East Cantons and Belgian Limburg by Motorhome - the High Fens, Spa and the Kempenthe High Fens, Spa and the Kempen

Hasselt, the compact capital of Limburg, combines green oases with a rich cultural life. The Japanese Garden is perfect for tranquil walks among cherry blossoms and traditional architecture. The Jenever Museum tells the story of jenever production in a former distillery. The Fashion Museum displays changing collections of fashion and design, from historical to contemporary creations. The city centre is bustling with activity, with cosy squares and shops for a relaxing afternoon.

Hoge Kempen National Park offers a mix of pine forests, heathland and lakes. You can walk through forests that once supplied pit props for the mines. In late August and September, the heath turns a vibrant purple and draws crowds at weekends. Where sand was once excavated, there are now lakes with steep sandy slopes. Walking and mountain bike trails start from gateways like Kattevennen and Mechelse Heide. At the park's edge, the headframes of former coal mines recall the area's mining history.

The Meuse Valley combines a distinctive river landscape with historic towns. In Maaseik, a classicist Markt square surrounds a statue of the Van Eyck brothers. The Apotheekmuseum on the Markt houses Belgium's oldest private pharmacy, complete with pots and drawers. Beyond the town, the RivierPark Maasvallei unfolds. Here, gravel lakes attract waterfowl between dikes and old river branches. Cyclists follow the cycle-junction network through the flat, quiet floodplains.

Eupen is the capital of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, housing the parliament and government of the country's smallest community. The upper town features the baroque St Nicholas' Church with its two towers, set among patrician houses from the heyday of the cloth industry. The lower town is situated further down in the Vesdre valley. South of the town lies the reservoir of the Vesdre Dam, with walking trails along the water and the forests of the High Fens beyond.

The High Fens are a vast expanse of raised bog, covered in purple moor grass and cotton grass. Here stands the Signal de Botrange, at 694 metres the highest point in Belgium. Boardwalks lead through this protected raised bog, where rainwater is retained in the soil. The weather can change quickly here and it is colder, so boots and a windproof jacket are recommended. With wide views and distinctive flora, the boardwalks are wonderfully peaceful.

Malmedy is situated where the Warchenne flows into the Warche, in the French-speaking part of the East Cantons. In the town centre stand the 18th-century cathedral and the buildings of the former abbey, which now house the Malmundarium, with exhibitions on the town's tanneries, paper industry and carnival. This carnival is known as the Cwarmê, a four-day celebration with masked figures parading through the streets. From the valley, walking trails lead up the wooded slopes.

The iron-rich springs of Spa have been famous for centuries, and the town's name became the word for a health resort in many languages. In the centre is the Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand spring pavilion, named after Tsar Peter the Great. A funicular takes you to the thermal baths on the hill, where walking trails lead through the forest past old drinking pavilions. The casino was founded in 1763 and is considered one of the oldest in the world. During race and event weekends at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the area can be very lively.

On the loam plateau of Haspengouw lies Tongeren, considered the oldest city in Belgium. The Romans founded Atuatuca Tungrorum here; parts of their ramparts are still standing, and the Gallo-Roman Museum tells the rest of the story. In the middle of the city stands the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek (Basilica of Our Lady), and the city's beguinage is part of the Flemish Beguinages World Heritage Site. On Sunday mornings the antiques market fills the centre, so come early.

Sint-Truiden is the capital of Haspengouw, the fruit-growing region where apple and pear trees blossom in April. On the Grote Markt stands the town hall with its belfry, which, like the beguinage, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of the mighty Abbey of Saint Trudo, the tower still rises above the town. In the beguinage, you will find the Sint-Agneskerk (St Agnes' Church) with its medieval murals and Studio Festraets, which houses the astronomical clock built by Kamiel Festraets.

Hasselt, the compact capital of Limburg, combines green oases with a rich cultural life. The Japanese Garden is perfect for tranquil walks among cherry blossoms and traditional architecture. The Jenever Museum tells the story of jenever production in a former distillery. The Fashion Museum displays changing collections of fashion and design, from historical to contemporary creations. The city centre is bustling with activity, with cosy squares and shops for a relaxing afternoon.