{"id":20864,"date":"2025-01-10T16:27:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=20864"},"modified":"2026-09-25T07:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T07:53:21","slug":"cycling-on-the-border-between-two-limburger-regions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/fietsen-op-de-grens-tussen-twee-limburgen","title":{"rendered":"Cycling on the border between two Limburger regions"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycling through the Mechelse Heide \u2013 Beautiful, especially in winter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A divided street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are we in Belgium or the Netherlands now?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The famous street in Maastricht. Jelmer is pictured driving in Belgium, I am standing in the Netherlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Working with what you have<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018cycling through\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ENCI mine \u2013 image: Jelmer Koekkoek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Castle Lords collect you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t \u2018neercanne\u2019 just mean \u2018next to Kanne\u2019? Anyway, it\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s also from Belgium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The beautiful Alden Biesen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Good pie!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Alden Biesen in the background<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful gravel paths and bike trails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018cycling in\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gravels through the silt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Beautiful cycling along the Prins Albert Canal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In Belgian Limburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where can you start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are plenty of accommodation options in and around Maastricht to explore the border region thoroughly. We\u2019ll give you a few options that might be suitable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n