Top 12 Caves around Zutendaal

In 2019, the Lourdes Grotto Committee and the Niel-bij-As parish celebrated the 75th anniversary of their Lourdes Grotto. It is located on Grotstraat (how could it be otherwise). In 1943, Louis Pillards made a solemn promise to Our Lady to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, but due to the Second World War, he was unable to fulfill his promise. Therefore, he decided to build their own Lourdes Grotto together with his wife Anna Vandeurzen. Anna Berger-Vandeurzen, whose first husband had died and was now married to Louis Pillards, donated the necessary land to the parish, and Louis drew a design sketch for the grotto. Together with a number of volunteers, they traveled by horse and cart to collect pebbles from the heathland on the border between Lanklaar and As. Construction began in 1943, and the grotto was blessed in 1944. Thanks to the Zwartberg mine, they obtained the necessary cement, which was very difficult to obtain in those days. Statues of Mary, Bernadette, and even an angel were provided. In the small tower atop the grotto, there even hung a small bronze bell, which was unfortunately later stolen. On August 15, 1944, the Lourdes grotto was solemnly blessed by the then pastor of Niel, Father Gerstmans. From the very beginning, a grotto committee was established, which to this day ensures the maintenance of the Lourdes grotto and its surroundings, in collaboration with the municipality's technical department. For a long time, Mia Haumont and later Godelieve Meysen took care of the altar and the flowers. In the early years, a hermit even lived in the cottage behind the grotto for a few years. He is known as Brother Boniface. His real name is Tony Vissers. For many years, he was involved in the education of the local youth. The closeness of the Lourdes Grotto to the hearts of many Niel residents is evident in the large attendance at the services, which normally take place on May 1st and August 15th. There is an open-air service at the grotto, followed by a vehicle blessing on August 15th. On the evening of August 14th, there is also a candlelight procession from the church in Niel to the grotto. In May, it is traditional to pray the rosary together at 7:30 PM. This year, we will do this from our homes, united in faith! Want to stop by on your daily bike ride? The Lourdes Grotto in Niel-bij-As is located on the route between cycling junctions 40 and 528.

Very nice walking route along the chateau. Beautiful panorama. With a house in the valley below that used to be the border post.

Neercanne Castle was built on the original site of Roman fortifications, the caves of which still exist and are used as wine cellars. The original staircase with a banister on wide columns is still in the hall. The ceiling features relief depictions of weapon trophies. The castle is currently in use as a hotel and restaurant.

https://www.vanschaikstichting.nl/index.php/groeven/apostelgroeve The Apostelgroeve is a beautiful quarry in the Jekerdal near Maastricht. This quarry has a turbulent history that was published in SOK announcements no. 32 of December 1999. In summary, the exploitation of this quarry started in 1770 and stopped in 1776. The quarry did not provide the owners with the expected profit. During the Second World War it served as a shelter. After the war it was used for years as a mushroom farm. The illegal gin distillery that used to be here in the past is very evocative. Many remains of this can still be found. In 1979, this quarry was taken over by the SOK from the owner. In 1981, a sturdy gate was placed in the entrance The entrance was restored in 1999-2000 with a subsidy from the province of Limburg in collaboration with the IKL Foundation. The walls at the entrance were then completely restored with new stones and the tree roots, which were pushing away the wall and the vault, were removed. In 2016, the access tunnel was reinforced, after the roof had become unstable due to frost. As a result, the quarry is safe for visitors and bat counting again. vanschaikstichting.nl https://www.vanschaikstichting.nl/index.php/groeven/apostelgroeve

Text sign APOSTELGROEVE The Apostelgroeve is a former underground limestone quarry where building stones were extracted between 1770 and 1776. After that it served as a mushroom farm. This quarry is managed by the Stichting Ir. D.C. van Schaik of the Natural History Society in Limburg. This quarry is used for research and education by, among others, the Study Group Underground Limestone Quarries (SOK). The quarry is closed to protect the natural values, the hibernating bats, the historical, geological and mining values. For a visit to this quarry, you can contact us via our website Stichting ir. D.C. Van Schaik Postbus 2235, 6201 HA Maastricht www.vanschaikstichting.nl In case of burglary or calamity: 06-81688967 Manager: Chris Meens Study group Underground Limestone Quarries Natural History Society in Limburg NATUURHISTORISCH GENOESCHAP LIMBURG

This Lourdes grotto is located along a field street, a side street of the Hoogstraat, starting next to house no. 18. It is a beautiful Lourdes grotto from 1943 with a pond, many flowers, candles, benches... The bushes are planted in a heart shape. According to Isabelle Lapière (granddaughter of cave builder Janssens) this grotto used to be owned by the Wagemans family, also owners of the brickworks next to the grotto. This must now move to the Industrial Estate. The grotto will continue to be maintained by the local residents.

The Cannerbos is very compact and can therefore be walked in a morning or afternoon. You could say that the forest consists of floors, so you can view and walk nature from below and from higher up. Chateau Neercanne is located on the edge of the Cannerbos. This castle is the only terraced castle in the Benelux. Daniël Wolf van Dopff built this impressive castle in 1698.

The castle is right behind the Belgian border. Baron Daniël Wolf van Dopff, then military governor of Maastricht, had the palace built from 1698.