The Earth does not take into account arbitrary land borders. A hill can be located in Belgium for 50% kilometers and the rest in the Netherlands. That makes nature irrelevant. The hill remains the hill, whether you are cycling from the Netherlands towards Belgium or the other way around. The hill remains the hill. The Limburg region, which is much wider than just the Dutch Limburg, has many such points. The border marker project from 1843 (Belgium officially became independent from the Netherlands in 1830) is the visual reminder of the arbitrary borders. It makes cycling in this region extra enjoyable. You can cycle on the border between two Limburgs here.
A divided street
The absurdity of national borders is most visible on the Diependaalweg in Maastricht. The border runs right through the middle of the street. Because one side is under Dutch jurisdiction and the other under Belgian jurisdiction, you see funny differences. The houses on one side are typical Belgian, the other side of course typical Dutch. I then wonder: if they used to even make a phone call to each other, would that have been more expensive than walking out the door and just ringing the doorbell? Or electricity? Or so many other utilities and practical matters. Would it make sense to move over to the other side for a while? The border post shines in the sunlight at the beginning of the street. A beautiful sight.
Working with what you have
Both in Dutch Limburg and in Belgian Limburg there is a mining history. There has also been ground extraction, which creates particularly beautiful landscapes. Some examples of this are the Mijnterrils near Maasmechelen and the ENCI quarry near the Pietersberg in Maastricht. In Belgian Limburg they take the relationship with these beautiful natural phenomena very seriously. In the series ‘cycling through’ you can see the heathland, the forest, the water and the Mijnterrils up close. Natuurmonumenten manages the ENCI quarry and you can walk there and use the gravel bike to get to the edge. Then you again realize that you are only a small cog in a larger whole.
Castle Lords collect you
Chateau Neercanne shines beautifully on the hill, right next to Kanne. The chateau happens to be in the Netherlands and Kanne is in Belgium. Wouldn’t ‘neercanne’ just mean ‘next to Kanne’? Anyway, it’s a beautiful chateau with a very good restaurant. Nothing to stop you from stopping for a coffee. Belgian Limburg also has a crown jewel. At least, that’s what I think. The Castle Alden Biesen, near Bilzen, is an imposing building with a beautiful garden (French and English style combined) and a fine brasserie as a point of stopping for a coffee. Speaking of points, the pie is definitely worth trying. Pie? Yes, because the pie is Limburgian, so it’s also from Belgium.
Beautiful gravel paths and bike trails
It goes without saying that you can enjoy cycling in this border region. Not only because of the many events that take place there, including the Grenspalen Classic, Limburgs Mooiste, the Amstel Gold Race, Gravel National Park, Heathland gravel, Mergelheuvelland gravel and so on. If you are planning a ride yourself, you can get completely lost in the beautiful paths on the border. The aforementioned highlights, the ‘cycling in’ events, are more geared towards e-bikers and touring cyclists, but are certainly also interesting for cyclists and gravel enthusiasts. Around the Pietersberg you will find beautiful gravel paths, and the route of the 2024 European Gravel Championships also offers many beautiful spots.
There is plenty to enjoy in terms of racing cycling. It is very hilly and, for example, around Bilzen you will find the Keiberg. If you secretly look around in Wallonia, you can also find the Rue de Garage above the fort Eben-Emaal. In our comoto collection we share some nice routes.
Where can you start?
Of course, there are plenty of accommodation options in and around Maastricht to explore the border region thoroughly. We’ll give you a few options that might be suitable:
- Martin’s Rentmeesterij in Bilzen. This beautiful hotel is located next to Alden Biesen. It seems that Tadej Pogacar likes to stay here during the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race. The hotel has several options for safely storing the bikes, but there is no rinsing or tinkering involved. However, the breakfast in the morning makes up for a lot (plus the rooms and the overall look & feel).
- Dormio Resort Maastricht. This luxury resort on the outskirts of Maastricht, on the border with Belgium, is a wonderful base from which to explore the region. You can explore both along the canal towards the gravel paths near Kanne and Pietersberg, as well as towards the heathland and possibly towards Meerssen and beyond. On a mountain bike, Limburg is at your feet, but also the climbs of the Voerstreek. To name a few options. The houses are spacious, almost all of them have a shed (which is warm, which helps your bike dry quickly). The only downside is the lack of a place to rinse off, especially with the thick clay mud.
- Landal Mooi Zutendaal. If you want to fully experience the Mechelse moors, this is a must-go. We are familiar with Landal from our recent trips to 12 parks in the Netherlands. Apartments with plenty of space, bike facilities and all four ‘bikes in’ attractions within easy reach. Plus, strategically located between the locally attractive cities of Maastricht and Hasselt.
- There is a wide range of accommodation available for cyclists. B&B Punto Velo, near the landal park, is a nice alternative if you are looking for something smaller and don’t expect screaming children or a swimming pool/play area etc.
- Do you really want to look really stylish? Then you should definitely choose Butte aux Bois. With a two-star restaurant on site, very luxurious accommodations and right in the middle of the forest, this is the ultimate base for a stylish weekend of cycling.
Nice coffee
If you’re in the southern regions of the Netherlands or in Belgium, a good cup of coffee is often not far away. A nice piece of pie won’t be long in coming either. These places are absolutely a favorite among cyclists:
- Fixed Gear Coffee – Maastricht. This hotspot (big place) near the market is popular with cyclists, but also with students. You can store your bike in the shop and the coffee is top-notch. You can also sit down on your laptop there or get a tasty snack. Brian and Shivani run the place.
- AlleyCat Bikes & Coffee – Maastricht. This is technically a competitor of Fixed Gear, but with a slightly different vibe. You can’t leave your bike here, but the coffee and cake are very good. In terms of location, it’s a little closer to the Maas and from here you can also get to Wyck and the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Coffee lovers – multiple locations. Before coffee became popular, Coffeelovers was already active in Maastricht. During World Championships and AGR, it’s a place where pros come and go. They have multiple locations.
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.