Which districts in Genk are best for families?

That depends on your daily life: Genk-Centrum offers short distances to shops and the Stadhuis, while the former mining districts such as Winterslag or Waterschei have their own centres and estate layouts. If you are looking for nature, look near Bokrijk. Ask the city early about school places.

How do I find a flat in Genk, and what does it cost?

Search via Belgian property portals and local estate agents; adverts are usually in Dutch. We do not quote specific rents in Genk because we have no reliable current source. Before moving in, clarify whether you can register the address quickly.

Which large employers are there in and around Genk?

A major employer is the ArcelorMittal stainless steel plant. Added to this are the port in Langerlo with its container terminal, the Benepack can plant and businesses along the E313 and E314. Until 2014 the Ford plant was the largest employer in the province; its closure changed the city considerably.

Are there universities or colleges in Genk?

Genk has no university of its own; there are higher education institutions in the region, for example in nearby Hasselt. Many students therefore commute by bus or car between home and college. If you are moving to Limburg to study, you can bring a small amount of household goods affordably as a shared load .

How does a long-distance move to Genk from Germany work?

We come from Berlin-Moabit and drive around 668 km via the A2, A46 and the E314 ; including breaks the lorry takes just under ten hours. As Germany and Belgium are both in the EU, there are no customs formalities for your household goods. The journey is described in our long-distance moving guide for Genk .

What does Genk offer for leisure?

Genk includes the Bokrijk estate with an open-air museum of importance for Belgium, a playground and an arboretum. Added to this are the C-mine cultural site on the former colliery grounds, the Europlanetarium with the Kattevenia recreation area and football at KRC Genk.

Do I need a parking restriction zone for moving day in Genk?

Where and for how long the lorry may stop outside your new address is regulated by the City of Genk; information is provided by the Mobiliteit department (mobiliteit@genk.be). We clarify this before moving day and plan the lorry so that it stands as close to the entrance as possible. For narrow estate streets, a longer carrying distance may be necessary.

Does your company also offer part loads for smaller moves?

Yes, for individual pieces of furniture or small households we offer a shared load : your belongings travel with other consignments towards Belgium. This is particularly suitable for students or people starting their careers. We agree the delivery day with you in advance, so that you have already moved in for the address check.

How are my belongings covered?

Your belongings are covered under the German Commercial Code: we are liable under § 451e HGB with €620 per cubic metre of cargo. Additional insurance is available for valuable items. This also applies to moves abroad, such as to Genk.

Why do so many people move to Genk in particular?

Genk combines an industrial history with plenty of greenery around Bokrijk and the Kempen heathland. Thanks to immigration since the 1920s, the city is very international. With the E313 and E314, Antwerp, Liège and Aachen are easy to reach, and nearby Hasselt is in the same province.

How does the survey before a move to Genk work?

During the survey we estimate the volume of your move in your current flat and ask about the floor, lift and access at the new address in Genk. Then we give you a fixed price . You can arrange an appointment on 01625978461; the return trip from Genk to Berlin is also possible.

When is the new address entered on my ID card in Genk?

First a wijkinspecteur checks the new address. At the earliest three working days after the positive check, you can come to the Stadhuis, without an appointment during opening hours. The address is then registered on your eID or residence card.

How many districts is Genk divided into?

According to Stad Genk, there are 30 neighbourhoods in eight city areas, for example Genk-West with Oud-Winterslag or Genk-Oost with Waterschei-Noord. Each neighbourhood has wijkmanagers as contacts. The city provides a map of the neighbourhoods online.

How do I find the waste collection dates in Genk?

The City of Genk refers to Limburg.net's online waste collection calendar. There you enter the municipality, street and house number and receive the collection dates. If you have not received a paper calendar, contact Limburg.net.

IN BELGIAN LIMBURG

Living in Genk: Registration Eight City Areas, Daily Life in Limburg

Genk for newcomers: registration and address check, the neighbourhoods from Winterslag to Waterschei, learning Dutch and the waste collection calendar.

