Explore the surroundings

Beringen and surroundings are bustling! Discover what Limburg has to offer during your stay in our B&B. Soak up some culture? Relax in nature? Or are you a real foodie or shopaholic? Everyone has an unforgettable time at O-LIT.

See, do, experience

Culture

Diest and its surroundings are also worth a visit. The historic city centre of Diest is one large open-air museum. You will find numerous protected monuments including a unique beguinage. During the weekend you can also visit many artists’ studios and galleries. You can chill out in the Provinciaal Domain De Halve Maan, after a beer tasting walk or a Three Provinces tour. All within 15 minutes of our B&B.

Grote Markt 1, 3290 Diest

www.toerismediest.be

Want to discover the surroundings of Beringen yourself? The mining site in Beringen, be-MINE, is the best preserved and largest industrial heritage site in Flanders. At the foot of two slag heaps, the past is reconciled with a completely new interpretation of the area.

During Mining Sundays, some buildings that are otherwise closed are also accessible, such as the bathing room, with rows and rows of showers, and the payment room, where the miners received their wages.

Even if it moves at a slow pace, be-MINE fits perfectly on your to do list. The slag heaps lend themselves perfectly to some physical exertion. Walking to the top is a serious workout. Mountain bikers can practice their skills on the track along the steep flank. And the Adventure mountain challenges children to climb up past the obstacles. You can also climb indoors in the Alpamayo climbing centre. The cherry on the cake is the TODI diving centre, the first in Europe, where you can dive up to ten metres deep among the tropical fish!

Koolmijnlaan 201, 3582 Beringen

www.bemine.be

The Abbey of Averbode is also a 25-minute drive from O-lit. With its impressive baroque abbey church and water feature in the courtyard, this abbey has everything you need for a moment of complete reflection. Enjoy a bite to eat and a drink in the abbey café, which is located in the 17th-century barn. Everything breathes unity and harmony. You can also visit the bookshop, the home brewery, the cheese factory, bakery and brasserie. The courtyard, the abbey church and the abbey café ‘Het Moment’ are free to visit every day.

Abdijstraat 1, 3271 Scherpenheuvel-Zichem

www.abdijaverbode.be

Do you want to explore Limburg? Start with a trip to LABIOMISTA, a 25-minute drive from our B&B. On the foundations of the mining past and the old zoo of Zwartberg (Genk), this project evolves that takes you into the unique vision of artist Koen Vanmechelen and his life’s work in the field of identity, fertility & biocultural diversity. A garden of order and chaos, an arena of culture and nature.

While in a 24 hectare park you will find your way through an open-air exhibition with numerous (living) works of art and installations, where universal social topics such as diversity and human rights become tangible and discussable thanks to the language of art.

Marcel Habetslaan 50, 3600 Genk

www.labiomista.be

Go on a discovery

Nature

Limburg has even more hidden gems. The Schulensmeer visitor centre is located in the Schulensbroek nature reserve, managed by Naturpunt volunteers. Here you can walk along vast, moist grasslands with true polder atmospheres. Like other parts of the Demer valley, the Schulensbroek has an enviable wealth of plants, where the vast grasslands exert an irresistible attraction on numerous meadow birds. Since the lake was dug a whole bunch of water birds have joined. The Schulensmeer [Schulens lake] is ideal for bird watching.

With its open spaces and distant horizons, the Schulensbroek guarantees peace and quiet, an ideal location for hiking. Four signposted hiking trails start at the Schulensmeer nature and sports centre that guide you through this beautiful nature reserve: 2 km, 5 km, 7 km, 10 km.

Demerstraat 60, 3560 Lummen

www.schulensmeer.be

A fifteen-minute walk from our B&B lies the vast landscape of the Venusberg. Time seems to stand still here. Just like in centuries gone by, Flemish pasture pigs wander under the lime trees here. In this rustic landscape, the animals grow up in the open air according to traditional practices.

This way of farming not only gives quality to the pigs’ lives. It also gives their meat a very specific taste. This is the meat our ancestors ate. If you choose quality in your food, you should definitely try this! In the farm shop you can buy fresh meat once a month, but frozen meat is always available.

Langeheidestraat 7, 3560 Lummen

www.venusberg.be

The Blueberry Fields domain is located in the valley of the Zwarte Beek [Black Brook] in Beringen (Koersel), away from all the hustle and bustle. The 22 hectares together form a pure natural park with grazed meadows, hidden ponds, a rare forest with peat moss and as varied as a patchwork: 12 hectares with blueberry plantations.

Signposted walks guide you through the area. Surprising information boards tell the story of the blueberry or huckleberry and teach you more about trees. Walk along streams, bridges and decking paths, under centuries-old oaks, a few meters from the natural habitat of roe deer, kestrels and wild boars. During the summer months, self-picking is also possible.

Schomstraat 147, 3582 Koersel

www.blueberryfields.be

Toast together

Food & drinks

Good food and atmosphere are paramount at Brasserie Biertuin. Dirk Groen is an experienced chef who has already worked in the kitchen in various top restaurants. Enjoy delicious dishes in the sun in the garden terrace while the children have fun in the play corner. Because they think of everyone at Brasserie Biertuin.

Classic brasserie with terrace
Schaffensesteenweg 143, 3583 Beringen

www.biertuinpaal.be

Bar, restaurant, banquet room, catering service and a shop. Barnaba is all in one. You can enjoy delicious bites, pizza, cocktails and much more in a trendy but homely atmosphere. You will experience a real food experience at Barnaba. Thanks to the Barnaba Shop, you can also enjoy the Barnaba food experience at home.

