Limburg is the southernmost region of The Netherlands, bordering both Germany and Belgium. Robert hails from here and his parents and most of his family still live here and we visit often (although this was the first time since ‘coronatijd’ struck.) It feels like quintessential Netherlands - very rural, distinctly-flat farmland with Dutch architecture and quaint villages where everyone knows everyone! Basically the opposite of London.
We always fly to Dusseldorf, Germany and cross the border by car (Rob’s parents kindly pick us up!) It’s hard to document our trips to the Netherlands as so much of it surrounds spending time with loved ones, but being summer and an escape from lockdown, we decided to jot down some of the activities we love when we visit.
Cycling
You can’t really spend time in the Netherlands without jumping on a bike - it’s how most people get around but it’s also what the locals do in their spare time to enjoy their beautiful surroundings. The Holland Cycling website has a list of routes with everything from hills (yes, in Netherlands, really!), dunes (again, really!) and lakeside riding by the River Maas. Distinct features of the region include the marl caves as well as Vaalserberg (322 m), the highest hill in the Netherlands and the point where Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany meet. The region’s capital Maastricht is also well worth a visit (and yes, is cycle friendly) with its historic churches, shops and museums.
It’s really easy to plot out a day trip by bike because of the way that the country is planned out with cyclists in mind. Interlinked ‘cycle junctions’ are a well-known concept in the Netherlands because virtually the whole country is covered in them and they form the basis for short cycle routes.
Walking routes
Limburg is full of miles of countryside and small, cute villages and farmland, perfect for long, leisurely walks when the weather is on your side. VVV Midden Limburg has an extensive list of walking routes depending on the area you’re in, and what size route you want to take.
Interestingly, Limburg has an extensive network of walking routes marked by numbered intersections. This signposted system offers hikers a number of possible, easy-to-follow routes. As it’s the quiet countryside, a lot of these are mostly traffic free.
We personally find it a great way to while away a few hours, but if you want to see more of the area, we recommend going by bike - just because you can cover more ground!
De Groote Peel National Park
We managed to visit De Groote Peel National Park this time around, and we weren’t disappointed. Made up of picture-perfect wetland, heather, forestry and moors, it’s home to an array of different species of birds and has a number of signposted routes to help take you around the 1400 hectares.
We really enjoyed discovering the park and it’s history (the area was used for peat-extraction, with its history traced back to the stone age), and it’s on-site cafe where we couldn’t leave without sampling a broodje-kroket and appeltaartje.
Roermond
We didn’t visit this time (we wanted to avoid cities on this trip) but usually we head into Roermond and it’s outlet village, an extensive shopping experience with everything from discounted Prada, Gucci to Ralph Lauren. Our advice is to avoid Sundays - it’s when the Germans cross the border in their hundreds to take advantage of the open hours!
As well as the shopping outlet, make sure to go underneath the tunnel and visit the old town as well. There are many bars and restaurants with a terraces outside, ideal for soaking up the sun and spending the afternoon people watching. The Munster Kerk and St. Christoffelkathedraal are worth a visit and are only a few examples of the beautiful architecture Roermond has to offer.
Lauren loves
I really enjoy coming to visit Limburg and escape London for a few days. As well as getting to spend time with Rob’s family, it’s a picture-perfect village atmosphere and I love stumbling across ponies and cows on our walks! This week we went on a 30 km cycle, which was the longest ride I’ve ever done. It was beautiful to ride by the canals and the farmland and experience the glorious summer weather they have been having.
Top tip for veggies too - they have a veggie McChicken sandwich in McDonalds and I have to go every time we’re in the country (it’s soooo good!)
Robert loves
For me the main reason for going to Limburg is seeing my family. Having grown up there I’ve never seen it as a holiday destination. For me it is simply home. That said it is great to visit with Lauren as it forces me to explore it as a tourist as well. Normally I would simply hang out with family and friends and be perfectly content. I could write books about growing up in Limburg but I’ll stick with what it was like when we visited for the first time in the Corona era.
Trying to stay away from the bigger crowds we resorted to seeing what the nature of Limburg has to offer. There are many natural parks and I simply couldn’t believe I had never visited them before, I guess you just take things for granted.