The best traffic-free bike rides around Maastricht

The small church overlooks the Commandery.

The kiln originated during the lime shortage in World War I, when imports from abroad were lacking. Local entrepreneurs in Limburg burned local limestone into quicklime (CaO) for building mortar, plaster, and construction purposes – a simple process at 900–1200 °C. (Cement: Needs rotary kilns at >1400 °C for clinker formation). Today, the dilapidated kiln is an industrial monument at the foot of the Curfsgroeve and part of the Mergel history.

The parish of St. Martin was founded before or around the year 1000. It is not known when the first and second churches were built. The first church is said to have been made of wood and the second church of marl. The west tower was built in the 14th century. The Gothic choir was built in 1626. In the period 1664-1806/1820 (depending on the source), the church was used by the Roman Catholic parish of H. Martinus and the then Reformed (Protestant) community of Geul. It was also a refuge for Protestants living on the other side of the Maas in the land of Rekem. In the years 1919-1920, a part was demolished and rebuilt. The church at the time, which was demolished, would have been the third church. From this church, after a cross enlargement, only the priest's choir, which is now used as a daily chapel, and the tower remain. The new nave was rebuilt through the existing church and is based on the design of the Maastricht architect Hubert van Groenendael. This gave the church its typical cross shape.

The stables of the old moated castle Schloss Geulle, demolished in 1850, have been converted into comfortable accommodation with elegantly landscaped gardens within the moat. Guest rooms with fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, bicycles and free Wi-Fi. Numerous golf courses and excellent Michelin-starred restaurants in the surrounding area.

A beautiful route between Maastricht and Cadier en Keer, with plenty of beautiful views over the fields and through the forests.

Near Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium), in the cross-border nature reserve along the Meuse Valley around the De Wissen Visitor Center and the Negenoord-Kerkeweerd nature reserve, you'll regularly encounter Konik horses in the open floodplains and grasslands, along with other large grazers such as Galloway cattle. These horses are not domesticated pets, but are part of a consciously implemented nature management program aimed at keeping the river landscape as naturally dynamic and biodiverse as possible. The Konik horses here live freely in the floodplains and river landscapes year-round. Their presence is functional: grazing, they cut down the grass and maintain open grasslands. In places where cattle primarily keep shrubs and young trees short, the horses also ensure that herbs, flowers, and short grass are preserved. This combination allows these large grazers to create a diverse patchwork of open areas, coarse grasses, herb-rich thickets, and vegetated edges—exactly what many plant and animal species need to thrive. In the area around Stokkem, you often hear from local guides like the MaasVerkenner that you'll almost always see these horses during a walk, especially on the paths around the old Meuse branches and small lakes of Negenoord. These grazers are an important part of the river landscape experience, and they naturally regulate grazing management, allowing the landscape to develop into a rich ecosystem with countless bird species, insects, and plants that are rare elsewhere in Limburg. Hikers and nature lovers can often observe the Konik horses from the trails around De Wissen and the breeding banks of the Meuse. Because they are wild animals, it is advised to always keep a distance, not feed them, and not disturb their natural behavior. If you're lucky, you might see them grazing peacefully in the morning light or among colorful, herbaceous meadows—an impressive example of how nature management and ecology go hand in hand in this part of the Meuse Valley.

It's lovely to cycle here on the dike. There's always something to see on either side, and the people you meet are very friendly and seem happy. It must be the beautiful surroundings.

Valkenburg has been one of the Netherlands' most important holiday destinations since around 1840, and tourism is the municipality's main source of income. This has much to do with the medieval town's picturesque location, but the extensive labyrinths of underground quarries also played an important role from the very beginning. However, the original idea of using the caves for air cures never came to fruition.