Trendy restaurant-bar with funky interior
Koersel-Dorp 25, 3582 Beringen

www.barnaba.be

Are you in the mood to try out a trendy restaurant bar? Then we know a good address in the heart of Beringen. The experience and conviviality is paramount at Mood. The village atmosphere is also reflected on your plate, because the focus here is on local and fresh products. Thanks to the open kitchen, you can really experience what Mood represents.

Trendy restaurant-bar for lunch, high tea, dinner & bar
Harmoniestraat 10, 3580 Beringen

www.mood-beringen.be

Do you want a real dining experience? Then you’ve come to the right place at Hoeveke 2.0 in Beringen. You can enjoy the Belgian Mediterranean cuisine on site. Or would you rather enjoy all this yumminess at home? That is also possible! Thanks to the food vending machines and take-away store, you can also collect the top quality dishes.

French-Belgian cuisine with quality products
Hospitaalstraat 70, 3582 Beringen

www.hoevekeberingen.be

You not only eat, but you also enjoy yourself at Bistro Belge in Beringen. With a view of the kitchen, you can see how the chef prepares your delicious meal. Bistro Belge is a stylish restaurant close to our B&B where you can enjoy a quick, fresh lunch, and an extensive, tasty dinner. The menu changes every 6 weeks to always offer you the best seasonal dishes.

French-Belgian cuisine with a taste formula
Paalsesteenweg 170, 3583 Beringen

www.bistrobelge.be

(Street) food & BBQ with a twist. They don’t just grill your meat, they ‘smoke’ it. When smoking, ‘low’ and ‘slow’ are two important elements. That way, they cook your meat or fish on an indirect fire. Smoked street food and other dishes from America with hints from the South and the East, but in Limburg. That’s Rauw.

American, BBQ
Koerselsebaan 181, 3550 Heusden-Zolder

www.rauwbbq.be

Viva l’Italia! A piece of Italy in Flanders? That’s Albero d’Oro. Chef Samuel Fusaro conjures up traditional Italian dishes on your plate. The fresh ingredients and the many years of culinary tradition with which Samuel makes his dishes make you forget for a moment that you are not really in Italy.

Italian cuisine
Grote Markt 18, 3290 Diest

www.alberodoro.be

An everyday snack or prefer a gourmet menu? This trendy brasserie does both. The extensive menu contains delicious dishes, made with fresh products from French-Belgian cuisine. In addition to the good location close to our B & B, Paal26 also has a great atmosphere for both business dinners and cosy dinners with family and friends.

Trendy and atmospheric brasserie
Paalsesteenweg 240, 3583 Beringen

www.paal26.be

For 28 years now, De Nieuwe Haan has stood for a tasty, varied cuisine, provided by the patron himself and assisted by son, daughter and wife in the kitchen and dining room. They love a smooth service with an eye for detail. Their cocktails and wines have become a household name in the area and are definitely worth discovering.

Restaurant-brasserie in the centre of Diest
Grote Markt 19, 3290 Diest

www.denieuwehaan.be

Mangiare! At a stone’s throw from O-Lit is Ristorante Italia, where the old tradition is combined with new combinations. You can enjoy fresh products and Italian passion on your plate accompanied by a delicious glass of wine. The restaurant with heated indoor terrace exudes a warm southern atmosphere. Would you rather take a piece of Italy home with you? This is also possible with their take-away menu!

Sophisticated Italian cuisine
Collegestraat 7, 3580 Beringen

www.ristoranteitalia.be

Quality and diversity are paramount at Jurgen Eetboetiek in the heart of Limburg. Jürgen has a varied range of dishes. This is because he cooks with seasonal products and looks at the market offer. In the restaurant & terrace, you can enjoy the creations that Jürgen proudly presents in person. Would you rather have a little more privacy? Then opt for private dining.

Small-scale gourmet, with a changing menu
Guffenslaan 47, 3500 Hasselt

www.jurgeneetboetiek.be

At Bistro De Vijvers, eating out is a real experience. You can enjoy delicious food and a beautiful view of the surroundings. In the middle of the nature reserve ‘De Vijvers’ lies this hidden treasure overlooking the ‘De Vijvers’ domain, a natural pond surrounded by a green oasis. Chef Thijs Vervloet creates a taste bomb of artisanal and authentic products.

A top level brasserie in a beautiful location
Judocus Pauwelslaan, 3271 Averbode

www.bistrodevijvers.be

A gift (for you)

Shopping

Do you want to brighten up your interior or are you still looking for a nice gift? Then you should definitely visit Camps Store Diest. Fluffy cushions or do you prefer minimalist ornaments and stylish paintings? You can find everything there.

Koning Albertstraat 8, 3290 Diest
WED – SAT: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

www.instagram.com/campsstorediest

The Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery represents luxury stationery and accessories. Their passion is for fountain pens with an artistic value such as Japanese Maki-e and Russian lacquer art. You can explore the pen collection in the Boutique and Gallery.

Koning Albertstraat 72b, 3290 Diest
WED – SAT: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

www.sakurafountainpengallery.com

Do you like to cook? Then Kookdepot is the shop for you! People who are looking for a nice gift or a nice kitchen item have also come to the right place here. Kookdepot has a wide range of kitchen supplies.

Koning Albertstraat 2, 3290 Diest
TUE – SAT: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

www.kookdepot.be

Diest is the shopping city of the area and Blauw is the shop for unique jewellery, accessories and clothing. You can find tasteful and timeless jewellery, scarves and handbags of the best quality here. They also offer a wide range of stylish clothing from Zenggi, Margit Brandt, Suite13 and Jacki Collet.

Schotelstraat 9, 3290 Diest
TUE – SAT: 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

www.juwelenblauw.be

Come and discover O-LIT

Book your stay

Escape the busy life in the evening and unwind in our B&B in the charming Limburg. Delightfully comfortable and welcoming.