Essen is a small border town in the northern Kempen region of Antwerp province, sitting close to the Dutch border about 30 km north of Antwerp. The surrounding area is flat and wooded, typical of the sandy Kempen heathlands. Bordered on three sides by the Netherlands, the village has long been shaped by traffic across the frontier — cyclists, traders, pilgrims, and during the First World War tens of thousands of repatriated civilians passing through the railway station.
The town is modest and largely residential, without major tourist attractions. The neo-Gothic Sint-Pietersbandenkerk anchors the central square, and the Karmel monastery on the southern edge of town is a peaceful stop for those interested in religious history. The Hemelrijk recreation area, with its swimming lake and waterpark, is a popular summer outing for families from both sides of the border.
Beyond the town, Essen is a quiet base for cyclists and walkers exploring the Kempen, which has an extensive network of trails through heather, pine forest, and along the Mark river valley. Day-trippers from Antwerp occasionally visit the nature areas nearby.