Request a Quote

Our Services

Customer Service01625978461

Google · 119 reviews

(5,0/5)

Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00 Uhr

Red van with a box body on a paved square in front of trees

MOVING FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Arriving in Genk

Genk: Former Mining Town on the Albert Canal

– the first few weeks

Unsere Firma plans your move from Berlin-Moabit to Genk; this guide shows what newcomers take care of in the first few weeks.

Genk lies in the Belgian province of Limburg on the Albert Canal and had around 67,900 inhabitants on 1 January 2024. Until 1900 it was a hamlet of just over 2,400 people; with coal came the collieries in Winterslag, Waterschei and Zwartberg from 1914, and with them immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Morocco. The last colliery closed in 1988, and the Ford plant in 2014. Genk has had city status since 2000. The official language is Dutch; if you do not speak it yet, you will find the Onthaalloket (welcome desk) for newcomers in the Stadhuis (town hall).

A major employer today is the ArcelorMittal stainless steel plant, plus the port in Langerlo with its container terminal and, since 2020, a beverage can plant. Genk is well connected via the E313 motorway towards Antwerp and Liège and the E314 towards Aachen. For leisure there are the Bokrijk estate with its open-air museum and arboretum, the C-mine cultural site and KRC Genk. We do not quote specific rents because we have no reliable source. We handle the transport from Germany; more on this under international move.

Sofa wrapped in stretch film, cushions and stacked moving boxes in an empty flat

€50DISCOUNT

FIXED PRICE AFTER A SURVEY

PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Your Move to Genk – Survey First, Then Plan

Predictable from the first box to assembly

Call us on 01625978461 if you are moving to Genk. After a survey we quote a fixed price for the route of around 668 km; your belongings are covered under the HGB, and additional insurance is available for valuables. How the journey works is described in our long-distance moving guide for Genk.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

Two movers in red T-shirts lifting a film-wrapped piece of furniture into a lorry

FROM MOABIT

Transport by us, paperwork by you

Who does what

We have no branch in Genk: the lorry sets off from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and drives around 668 km via the A2, A46 and the E314. Beforehand we ask about the floor, lift and access – whether in Winterslag, Waterschei or Genk-Centrum. Where the lorry may stop outside the new address, we clarify in advance according to the rules of the City of Genk. We give you the fixed price after the survey; liability is under § 451e HGB (€620 per m³). You register with the City of Genk yourself – within eight days for moves within Belgium, and within three months when coming from another EU country. Further steps are described in our article Emigrating to Belgium.

Packing Service

On request we pack your entire household and number the boxes by room – so in Genk the bed linen and coffee machine are right to hand.

Furniture assembly

We dismantle your furniture in Berlin and reassemble it in Genk on the day of arrival; that way the bed is ready on the first evening, even if boxes are still waiting.

Storage

If you initially live in furnished or temporary accommodation in Genk, you can store your household goods with us; delivery follows as soon as your own flat is ready.

Access sorted

Where the lorry may stop in Genk, we clarify in advance according to the city's rules – so that on arrival day the removal van stands as close to the front door as possible.

FIRST STEPS

After Moving In to Genk

The removal van is empty – now the arriving begins. Newcomers in Genk should take care of these six points in the first few weeks; we handle transport, assembly and access, while the trips to the authorities are up to you.

Register with the municipality

If you move within Belgium, according to the city you report the move within eight days. According to ibz.be, EU citizens from abroad register with the municipality within three months.

Wait for the wijkinspecteur

After you report the move, a wijkinspecteur (neighbourhood police officer) checks the new address. At the earliest three working days later, you have the address entered on your eID at the Stadhuis.

Get to know your neighbourhood

Genk has 30 neighbourhoods (wijken) in eight city areas (stadsdelen), such as Genk-West with Winterslag or Genk-Oost with Waterschei. Each neighbourhood has a wijkmanager.

Practise Dutch

The Onthaalloket in the Stadhuis helps newcomers who speak other languages and offers opportunities to practise – Wednesdays 1 pm to 4 pm, by appointment only.

Check the waste calendar

The collection dates for your street are in Limburg.net's online calendar; you enter the municipality, street and house number.

