Winterslag garden suburb

The city of Winterslag was designed in 1912 by Brussels architect Adrien Blomme (1878-1940). He was commissioned by the mining director Evence Coppée who wanted comfortable and hygienic dwellings for his workers, servants and engineers.

The clear hierarchy in the mines also needed to be reflected in the dwellings. Architect Blomme designed the suburb according to the example of the English garden cities with lots of open spaces and greenery to hide the drab character of the industry. The mine supplied everything and also established public facilities like schools, the church, the hospital etc.

Blomme divided the Winterslag suburb into an eastern and a western part. In the east were the engineers, officers and schooled workers, in the west - further away from the seat of the mine - lived the workers. The Noordlaan is the central axis.

The Winterslag suburb was constructed in various phases:
Just before the first World War, the first houses of the Winterslag suburb cité cité shot up. They offered much modern luxury for the time.

Suburb II was built mainly between 1922 and 1926 and the construction of suburb III was begun in 1930, but was only partly realised.

Suburb IV, built between 1947 and 1950 is the so-called slag suburb Kolenslag Cité to house the numerous, mostly Italian migrant families. 

1. Individual tours: Winterslag cultural walk

2. Guided walks (with a city guide)

Info:
UiT in Genk

Europalaan 34

3600 Genk
Phone: 089 65 44 80
Fax 089 65 34 88
E-mail: uitingenk@genk.be