Discover Venlo and find hotels

Discover Venlo through its diverse cultural and leisure activities: museums, historic sites and routes through the city sit alongside opportunities for hiking, cycling and climbing. A simple question can help you plan: Would you like to visit exhibitions and buildings, discover public art, or choose an outdoor route or activity? Each option has a different focus, making it easier to tailor your stay to your interests.

Cultural routes and city history

The Erfgoud Route uses short films and QR codes to offer a look behind the facades and enable visits to historic cellars and attics in Venlo. It combines digital interpretation with historic interiors. Individual QR code content may change over time; if you plan to follow the route, you can access the content directly on site using the codes.

The Poetry Route is a cultural walk through the historic city centre. Poems can be found on facades, walls and buildings, making literature part of the cityscape. Another way to experience history in public spaces is the Floddergats, the historic Keizerstraat. You can explore it on foot or by bike. The street features works of art by Ger Janssen: the figures depicted and dialect songs in the Venlo dialect are presented with humour.

Museums and distinctive architecture

At the Limburgs Museum, the “From Neanderthal man to city-dweller” exhibition takes visitors through various eras. It presents archaeological treasures and brings them together in an interactive journey. The museum lists the exhibition as on permanent display. Its location is also a notable landmark for visitors arriving in the city: it is directly opposite Venlo NS railway station and bus station.

Museum van Bommel van Dam was Limburg’s first museum of modern art. Its exhibitions of painting, drawing, sculpture and photography change over time. The building also makes a statement of its own: the museum is housed in a former post office with a monumental gold-coloured facade inspired by envelopes. Another eye-catching feature is the Duikbril window. It offers a striking view of Venlo without requiring an admission ticket.

A historic building as an event venue

The Dominicanenkerk was once a Dominican monastery chapel. Since 2007, it has been used for weddings, celebrations, concerts and other events. This brings together the site’s former religious function and its later use for a variety of occasions. Alongside the museums and historic routes, the church offers another way to explore Venlo’s cultural history—this time through the repurposing of a religious building.

Landscape, nature and active outings

The landscape also offers ideas for planning your visit: Jammerdal was shaped largely by clay and gravel extraction. De Groote Heide has a different focus. It contains traces of an important airport from the Second World War, as well as restored historic fortifications. Walking and cycling are among the ways to explore the area.

Infozentrum De Groote Heide has ample parking and provides information about leisure activities and nature. It is also a good starting point for walks or bike rides through the nature reserve. As operational details may change, check the centre’s latest information before your visit.

For an activity with set courses, Fun Forest Venlo offers nine routes at heights of 4 to 15 metres. Challenges include zip lines, bridges and a free jump. If you are looking for a bike ride of a specified length, the Maaspaden Route Venlo is a 26-kilometre route that starts at Wilhelminapark in Venlo. This allows you to choose how much to focus on culture, landscape and exercise without combining the individual offerings into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Arcen, Tegelen, Belfeld, Velden.

For the main travel overview: Venlo.