Deregister in Germany

If you move abroad, deregister in Germany within two weeks of moving out (§ 17 Abs. 2 BMG) – it can be done in advance, at the earliest one week beforehand.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Just One Room to Genk?

Little furniture, shared trip

Anyone moving to Genk for a first job or to study in Limburg often brings only a few pieces of furniture. With a shared load, your belongings use free load space on a trip heading towards Genk. We agree collection in Berlin and delivery in advance; this trip, too, is covered under the HGB.

Open cargo area of a red lorry with packed furniture, panels and boxes

SETTLING IN

New
in Genk: Everyday Life

What matters in the first few weeks

Anyone moving to Genk experiences a Belgian peculiarity: after you register, a wijkinspecteur comes to check the address, and only then is the address entered on your eID. In the first few weeks, registration with the municipality, the Limburg.net waste collection calendar, nursery and school places and – for many newcomers – first steps in Dutch are also on the agenda. Then there is choosing a neighbourhood between the former mining districts and the centre. This guide sums up everything newcomers from Germany should know in the first few weeks.

Paperwork and deadlines

Registration at the Stadhuis Genk has a deadline: eight days for a move within Belgium. Keep your ID or residence card to hand and book an appointment early. Your bank, insurers and employer also need your new address in Genk.

Flat and neighbourhood

Take a look at your future neighbourhood – whether Winterslag, Waterschei or Genk-Centrum – once at rush hour, and clarify the floor, lift and access. We also need these details for the fixed price of your move to Genk.

Organising everyday life

For everyday life, the Onthaalloket in the Stadhuis helps, and Limburg.net handles waste collection. Questions about traffic and parking are answered by the Mobiliteit department of the City of Genk; ask about nursery and school places early, ideally before the move.

Mover in red workwear pushing a sack truck with a box towards a stack of boxes

MoabitLocation: Stromstraße 21

Google 5.0 (119 reviews)

Two movers in dungarees carrying moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Genk

Registration, neighbourhoods, transport links and moving to Genk – answered briefly.

The costs depend on the size of the flat, the floor and the volume; from Berlin it is around 668 km. Our price scale starts at €365 for a 1-room flat, and we give you the binding fixed price after the survey. As Belgium is part of the EU, there are no customs formalities for your household goods.

Neighbourhoods and City Areas: How Genk Is Organised

Genk grew out of many hamlets; Wikipedia lists localities such as Bokrijk, Boxbergheide, Bret-Gelieren, Centrum, Sledderlo, Termien, Waterschei, Winterslag and Zwartberg. The city itself is divided into 30 neighbourhoods (wijken) in eight city areas, from Genk-Centrum via Genk-West with Winterslag to Genk-Oost with Waterschei. Miners' housing estates grew up around the former collieries of Winterslag, Waterschei and Zwartberg; the C-mine cultural site now stands on the Winterslag colliery grounds.

In the south, in the Langerlo district, lies the port on the Albert Canal; the Bokrijk estate with its forest and open-air museum also belongs to the city. We do not quote specific rents because we have no reliable current source. For questions about the neighbourhood boundaries, the Gebiedsgerichte Werking (area-based work) department in the Stadhuis is responsible.

Work, Transport and Leisure in Genk

After the end of mining in 1988 and the closure of the Ford plant at the end of 2014 – where around 4,000 people last worked – Genk's economy has changed. A major employer is the ArcelorMittal stainless steel plant; the port in Langerlo has had a container terminal with a rail connection since 1999, and since 2020 a Benepack plant has been producing beverage cans.

By car you reach Genk via the E313 (Antwerp–Liège) and the E314 (Leuven–Aachen). For leisure there are the Bokrijk estate with its open-air museum, playground and arboretum, the Europlanetarium, the Emile Van Doren Museum and matches of KRC Genk, four-time Belgian champions. In 2012 Genk hosted the Manifesta art biennial. Many leisure activities are aimed at families; information in Dutch and help getting started are offered by the Onthaalloket in the Stadhuis. For the commute, car and bus are important, because Genk is strongly oriented towards the motorways; before choosing a flat, check the route to your workplace at rush hour.

