part of the municipality Bilzen because of the fusion of municipalities.
Cities in Bilzen's neighbourhood are all within a distance of some 10 to 15 kilometers: to its north is Genk, to its east Maastricht (Netherlands), to its south Tongeren, and to its north-west Diepenbeek.
From 1965 to 1981 Bilzen hosted Jazz Bilzen, an annual multi-day open air jazz and rock festival. In its time Jazz Bilzen was the most important Belgian festival. Artists that performed, among many others, included: Humble Pie, The Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, The Kinks, The Troggs, Procol Harum, Golden Earring, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, Lou Reed, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Cure, Toots Thielemans, Keith Jarrett and John McLaughlin. From the 1980s onwards, the festival was superseded by Torhout-Werchter, which has now become Rock Werchter.
Where to Stay in Bilzen
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bilzen?
Within an hour or so of Bilzen: Vrijthof Maastricht (12 km), Hoge Kempen National Park (13 km), Circuit Zolder (22 km), Valkenburg Marl Caves (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Bilzen?
The nearest famous roads are Baraque de Fraiture and Chimay Street Circuit.
Where is Bilzen?
Bilzen is in Flanders, Belgium, about 4 km from Beverst.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 29,622
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Belgium
- Region
- Flanders
- Timezone
- Europe/Brussels
- Coordinates
- 50.8732, 5.5184
Tags
Worth the detour from Bilzen
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Hoge Kempen National Park
Belgium's first national park, a heath and pine landscape in Limburg with six gateway entrances and visitor car parks.
13 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
Circuit Zolder
A Belgian circuit tragically linked to Gilles Villeneuve's death in 1982, with a rich history in Formula 1 and touring car racing.
22 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Valkenburg Marl Caves
Hill-country Valkenburg hides Roman-era marl tunnels, a ruined castle and the Netherlands' only true hilltop drives.
22 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Vaalserberg Drielandenpunt
The Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Thorn
The 'white village' of Limburg: an entire former abbey-principality of whitewashed brick lanes and cobbles beside the Maas, painted white in the Napoleonic era to dodge a window tax and kept that way ever since.
39 km · about 45 min drive
cathedral
Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom)
The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, built by Charlemagne as his palatine chapel in the 9th century.
41 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Gileppe Dam
A 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
45 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Bilzen
- 38 kmVaalserberg DrielandenpuntThe Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
- 45 kmGileppe DamA 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
- 58 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
- 71 kmBaraque de FraitureBelgium's second-highest point at 652 m, a windswept Ardennes plateau crossroads on the N89 with a small ski station and sweeping high-fen scenery.
Driving in Belgium
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.74/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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