The best MTB trails around Haelen

Nice playground by the stream. You can see that the banks are eroding further and further.

It's fun. With kids' bikes, gravel bikes, CX and XC bikes – as long as it's reasonably agile. (Of course, it also works with long full-suspension bikes – it's just "over-biked".) Perfect "no-hill flow" :-))

The Vismarkt (Fish Market) in Roermond is one of the oldest and most characteristic places in the historic city center. As the name suggests, this square was traditionally the center of the fish trade, a logical consequence of Roermond's location on the Roer and Meuse rivers. The Vismarkt is therefore a direct reminder of a time when water and trade were inextricably linked. The square is located a short distance from the river and was part of the city's economic heart. Here, fishermen, traders, and residents gathered to trade fresh fish, but also to exchange news and socialize. The proximity of the water ensured that fish could be delivered quickly, making the Vismarkt a vibrant and important hub in daily city life. Over the centuries, the Vismarkt's function changed, but the square retained its central role. Today, it is an atmospheric urban space with historic buildings, restaurants, and terraces. Its original commercial function has given way to a place for meeting and relaxing, but its name and location continue to evoke the past.

Munsterplein is the central square in the historic heart of Roermond and, together with the surrounding streets and monuments, forms one of the city's characteristic meeting places. Located in the city center, Munsterplein is close to shopping streets and other squares. The square is an open, accessible space where both residents and tourists gather to stroll, sit on terraces, attend events, or simply enjoy the historic surroundings. Our Lady of the Munster Church dominates the square and is considered one of the finest examples of Late Romanesque architecture in the Netherlands. Dating back to the early 13th century, the church houses, among other things, the mausoleum of Count Gerard III of Guelders and his wife Margaret of Brabant. Directly on the square is a bandstand (music pavilion), designed by the renowned architect Pierre Cuypers in 1885. This cast-iron, twelve-sided bandstand with a wooden dome has served as the square's musical heart since the 19th century, hosting live performances by brass bands and musical ensembles almost every weekend during the summer. At Munsterplein, you'll also find archaeological sites from the old Munster Abbey, which stood here for centuries before the abbey buildings largely disappeared. These remains lie underground and are part of the Archeo Route Limburg, where information points guide you through the long history of this place. The square also occasionally features memorials and local monuments that commemorate important events in Roermond's history, such as commemorations of the Second World War. The square is surrounded by café terraces, restaurants, and lunchrooms, such as the Munstercafé, which, with its view of the Munster Church, is a popular meeting place for breakfast, lunch, or a coffee break during a city walk. During the summer months, the square becomes a vibrant hub, especially when the weather is nice: the terraces are full, and various musical events and activities take place around the bandstand. Munsterplein serves as an event venue, especially in conjunction with the bandstand concerts in spring and summer. The square also occasionally serves as a venue for seasonal events, such as winter activities around the holidays (e.g., temporary indoor arenas and markets). Roermond's Munsterplein is more than just a town square: it's a cultural meeting place steeped in history and atmosphere. With the 13th-century Munsterkerk (Munster Church), the Cuypers kiosk, archaeological remains of the old abbey, charming terraces, and regular music and events, the square forms the vibrant heart of the city center, where past and present converge.

The only remaining old oil mill in Limburg. It's also remarkable that this watermill is the only one of the six remaining water-oil mills in the Netherlands to house both a corn mill and an oil mill under one roof. Source: https://www.leumolen.nl/leudalmolens/index.html

This monument was unveiled on March 8, 2001, as a memorial to the war years 1940-1945 and to the more than 800 soldiers of 11 nationalities who lost their lives in the Leudal area. The Monument of Tolerance is a regional monument. It serves as a lasting reminder of the soldiers who died in the entire area comprising the present-day municipality of Leudal, the territory of the municipality of Nederweert located east of the Wessem-Nederweert Canal and the Noordervaart canal, and the territory of the municipalities of Maasgouw and Roermond located west of the Meuse River. A CD-ROM containing this information is placed at the heart of the monument. These fallen soldiers can be viewed in a database on our website. The bronze statue was created by sculptor Thea Houben from Roggel. It consists of a semi-arc on an equilateral triangle, symbolizing the Divine. The seagulls represent freedom. The sword with the laurel wreath and the clasped hands represent the battle that has been fought and the brotherhood that endures despite death. The design of this application, as well as the symbolism of the seagulls, was conceived by John Wagemans. The base of the monument is paved with cobblestones, one for each fallen soldier. The red rays in the paving symbolize the nationalities of the fallen. Source and more: https://monumentoftolerance.com/nl/monument

The Leudal is a 900-hectare nature reserve consisting primarily of forests with scattered grasslands, fields, and patches of heathland. Three streams flow through the area: the Leubeek, the Zelsterbeek, and the Haelensche Beek; for this reason, the Leudal is also known as the "Three Rivers Land." Approximately 500 hectares of the area are managed by the Dutch Forestry Commission (Staatsbosbeheer). Source: https://www.leumolen.nl/Entree/Start%20Leumolen/DeLeumolen.htm

At the end of the 20th century, the bell rope was removed because visitors couldn't resist ringing the bell. As a result, the bell's disappearance wasn't even noticed until 2007. During the restoration of the bell tower in January 2008, a new bell was installed, and the bell rope has also been returned. More stories about the watermill can be found at https://www.leumolen.nl/Entree/Start%20Leumolen/DeLeumolen.htm