South Limburg

Part of The Netherlands › Limburg

South Limburg is the only part of the Netherlands where you can really climb. The Heuvelland between Maastricht, Valkenburg and Vaals is full of short, steep slopes, narrow roads and half-timbered houses, with a terrace every few kilometers.

Why cycle in Zuid-Limburg?

• The classics: Cauberg, Keutenberg, Eyserbosweg, Camerig and the Gulpenerberg.
• De Vaalserberg: at 322 meters, the highest point of European Netherlands, near the Three-Country Point.
• The permanent routes of the Amstel Gold Race, which can be ridden all year round.
• Unpaved roads and country roads through the heartland, also nice on the gravel bike.
• The Voerstreek in Belgium is right across the border.

More than climbing

South Limburg is more than just the Cauberg. The network of cycle routes also takes you through forests, over the heath and along the water, and many cycling routes lead effortlessly to Belgium and Germany.

• The Gravel World Championships. In October 2025, the Gravel World Championships were held in Zuid-Limburg. Visit South Limburg has the route online, so you can drive it yourself.
• Sloping roads and steep forests. Typical of South Limburg: deeply worn roads through the forest, with a canopy that provides cooling on hot days.
• The Brunssummerheide. The only large heath area in South Limburg: 1,800 hectares of forest, heathland, fens and marshland. It turns purple in August and September.
• Along the Maas and the Geul. Wide paths and flat kilometers along the Maas, or along the Geul, the fastest-flowing river in the Netherlands.
• Over an ancient seabed. The yellow marl is the bottom of a subtropical chalk sea from 70 million years ago. You see it everywhere, in the growth zones, the hollow roads and the houses.
• Without borders. Routes like the Three Borders route in Vaals and the Three Countries route in Sittard-Geleen thus go into Belgium and Germany.

For a peaceful day, there are signposted routes such as the Heuvelland Cycle Route (41 km, from Sint-Pietersberg to Vaalserberg), the Bloesem Cycle Route around Eijsden, Mesch and Sint Geertruid, and the Route of Wonder with over thirty ‘wonder spots’.

When are you leaving?

From March to October. Around the Amstel Gold Race in April it is busy; in May, June and September you have the slopes to yourself more.

How do you get there?

By train to Maastricht or Valkenburg, or by car in two to two and a half hours from the Randstad area. Maastricht Aachen Airport is located nearby.