Temptations of the Heuvelland

Bike touring routes & trails

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Temptations of the Heuvelland

Hard

4.6

(166)

962

riders

Temptations of the Heuvelland

02:49

41.7km

580m

Cycling

Whether Mergelland, Heuvelland, Hügelland or chalk board - there are many expressions for the gently undulating landscape that unfolds from Aachen west to Maastricht. Half-timbered and quarry stone houses, fertile fields and wide pastures in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are on this circular tour along the way. Culinary delights tempt you to take a break: the spectrum ranges from flat cakes, coffee specialties, cheese, syrup and homemade ice cream to wine.

You start at Aachen Central Station, explore the old town with the impressive cathedral and then drive west. After leaving the Dutch border behind you, you cycle through Vaals with its historic buildings. The tour then runs through an undulating cultural landscape where even wine is grown. You can try this at the St. Martinus winery.

The beautiful Geuldal with the Epermühle is the next highlight on the way to Belgium. The Château de Beusdael towers majestically right on the border, surrounded by wide meadows. You change to the RAVeL 39 railway cycle path, which takes you past Gemmenich to the highest mountain in the Netherlands. By the way, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium meet there. After a wonderful forest passage, it goes back to Germany and finally you can enjoy a relaxed descent back to the center of Aachen.

by Städteregion Aachen

Last updated: July 18, 2025

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions. Check ahead to confirm restricted segments are open to the public.

After 18.0 km for 106 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

6.16 km

Kleng Wach border house

Highlight • Historical Site

Between the Old Vaalser Straße and the Akenerstraat only the former border house and a notice board testify that there is a border crossing here. Closed to cars but passable for pedestrians and cyclists.

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7.03 km

Bloemendal Castle

Highlight • Castle

The first stone of Bloemendal Castle was laid in 1791 by order of Arnold von Clermont. Von Clermont was purveyor to the Russian Tsar and had the great dream of building a castle. He started building his country house at the age of 63. The course after that is fairly tragic: even before the castle was completed a few years later, Von Clermont died. After his death, the castle was commissioned by his son.

The castle fell into disrepair over the years and was restored in the 1990s. Since then it has been used as a hotel, so if you want to spend a royal night during your walking tour in Vaals, you can go here.

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12.3 km

Vijlen and St. Martinus Church

Highlight • Religious Site

St Martinuskerk Vijlen is the highest church in the Netherlands.
If you go for a walk in the area, the church is a landmark that can be seen from many places.

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13.7 km

St. Martinus Winery

Highlight • Restaurant

One of the better wine estates in South Limburg, with a great diversity of delicious wines. If you have the opportunity, it is really worth booking an excursion.
In addition to delicious wines, St. Martinus also makes delicious grappas and recently also beers.
These are not cheap products, but the quality is there.

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18.0 km

Epermolen/Wingbergermolen

Highlight • Monument

The Epermolen, also called Wingbergermolen, was built in 1884 as a grain mill on the Geul River. The mill is a listed building and is still in regular use. Today there is also a hotel in the building.

You can find more information at wingbergermolen.nl.

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19.4 km

Diependal

Highlight • Settlement

The small village of Diependal presents itself as idyllic and peaceful, radiating a very special atmosphere with its well-preserved half-timbered houses.

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23.8 km

Beusdael Castle

Highlight • Castle

The beautiful moated castle is located right next to the cycle path. If you cycle towards Aachen, you can even see it from above. It is not certain when it was built, but the succession of owners of Beusdael is fully documented from the beginning of the 14th century to the present. The castle is not open to the public. In 1951, it was transferred to the Liège association “Les colonies scolaires catholiques Liégeoises”, which still owns Beudael today.

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26.1 km

Terbruggen Watermill

Highlight • Monument

Nice resting place in the shadow of the Göhl. The mill is a little further away from the road.

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31.0 km

Saint Hubert Church (Gemmenich)

Highlight • Religious Site

The St. Hubertus parish church of Gemmenich was built in the neoclassical style in 1847.

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41.7 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

22.0 km

7.02 km

6.87 km

4.77 km

916 m

188 m

Surfaces

35.6 km

3.08 km

1.27 km

1.15 km

327 m

282 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (340 m)

Lowest point (110 m)

Weather

Saturday 10 October

13°C

6°C

-- %

Additional weather tips

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Comments

May 28, 2023,Rundfahrt durchs Heuvelland (niederländische Schweiz)

A short bike tour with the family in bright sunshine in the west of Aachen - with a cozy stop at the bistro Le Soigneur in Klein-Kuttingen and finally at our regular ice cream parlor. In the end, the tour template provided for the route via the three-country point, which we avoided.

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January 1, 2022,Rundtour Aachen Zentrum - Schneebergweg - niederländisch-belgisches Hügelland - Dreiländerpunkt

Today a tour for two in wonderful winter weather with bright sun (and beautiful sunset), several meters in altitude across the Dutch-Belgian hill country around and over the three-country point.

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January 2, 2022,Heuvellandrunde mal anders herum

Today I spontaneously drove this lap from Bernd - largely unchanged: komoot.de/tour/621488527

I knew the route almost completely, but so far I've only driven many parts of it in the other direction - that was also interesting.

The route leads almost entirely over paved paths and roads, so it is probably also feasible with a racing bike, safely with a …

Showing Translation

August 14, 2023

Whether Mergelland, Heuvelland, Hügelland or chalk board - there are many expressions for the gently undulating landscape that unfolds from Aachen west to Maastricht. Half-timbered and quarry stone houses, fertile fields and wide pastures in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are on this circular tour

Translated by Google •

February 8, 2026

I rode this tour today: komoot.com/de-de/tour/2778708121﻿
With a different starting and ending point (Münsterplatz instead of the main train station). And with a few minor changes based on my experience with a similar tour I did a few years ago.
﻿
A truly beautiful tour through the Dutch-Belgian hill country