Hemelrijk is a Kempen recreation lake set in pine woods a couple of kilometres south of Essen. The complex includes a swimming lake with a sandy beach, a small waterpark with slides, mini-golf, pedalos, and a campsite. It is a busy spot on summer weekends and a long-running favourite for families from Antwerp province and across the Dutch border.
In winter it shuts down, but the surrounding woodland is open year-round and crossed by walking paths. The lake water is fed by groundwater rather than a stream, so it stays clear and reasonably warm in summer.