Eygelshoven – Architectural History and Saturday Market

Eygelshoven combines an architectural history stretching from the Roman Villa Holzkuil to churches and historic houses with its location in the Anstel Valley and along the Worm Valley. The Eygelshoven Saturday market is part of the weekly rhythm: it takes place every Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00. If the market is part of your plans, check the current schedule in advance, as opening hours may change. Buildings, the market and the hiking route offer different points of interest and give you specific starting points for a stay.

Historic houses and their architectural styles

At Villa Pierre, purpose and style go hand in hand: it was built in 1901 as a director’s residence in the Colonial style, commissioned by the Laura en Vereeniging mining company. The park was laid out in the style of an English landscape garden. This allows you to consider two aspects separately: the design of the residence and the park’s own concept.

Huize Henckens offers a different architectural point of reference. The building was constructed in 1796 in the traditional Old Limburg farmhouse style. De Preekstoel at Laurastraat 21, meanwhile, is a half-timbered house dating from 1631. After the original building was demolished, a faithful replica was rebuilt on the same site in May 2020. This distinction matters when placing it in time: 1631 refers to the half-timbered house, while the replica was rebuilt in 2020.

The plan for Hopel, known as the “white colony,” also has a clearly recognizable structure: it envisaged an open courtyard around which the houses would be grouped. The different perspectives on architectural history therefore complement one another—from individual buildings and their styles to a planned arrangement of houses.

Churches: architectural history and current use

The Old Church is a late-Gothic hall church on a hill in the center of Eygelshoven. It includes a defensive tower dating from the 11th or 12th century. The type of church interior and the fortified tower point to different architectural aspects of the same building.

The Old Church is currently used for Mass on Sundays, except on the first Sunday of the month. It is also used for special occasions such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as for events. As these details of use may change, check the current schedule before visiting.

Construction of H. Joannes de Doper began in 1920, based on a design by Maastricht architects Alphons Boosten and Jos Ritzen. The church was one of the first in the Mijnstreek region to use reinforced concrete construction and has been a protected Rijksmonument since 2001. Its construction method and protected status are both relevant when considering the building.

Roman times and routes

Villa Holzkuil existed from the end of the 1st century to the end of the 3rd century. This time span provides an early historical reference alongside the later houses and churches. The Villa Holzkuil site on the Archeo-Route is about 250 meters along the foot and cycle path, on the left, opposite Eygelshovergracht 51 in Kerkrade (Eygelshoven).

The Dutch Mountain Trail offers a different scale: it runs from Eygelshoven (Kerkrade) railway station to Maastricht railway station, consists of four sections and crosses seven mountain peaks. Its endpoints, sections and number of peaks give you different reference points for fitting the route into your travel plans. A specific archaeological site and a multi-section trail are therefore two different ways to connect Eygelshoven with history and outdoor activity.

Discover more destinations: Kerkrade

Go to the main travel overview: Kerkrade.