Top 20 Natural Monuments around Welkenraedt

The Geul is an idyllic stream that meanders considerably, or winds through the landscape. Because the Geul flows fast on this part, the water erodes the bank in the outer bends. In the inner bends, the water flows less fast and the sand and mud that has been carried along remains there. In the outer bends, there is a steep bank and in the inner bends a flat bank.

The Lion, created by Félix-Antoine Bouré, is one of the major attractions. Height: 13.5m – her weight: 130 tons. 183 blocks that fit together like a puzzle were completely dismantled and rebuilt to mark the raising of the dam. The lion looks in the direction of Eupen, then Prussia, barely 5 kilometers away. Source: https://www.tourismejalhaysart.be/nl/attraction/barrage-du-lac-de-la-gileppe-jalhay-hautes-fagnes-spa/

This work of art, made from granite, was the first of its kind in Belgium. The dam was built between 1867 and 1875. Between 1967 and 1971 it was consolidated and the capacity of the reservoir was increased to 26.4 million m³ of water. The lake is fed by the Gileppe, the Louba and the Soor. Two 75m high collection towers direct the water to turbines. The famous Lion, created by Félix-Antoine Bouré, is one of the major attractions. Height: 13.5m – her weight: 130 tons. 183 blocks that fit together like a puzzle were completely dismantled and rebuilt to mark the raising of the dam. The lion looks in the direction of Eupen, then Prussia, barely 5 kilometers away. Source: https://www.tourismejalhaysart.be/nl/attraction/barrage-du-lac-de-la-gileppe-jalhay-hautes-fagnes-spa/

The Vaalserberg has been included in the cycling classic Amstel Gold Race several times. The climb is then conquered once via the Dutch side (east side), as the eleventh climb after the Camerig and before the Gemmenicherweg. In the Amstel Gold Race the slope is referred to as Drielandenpunt. (Wikipedia)

The highest point in the Netherlands coincides with the three-country point and is an important tourist attraction.

As early as the late Middle Ages, the border of the former Aachen Empire, fortified with the Aachen Moat, ran from south to north across the ridge of the Vaalserberg. From 1839 to 1919, the Vaalserberg, with the disputed area of Neutral Moresnet as the fourth country, was even a four-country corner (Vierlandenpunt), which is still remembered in the name of the access road on the Dutch side - Viergrenzenweg. During the First World War, from 1915 to 1918, the high-voltage border barrier stretched along the Belgian-Dutch border for a length of 300 kilometers from the then four-country corner on the Vaalserberg to the Belgian North Sea coast near Knokke. The German invasion of Belgium in 1914 via Gemmenich to Diksmuide, which brought much suffering to the Belgian population, is commemorated by a memorial made of compressed war material at the southern tip of the Vaalserberg, called Via Dolorosa.

With a height of no less than 322.4 meters above NAP, the Vaalserberg is the highest mountain in the Netherlands (with the exception of the mountains in the Caribbean). So you are standing on the roof of the Low Countries! The mountain is not only known for its height, but also for the three country point you will find here; here the borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. In addition, there are plenty of activities for young and old on and around the top, so hang out here for a while.

Literally our highlight in the Netherlands. Very touristy, of course, but remains a classic trip.