Tweelingsterril

Tweelingsterril, meaning "twin spoil tip," is a distinctive landscape feature near Lanklaar, part of the municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem in the Belgian province of Limburg. It consists of a pair of artificial hills built up from waste rock extracted during decades of coal mining in the region.

Where did this hill come from?

Tweelingsterril is a byproduct of coal mining carried out in Central Limburg, associated with the former Eisden-Lanklaar colliery. Spoil, the rock material with no commercial use, was hauled and piled up near the mine over decades of extraction activity. After the mines in this part of Belgium closed in the second half of the 20th century, these tips remained in the landscape as a lasting trace of the region's industrial past. Today they form some of the few natural-looking elevations in this otherwise flat part of Flanders, making them visible from a considerable distance.

Why visit?

The mining spoil tips of Central Limburg, including Tweelingsterril, have undergone a transformation in recent decades from industrial wasteland into recreational and natural areas. The region forms part of a wider area known as Terhills, where former mining infrastructure now sits alongside forests, lakes, and hiking trails. Vegetation that has taken root on the slopes of the tips over the years has created a distinctive habitat, appreciated by nature lovers and birdwatchers alike.

Tweelingsterril lies along walking routes connecting the surrounding spoil tips — one popular circuit in the area links Triphills and Tweelingsterril, allowing visitors to explore several tips in a single outing. From the top, there are views over the surrounding forests and the former mining basin, as well as toward the boundary between the municipalities of Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen, which runs through this area.

How to get there and what's nearby

Lanklaar lies in Central Limburg, close to larger towns in the region such as Maasmechelen and Dilsen-Stokkem. The surrounding area offers an extensive network of marked walking and cycling routes through the rolling terrain of the former coal-mining basin. For visitors interested in the region's industrial heritage, Tweelingsterril is a tangible example of how former mining sites can be given a new purpose as recreational space.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tweelingsterril? It is a pair of artificial hills (spoil tips) formed from mining waste near Lanklaar, in the municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem, in Belgian Limburg.

Where does the material forming the tip come from? From coal mining in the Central Limburg region, linked to the former Eisden-Lanklaar colliery.

Can you hike there? Yes, Tweelingsterril lies along popular hiking routes, including a circuit connecting it with the nearby Triphills spoil tips.

Is it part of a larger tourist area? Yes, the site is part of the wider Terhills area, where former mining infrastructure now coexists with forests, lakes, and recreational trails across Central Limburg.