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Bilzen

Flanders, Belgium · Europe

About Bilzen

Bilzen works well as a base: 5 minutes from Beverst, 13km from Hoge Kempen National Park.

Bilzen is a town located in Flanders, Belgium. With a population of 29,622, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Bilzen sits in Belgium, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Brussels time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bilzen to your route.

About Bilzen

Bilzen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɪlzə(n)] ) is a former municipality and city located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On 1 January 2025, the municipality merged with Hoeselt to form the new municipality Bilzen-Hoeselt. In 2021, Bilzen had a total population of 32,536. The total area is 75.90 km2 which gives a

Read more population density of 426 inhabitants per km2. Bilzen consists of the city of Bilzen and the following villages: Beverst, Eigenbilzen, Grote-Spouwen, Hees, Hoelbeek, Kleine-Spouwen, Martenslinde, Mopertingen, Munsterbilzen, Rijkhoven, Rosmeer, and Waltwilder. In 1977 they all became part of the municipality Bilzen because of the fusion of municipalities. Cities in Bilzen's neighbourhood are all within a distance of some 10 to 15 kilometers: to its north is Genk, to its east Maastricht (Netherlands), to its south Tongeren, and to its north-west Diepenbeek. From 1965 to 1981 Bilzen hosted Jazz Bilzen, an annual multi-day open air jazz and rock festival. In its time Jazz Bilzen was the most important Belgian festival. Artists that performed, among many others, included: Humble Pie, The Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, The Kinks, The Troggs, Procol Harum, Golden Earring, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, Lou Reed, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Cure, Toots Thielemans, Keith Jarrett and John McLaughlin. From the 1980s onwards, the festival was superseded by Torhout-Werchter, which has now become Rock Werchter.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Bilzen

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Bilzen?

Bilzen offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Bilzen?

Plan your road trip to Bilzen with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Bilzen as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Bilzen located?

Bilzen is located in Flanders, Belgium, Europe. The coordinates are 50.8732 latitude, 5.5184 longitude.

What is the population of Bilzen?

Bilzen has a population of approximately 29,622 people, making it a town in Belgium.

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Quick Information

Population
29,622
Continent
Europe
Country
Belgium
Region
Flanders
Timezone
Europe/Brussels
Coordinates
50.8732, 5.5184

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Belgium

Police
101
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Belgium

Tags

EuropeBelgiumFlandersTown

Worth the detour from Bilzen

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Vrijthof Maastricht

A grand cafe-ringed square anchored by two medieval churches in the Netherlands' oldest, most Burgundian city.

12 km · about 25 min drive

national park

Hoge Kempen National Park

Belgium's first national park, a heath and pine landscape in Limburg with six gateway entrances and visitor car parks.

13 km · about 25 min drive

racetrack

Circuit Zolder

A Belgian circuit tragically linked to Gilles Villeneuve's death in 1982, with a rich history in Formula 1 and touring car racing.

22 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Valkenburg Marl Caves

Hill-country Valkenburg hides Roman-era marl tunnels, a ruined castle and the Netherlands' only true hilltop drives.

22 km · about 25 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Vaalserberg Drielandenpunt

The Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.

38 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

Thorn

The 'white village' of Limburg: an entire former abbey-principality of whitewashed brick lanes and cobbles beside the Maas, painted white in the Napoleonic era to dodge a window tax and kept that way ever since.

39 km · about 45 min drive

cathedral

Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom)

The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, built by Charlemagne as his palatine chapel in the 9th century.

41 km · about 50 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Gileppe Dam

A 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.

45 km · about 50 min drive

Driving roads near Bilzen

  • 38 kmVaalserberg DrielandenpuntThe Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
  • 45 kmGileppe DamA 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
  • 58 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
  • 71 kmBaraque de FraitureBelgium's second-highest point at 652 m, a windswept Ardennes plateau crossroads on the N89 with a small ski station and sweeping high-fen scenery.

Driving in Belgium

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.74/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Bilzen.

Munsterbilzen

🇧🇪 Belgium

2 km awayPop. 4,493

Waltwilder

🇧🇪 Belgium

2 km awayPop. 1,244

Beverst

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 5,483

Hoeselt

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 9,265

Eigenbilzen

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 2,261

Mopertingen

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 1,243

Kleine-Spouwen

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 1,034

Rijkhoven

🇧🇪 Belgium

4 km awayPop. 1,349

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence