Across the Netherlands

As the name suggests, this cycle route goes right through the Netherlands. We start the route at the border with Belgium and from here we go in the direction of the border with Germany. This part of the Netherlands is the narrowest part of the country. We start the route at the Maas at Grevenbicht. Until 1839, Grevenbicht, like the vast majority of the rest of Limburg, belonged to the Kingdom of Belgium. Further on we find Limbricht Castle. The history of the motte castle probably goes back to the 10th century. In the early Middle Ages, a wooden tower or wooden motte castle was probably built on it. Later, these wooden constructions were replaced by stone buildings. What is certain is that the remains of a probably 12th-century round keep built from natural stone masonry and which was later, around 1250, rebuilt have been found under the current buildings. This reconstruction was probably carried out by the first lords of Lemborch, of whom Hermannus de Lemburg is the oldest known lord of Limbricht. He lends the lordship of Limbricht to the Dukes of Brabant, which means that they could appear here at their own discretion and, if necessary, occupy it. We continue cycling straight through the Limbrichterbos. The forest mainly consists of deciduous trees that are more than 75 years old. In some places, poplars, robinias and maples are removed to make room for shrubs and herbs that have been present for centuries. Plants such as spotted arum, wood anemone and muskwort grow in the forest. When we continue cycling to Nieuwstadt, we have already reached the border with Germany. From here we continue towards Susteren. Susteren used to have a large marshalling yard that was mainly used for shunting coal wagons from the mines of South Limburg. This marshalling yard was closed years ago and has been dismantled since 2006. We continue cycling towards the border with Belgium, in the direction of Roosteren. On the way, we pass De Dieterdermolen. Roosteren is geographically the northernmost place in South Limburg, although it formally belongs to Central Limburg. Roosteren is located on the Meuse, opposite the Belgian town of Maaseik. The Julianakanaal has been constructed along the eastern side of the village. From Roosteren we cycle further towards our end point, but not without having enjoyed the beautiful water of the Meuse for 7.5 km.