Discover Heerlen: Street Art, History and Nature

Heerlen can be explored through a wide variety of themes: murals and museums shape its cultural identity, while marked trails in the Brunssummerheide lead through heathland and woodland landscapes. Roman traces and the region’s mining past are also part of the picture. This lets you choose different focuses for your trip rather than getting to know Heerlen from just one perspective.

Street Art in the Centre and Across the City

Heerlen has an extensive collection of murals—wall paintings and graffiti works—particularly in the centre. Two individual works show how differently this art relates to the city: “De Vreemdeling” by the artist duo Os Gemeos is located at Schelmenhofje. “De Koolpiet” references Heerlen’s mining past and won the Dutch Streetart Award in 2016.

A 4 km street art route passes major murals as well as smaller, hidden works. It brings together well-known pieces and less conspicuous discoveries. You can use the route as a theme for a city walk to get an overview; if you are especially interested in individual works, the two murals mentioned above offer concrete examples of the collection’s variety.

Roman Traces and Mining History

In the Romeins Kwartier, the important Roman settlement of Coriovallum lies beneath the present-day city. Here you can discover Coriovallum. The Romeins Museum is closed until 2028 due to construction of a new building; it is scheduled to reopen in 2028 around the archaeological remains of the bathhouse of Coriovallum. Together, these two aspects give Roman history a clear focus: the settlement beneath the city and the bathhouse remains as the setting for the planned museum.

The Nederlands Mijnmuseum presents mining history from both underground and above-ground perspectives. Visitors can explore aspects of the mining past across four floors. The museum is also housed in the former shaft and winding building of Oranje-Nassaumijn I. SCHUNCK offers a different cultural focus: a museum of modern and contemporary art and architecture. In and from the monumental Glaspaleis, its programme includes exhibitions, lectures, debates and special projects.

Landsfort Herle also makes cultural and historical heritage visible and accessible, both above and below ground. A route developed in collaboration with Visit Zuid-Limburg takes visitors on a journey of discovery through medieval Heerlen. Kasteel Hoensbroek is one of the largest moated castles in the Netherlands. Together, these themes offer different points of interest for culture lovers, from medieval history to art and architecture.

Hiking Trails and Landscapes Near Heerlen

The Brunssummerheide near Heerlen encompasses heathland and woodland landscapes with marked hiking trails. Two routes are listed as approximately 4.9 km and 4.7 km long, making it easy to compare them by distance. Wildlife on the heath includes, among other species, nightjars, moor frogs, bog hawker dragonflies, five species of woodpecker and various bats.

The Terworm walking route offers a different combination of landscape and history: it passes through the countryside of South Limburg and follows the history of the estate and its castle. Along the way are avenues lined with lime trees and orchards with old Limburg apple varieties. At Terworm, nature and the estate’s history go hand in hand, while the Brunssummerheide—with its heathland and woodland and diverse wildlife—offers a different focus.

The 2.0 km “Het Mijnverleden op straat” inclusive route was designed specifically for wheelchair users, blind people and people with visual impairments.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

From Heerlen Centraal station, you can walk straight into the city centre via the Maankwartier; OV-Fiets rental bikes are available at the station. To plan your stay, you can first decide whether city history and art, hiking trails or travelling by train are most important to you. When looking for a hotel in Heerlen, this priority can help you choose the right focus for your trip.

Please note a special visiting condition for the Schelmentoren: it is open only on special days. Advance online ticket purchase is recommended to guarantee a visit. Check the opening arrangements before your visit. The Romeins Museum’s schedule is also important: it will remain closed until 2028 due to construction work, with reopening planned for that year.

Discover more destinations: Heerlen, Hoensbroek, Margraten, Kerkrade, Venlo, Meerssen, Leudal, Valkenburg Aan De Geul

For the overview of the wider region: Limburg.