Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Limburghal in Genk, opened in 1979, hosted stars like U2 and Ray Charles. Now ageing, it will be replaced by Limburghal 2.0. Alderman Dries leads the plans for future.
As VRT News reported, the Limburghal in Genk opened in 1979. It is now being torn down after almost 50 years. Erik Jansen, who lives in Genk, made an exhibition to remember the Limburghal. He wants people to know how important the hall was for many in Limburg.
He says it gave young people their first chance to see famous bands live. Jansen says the Limburghal was more than a building. It brought people together and gave the area a strong cultural feel. Now that the hall is being removed.
“The location was good, but the insulation and acoustics were less so.”
Radio 2 Radio 2 Afternoon in Limburg I h 05:00
What will replace Genk’s Limburghal after 50 years?
The Limburghal in Genk will be used for a few more years, but its future is limited. The hall will stay in place until at least 2033. Officials mentioned that events can still happen there during this time. Genk alderman Dries says people can use the hall for 5 to 7 more years.
“The Limburghal is a major event venue in our city and is almost 50 years old,”
says Dries.
“The building no longer meets energy standards, which requires a significant investment. That’s why we’re exploring the possibility of building a Limburghal 2.0 to replace the existing hall, as we believe it’s important to retain a large event hall in our city centre.”
The city of Genk is already thinking about where to build a new events hall, called Limburghal 2.0. 3 places are being looked at. One is the current Limburghal site near Jaarbeurslaan. Another is where the police station is now, which will move out of the city centre.
The 3rd option is across from the police station, where the Justice of the Peace Court and the BPost sorting centre stand. The city is checking all 3 spots to see which one is best. Alderman Dries says these are the choices they are working on. In the next 6 years, they want to decide where the new hall should go.
The Limburghal has been a central part of Genk’s cultural scene since 1979, serving as a venue for concerts, fairs, exhibitions, and local events. It gained fame in the 1980s by hosting global music icons, attracting visitors from across Belgium and neighbouring countries. In the 1980s, many famous artists played there. U2, Ray Charles, The Cure, Motörhead, and Jerry Lee Lewis all performed on its stage.
