Limburg between Monuments and National Parks

Limburg combines cultural and historical landmarks with open landscapes and marked hiking trails. The province has more than 5,000 state-protected monuments and almost as many municipal monuments. You can shape your trip around different interests: a specifically named historic site, a regional tradition, or a landscape shaped by peat bogs, birdlife or hiking trails. Hiking also comes in different formats: De Maasduinen National Park has 17 marked trails; the Krijtlandpad is a 91-kilometre long-distance hiking trail in South Limburg.

Culture and history with specific points of reference

The Treaty of Maastricht was signed at the Government Building in Limburg and received the European Heritage Label in 2018. This connects a specifically named place and a historic event with a European distinction. Churches and monasteries are also part of Limburg’s cultural and historical heritage and are characteristic of its landscape.

The Oud Limburgse Schuttersfeest is a regional tradition held on a fixed date. It takes place every year on the first Sunday in July. If the festival is the deciding factor for your trip, it may be worth checking the dates again before planning.

Collections and other experiences also complement these cultural points of reference. The Limburgs Museum collection currently comprises 83,000 objects. Attractiepark Toverland has indoor playgrounds, offering a different focus from monuments and museum collections. Which of these topics interests you most can give your trip planning a specific direction.

Peat landscapes and national parks

De Groote Peel National Park lies on the border between Limburg and Noord-Brabant, in the Meijel–Asten–Nederweert triangle. A continuous remnant area of raised bog shapes most of the park; such raised bog remnants are rare in the Netherlands. The park also has an open landscape and diverse birdlife. Hiking is possible there. Those interested in peat landscapes and birdwatching will find two different aspects of a natural area that can be explored together.

Farther north, De Maasduinen National Park lies between the Meuse and the German border. The area covers 4,500 hectares and is freely accessible on roads and paths; check before your trip whether any local restrictions apply. There are 17 marked hiking trails in total. This lets you navigate the park using designated routes. The trail network may be adjusted for nature conservation reasons; check the current route details before setting out on a hike, if necessary.

De Meinweg National Park lies east of Roermond and covers 1,600 hectares. Its location can therefore be distinguished from that of De Maasduinen, which lies in North Limburg between the Meuse and the German border.

Hiking in different formats

The 17 marked trails in De Maasduinen and the Krijtlandpad in South Limburg represent different scales of hiking. The Krijtlandpad is described as a 91-kilometre long-distance trail, while the total number of marked trails is given for De Maasduinen. These details answer different planning questions: are you looking to choose a marked route in a national park or take a longer-distance trail in South Limburg? For specific route planning, it is worth checking the latest route details.

Limburg’s landscape is also a place for different ways of living and leisure interests. The Limburgse Maasvallei is an attractive place to live, work, relax and enjoy life. Limburg therefore brings together historical landmarks, regional traditions and natural areas, each with its own points of reference.

Discover more destinations: Leudal, Maastricht, Vaals, Valkenburg Aan De Geul, Venlo, Venray, Weert, Margraten, Nederweert, Gennep, Horst Aan De Maas, Peel En Maas, Voerendaal, Simpelveld, Maasgouw, Beesel, Bergen, Brunssum, Echt-Susteren, Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem, Heerlen, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Beek, Meerssen, Mook En Middelaar, Nuth, Onderbanken, Roerdalen, Roermond, Schinnen, Sittard-Geleen and Stein.

For the broader travel overview: The Netherlands.