Church of Saint Martin
Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial cities in Flanders, located on the Albert Canal, between Antwerp and Liège. Genk was recently voted the friendliest city in Europe by the SEA Tourist Commission.
Genk probably originated as a Celtic 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.
Genk is now the industrial centre of Limburg, offering over 45,000 jobs, making it the third economical city in Belgium,[citation needed] and harbouring a population consisting of about 85 nationalities. In fact, one third of the population is of a foreign nationality. This mix of Belgian and Mediterranean (mostly Italian,15000; Turkish,4000; and Greek,1000) culture makes Genk a true multicultural society. In 2000, Genk officially became a city.
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