Prices for your move

Small 1-room flat: from €365
Cosy 2-room flat: from €609
Family-friendly 3-room flat: from €915
Spacious 4-room flat: from €1,324
House or villa: individual quote after a survey
Long-distance moves: from €4.15/km

Arrange your free survey now!

Volume, distance, floor

The cost of a move depends primarily on the volume and the distance to be covered (from €4.15/km). Added to this are the floor and whether there is a lift. A possible parking restriction zone also plays a role. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a shared load also affect the final price.

Services around the move

You can book these services individually for your move to Genk.

Move with assembly: we dismantle and reassemble your furniture professionally.
Shared load: affordable transport thanks to shared load space.
Home removal: for your private change of home – stress-free and reliable.
House clearance: professional clearance of households and cellars.
Furniture transport: whether sofa or wardrobe – we transport it safely.
Office move: smooth moves for offices and companies.

Route and return trip

We come from Berlin-Moabit; Genk is around 668 km away (OSRM calculation), and including breaks the lorry takes just under ten hours, so we plan two drivers or an overnight stop. The journey is described in our long-distance moving guide for Genk. The return trip to Berlin is also possible.

Registration in Genk: Report Within Eight Days and On-Site Check

According to the City of Genk, you must report a change of residence within Belgium or a return to Belgium within eight days to the municipality of your new place of residence. This also applies to moves within Genk. The address is only entered once you actually live there.

The process according to Stad Genk:

Reporting: online (recommended by the city), by phone or at the counter („snelbalie“) in the Stadhuis, Stadsplein 1. Bring your ID or residence permit. Appointments can be booked via genk.mijnafspraakmaken.be.
Check: a wijkinspecteur checks the new address.
Entry: at the earliest three working days after the positive check, you come to the Stadhuis, without an appointment during regular opening hours. The address is registered on your eID or residence card. You only need a PIN or PUK if your card was issued before April 2021.

According to the city, the change of address is free of charge. For newcomers from abroad, the city refers to a separate page „Vreemdelingen“ (foreign nationals). Check there what applies to your residence status.

Germany requires you to deregister within two weeks of moving out, at the earliest one week beforehand (§ 17 of the Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). What the journey from Berlin looks like can be read in the long-distance moving guide for Genk and on the page international move.

Genk's Neighbourhoods and Help for Newcomers

The City of Genk is divided into 30 neighbourhoods (wijken), which belong to eight stadsdelen (city areas). The city publishes a neighbourhood map (wijkindeling) for this. The city areas at a glance:

Genk-Centrum with Genk-Centrum, Genk-Centrum-Noord and Kattevenne-Molenblook
Genk-Midden with Bokrijk, Hasseltweg, Nieuw-Termien, Oud-Termien and Vlakveld
Genk-West with Boxbergheide, Oud-Winterslag, Winterslag 1 and Winterslag 2 and 4
Genk-Noord with seven neighbourhoods, including Zwartberg-Noord and Zwartberg-Zuid
Genk-Oost with Nieuw-Texas, Oud-Waterschei, Waterschei-Noord and Waterschei-Zuid
Genk-Zuid, Bret-Gelieren-Kattevenne and Kolderbos-Langerlo

According to the city, there are wijkmanagers as contacts for the neighbourhoods. Questions about the boundaries are answered by the Gebiedsgerichte Werking department in the Stadhuis (telephone 089 65 43 21). The Mobiliteit department ([email protected]) provides information on traffic and parking in Genk. According to its own information, the C-mine cultural site (C-Mine 10) offers theatre, concerts, exhibitions and the „C-mine expeditie“ adventure route.

If you do not speak Dutch, you can use the Onthaalloket in the Stadhuis. It informs new residents about activities and organisations and offers opportunities to practise Dutch. Appointments are by arrangement only, on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 4 pm, and it is closed during school holidays. The collection dates for your street can be found in the Limburg.net waste collection calendar, where you enter the municipality, street and house number. More about the neighbourhoods is in the Genk guide.

City Guides

Beste Umzug Redaktion

July 27, 2026

Back to Blog

City Guides Genk Flat Hunting

Moving to Genk: Costs, Process & Districts