Genk measurements confirm urban trees and shade reduce heat stress

Updated 4 September 2026, 18:00 CEST — GENK. Ghent University measurements on Genk’s redesigned Grote Markt have confirmed that greener, shaded public space reduces heat stress during hot weather, according to results reported by Het Nieuwsblad on Friday. The findings provide field evidence for a redevelopment that replaced part of the paved square with an urban forest.

Researchers monitored conditions around the Grote Markt as part of a Flemish programme evaluating heat-resistant urban projects. A Flemish government report confirms that UGent conducted follow-up measurements in Genk during 2025, alongside projects in Roeselare and Mechelen. The publicly accessible material confirms the study locations and method, but does not provide the complete Genk dataset or a final numerical effect size.

The intervention is substantial by town-centre standards. The Flemish government’s urban-policy service says approximately 1,600 square metres were depaved and 78 trees were planted. VRT NWS reported when the square reopened in April 2024 that its projected tree-canopy coverage had risen from 7% to more than 40%. The design also includes permeable ground and a wadi that receives rainwater.

Those elements address different parts of the heat problem. Genk’s municipal guidance says trees cool their surroundings through shade and evaporation, while asphalt, stone and concrete retain heat. UGent researcher Steven Caluwaerts previously told VRT NWS that shade primarily improves people’s thermal comfort, while water features produce more complex results because they can retain warmth and raise humidity.

For residents, shoppers, hospitality workers and visitors, the immediate gain is a more usable square during hot afternoons. Young children, older people and people with chronic health conditions remain especially exposed to heat stress, according to Genk’s public-health guidance. The project also offers other Flemish municipalities a measured example of how redevelopment choices affect conditions at pedestrian level.

The redesign required compromises. VRT NWS recorded criticism from some residents who expected more trees, while city officials said less paving was removed than initially planned so the square could still accommodate terraces, processions and events. That tension is central to climate adaptation: shade needs space, but civic squares must continue to function.

Genk is now extending its climate-resilient approach through work at Molenvijverpark, where the city says planting, soil and water-management measures should be completed by February 2027. Publication of UGent’s full methods, comparable before-and-after figures and performance as the young trees mature will determine how confidently other cities can reproduce the result.