9. Genk today

Genk is the the product of a recent past and is Flanders' youngest central city.

The exponential growth Genk underwent in less than 100 years, has made Genk a city. The city has a population of more than 64,000 people of more than eighty different nationalities.

The specific economic and sociological characteristics are a strong influence and colour the policies of Genk. 33% of the (original) housing is social, and there is a birth rate of almost 50% of children of ethnic background, with an employment- and jobless structure which is strongly influenced by the recent past, Genk takes up a special position in the list of Flemish central cities.

Large municipal projects like the renovation of the city centre and the former Winterslag and Waterschei mine sites are indications of these ambitions.

 
Today too, Genk plays an important part within the mining region. Thanks to its excellent position, accessibiltiy and infrastructure, Genk has grown into the third industrial city of Flanders. In the near future, Genk will be recognised as an economic and logistic gateway where Genk will be regarded as an extended gateway of the port of Antwerp and it will be able to strengthen its economic position and as a centre of employment.