‘Look, I got this from Mathieu.’ Gert Veenhuizen says it almost casually. In his own created cycling haven, atop the Cauberg, the jersey of Mathieu van der Poel hardly stands out. After all, there are more jerseys of world champions hanging there. ‘That pink one is from Dumoulin, when he won the Giro.’ That one then hangs next to a jersey of Contador and one of Erik Zabel. ‘Oh and this one is from Kopecky and the other one is from Annemiek (van Vleuten, ed.)’. I can’t believe it. Gert’s eyes sparkle a little. This place, on Landal Castle Estate de Cauberg, It’s a bit like his ‘happy place’. If there’s something that makes you breathe when you’re cycling, it’s definitely this place.
Text and photos: Sander Kolsloot
Planning is key
Governing means anticipating. With the Amstel Gold Race in April, we thought it was a perfect idea to open the cycling season a month in advance in Zuid-Limburg. As part of the 12 provinces, 12 months, 12 parks, a visit to the Cauberg was a no-brainer. The park is located on the most famous mountain in the Netherlands, where the Tour has passed and where it will also start in 2024. The Tour de France Femmes started its Fourth stage in Netherlands' cycling hotspot. If you can cycle somewhere beautiful, then it’s here, in Zuid-Limburg.
Season, open up!
While winter is officially still ongoing, the prospects for our opening weekend are spring-like. With temperatures up to 15 degrees and a sunlit forecast, it could hardly be better. We are preparing for three wonderful rides. If we start the weekend on Friday, this coincides with International Women's Day. Seventeen ladies have gathered with us at the bottom of the mountain for a tour of the Limburg region. You can read about this beautiful afternoon and the many smiling faces on our partner platform TheyWielrent an extensive report. Not only was it fantastic to see, it was also a further confirmation that cycling in Limburg has so many beautiful sights.
Only smiling faces
On Saturday morning, 15 enthusiastic people gather on top of the Cauberg, at Landal. One thing is for sure: the day couldn’t have started better. Gert has prepared delicious flan. Not just any mediocre regional flan, but REAL flan. From the local flan maker. One that exudes quality. Only in Limburg, of course. The flan is a big hit, and the coffee tastes good too. Not only are we working together with Gert today, but also with Wouter from our in-house brand Etxeondo. The launch of the new collection coincides perfectly with our weekend in Limburg. The ambassadors of Etxeondo will receive a nice package of new clothes right away. Yellow is the ‘color of choice’.
Route with a wink to the AGR
The route I took today actually runs right through Limburg, but also includes a few highlights in the border region with Belgium and Germany. Because here you are within a few kilometers of our neighboring countries, and there is more than enough beautiful scenery to be found there too. Ever heard of Les Waides in the Voerstreek? Or how about that one climb, the Lemiersers Berg just outside of Vaals, across the border with Germany? No way? Just like a few other beautiful trails that you absolutely have to ride at least once. Combine that with classics like the Camerig, the Epenerbaan, the Eyserbosweg, and as a dessert the Cauberg. Just imagine what a beautiful day you have ahead of you.
Lunch stop Slenaken
One of the classic climbs in Limburg is the Loorberg in Slenaken. I have a personal connection to it too. In my family Slenaken holds a certain importance, as it is known. A wedding, years of holidays in the region, a married family who lived on the Schilberg. When the Brugges region still existed, that was a regular spot for an ice cream, just like at the bottom of the Camerig. No-doubt. Now we also stop there again, but then only at Slenakervallei. The lunch and the Limburg hospitality leave a lot to be desired. From there, we continue on. It’s worth knowing: on this route of almost 120 kilometers, Slenaken is exactly halfway!
Having a drink at home
Once back in Valkenburg, everyone is in the mood for a drink and a bite to eat. In our house, where you can usually accommodate 10 people, the drinks and snacks go perfectly together. The pizza we ended up having delivered was the perfect end to the day. Although the sun was still quite warm during the day, it was still quite cool in the evening. We even put the fire on for a while, not just for the warmth, but also for the atmosphere.
Coffee cups are no better than this
On Sunday we’ll do a little more of everything. That is to say. We’re going for a nice coffee run. Aniek and Lodewijk, who lived in Maastricht for years. We’re going to take a nice drive through the Limburg countryside, but once we get to Eijsden we’ll dive into Belgium for a while. This part of Wallonia is beautiful on the one hand, but on the other it’s also really typical Belgium. Sometimes a beautiful stretch of asphalt interspersed with a bumpy road. But the reward is worth it! A beautiful climb over the bridge and then a wonderfully rolling road back to the Netherlands. The coffee at Coffeelovers is on the list of tips. So enjoy it! With a soft G.
Always finishing on top
Since the Amstel Gold Race just passed this Landal holiday park Finished, it’s blowing in the second weekend of April. Gert tells us about it: ‘Everyone comes here, you can walk over their heads.’ The park is already fully booked well in advance, by enthusiasts and professionals. He lets it slip between his teeth that he just had to disappoint the team of ‘Pogi’. They wanted to book more, but unfortunately not. The hut is full. Pogi is probably sleeping in Bilzen, at Martin’s Rentmeesterij.
Beautiful house
One of the things you can’t deny: the houses in this park are in top condition. We were given a house for 10 people, in the luxury version. That means: private sauna, solarium and a bathtub with a bubble function. Including a nespresso machine for a good cup of coffee. As already mentioned: we had a drink afterwards and with almost 15 people we managed just fine.
Everything for the cyclist is also available. You will find a rinsing area for your MTB, Gravelbike or race bike in the park, and if you need to clean or fix your bike for a while, there is also a space with basic tool equipment. If you need a little more help, you can go to Fixed Gear at the bottom of the Cauberg. Or you can ask Gert himself, because he knows other people who can arrange that for you.
More cycling tips for Valkenburg
If you’re staying in Valkenburg, the Kasteeldomein de Cauberg isn’t the only hotspot you could stop by:
- Perhaps the best coffee in the region can be found at Fixed Gear Coffee, at the bottom of the Cauberg. Brian and Shivani have been serving high-quality coffees from this bike café for years.
- It Shimano Experience Center, Just a little further down the mountain is a perfect place to get a taste of the cycling atmosphere. Because here you’ll find beautiful bikes, lots of memorabilia, and you can, for example, start the ‘Gravel Experience’. It will also be a great place to be around the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour de France Femmes.
Routes Landal GreenParks 12 parks
Below you will find an overview of many of the routes we have created in our program.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.