Valkenburg a/d Geul in 9 tips

A day out in Valkenburg aan de Geul? Lovely! There's all sorts to see and do. From a brisk walk to a wonderfully relaxing time.

The Geuldal Valley

You can enjoy beautiful walks in the area around Valkenburg aan de Geul. For example, try walking from Oost Castle along the Geul river towards Schin op Geul. At the sculpture group "de Drie Beeldjes" (the Three Statues), turn 180 degrees onto the Schaelsberg, heading towards the hermitage. Walk past the hermitage on your left, turn right, and you will enjoy perhaps the most spectacular panoramic view that South Limburg has to offer!

2. The city centre

The tourist centre of Valkenburg aan de Geul is brimming with charming hotels, restaurants, and cafés. On the many terraces, which are packed to the rafters in high season, it's a case of ‘seeing and being seen'. Several restaurants that we can heartily recommend are Latinos on Grotestraat, Il Forno and Steakhouse Valkenhof on Berkelstraat, and Sushi & Grill Kodoo on Plenkertstraat, at the bottom of the Cauberg. As for cafés, we recommend Pub Henry VIII, Café ‘t Hoekje, and (speciality)beer café De Grendelpoort. Next to De Grendelpoort, you'll also find Bierboetiek De Zythotheek. A real must for the (speciality)beer lover!

3. The casino

Place your bets! Besides roulette, you can in the Holland Casino Naturally, you can also play blackjack or poker on top of the Cauberg. Or try your luck on the slot machines. There is also a restaurant and several attractive packages for a fun night out! Are you gambling responsibly?

4. Thermae 2000

At the top of the Cauberg, right by the casino, you'll find the wellness centre Thermae 2000. Here you can relax for a delightful day or several days. There is also a hotel, after all. The spa is filled with water from springs that has been filtered over thousands of years by the limestone-rich Limburg soil. Thermae 2000 has various types of saunas (Swedish, Finnish etc.) – nine in total, in fact – and two steam baths.

5. The castle ruins

Of Castle ruin – the ruins of Valkenburg Castle – are certainly worth a visit, as are the Velvet Caves located beneath it, a network of tunnels created by marl extraction. The castle was largely destroyed in the Middle Ages and at the start of the Eighty Years' War. It's unthinkable now, but after a devastating town fire at the end of the 18th century, the marl blocks from the ruins were used to rebuild the houses. The ruins were restored in the early and mid-20th century.

6. De Cauberg

It's probably Holland's most famous mountain - hill, really - certainly among cycling tourists: The Cauberg. With a gradient of 5 to 8 percent, it's certainly not the toughest climb in the area. But the slope has been the finish multiple times in important cycling races, such as world championships, Tour stages, and the cycling classic Amstel Gold Race. That's why every cycling tourist *must* have climbed the Cauberg. No bike? Even on foot, this mountain is a real calf-killer! The Cauberg also has a dark side. In 1954, the brakes of a bus full of Belgian tourists failed, resulting in 19 deaths and many injuries.

7. The Wilhelmina Tower

The Wilhelmina Tower is a viewing tower built in the early 20th century. The large illuminated cross on top of the tower can be seen from a great distance in the dark. The tower offers a beautiful view over Valkenburg and parts of the rest of the Heuvelland. Daredevils can go zip-lining from the tower. The most enjoyable way to reach the tower is by cable car. There are all sorts of things to do at the top of the mountain, such as tobogganing, mini-golf and more.

8. Valkenier Theme Park

De Valkenier Amusement Park It is the oldest amusement park in the Netherlands and profiles itself as the cheapest theme park in Europe. Attractions such as the roller coaster, moon rocket, and haunted house evoke feelings of nostalgia in multiple generations of Valkenburg residents, Limburgers, and tourists. Not too long ago, the park was thoroughly renovated and several new attractions were added, bringing the park completely up to date!

9. Fairy Tale Forest

Not only the Efteling, but also Valkenburg aan de Geul has its own Fairytale Forest. The park, at the foot of the Heunsberg, has over forty larger and smaller attractions. Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin: they all make an appearance! The entrance fee of €7.50 per person (aged 3 and over; children under 3 enter for free) is not too expensive.

Do you have any tourist tips for a visit to Valkenburg aan de Geul? Share them with our followers! They'll be grateful. Car hire in the Susteren region Fancy a day out in Valkenburg? You can do that at Adrem!