Straight through the Netherlands

As the name suggests, this cycle route goes straight through the Netherlands. We start the route at the border with Belgium and from here we head towards the border with Germany. This part of the Netherlands is the narrowest part of the country. We start the route on the Maas near 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-and-bailey castle probably goes back to the 10th century. In the early Middle Ages, a wooden tower or wooden motte-and-bailey castle was probably built on this site. Later these wooden structures were replaced by stone structures. It is certain that the remains of a probably 12th-century round keep, built of natural stone masonry and which was later rebuilt around 1250, were found under the current buildings. This rebuilding was probably carried out by the first lords of Lemborch, of which Hermannus de Lemburg is the oldest known lord of Limbricht. He lends the manor of Limbricht to the dukes of Brabant, which means that they were allowed to appear here at their own discretion and, if necessary, to occupy it. We continue cycling straight through the Limbrichterbos. The forest contains mainly deciduous trees that are more than 75 years old. In some places, poplars, robinias and maples are being removed to make room for traditional shrubs and herbs. Plants such as spotted arum lily, wood anemone and musk herb grow in the forest. When we cycle further to Nieuwstadt we have already reached the border with Germany. From here we continue towards Susteren. Susteren used to have a large shunting yard that was mainly used for shunting coal wagons from the mines of South Limburg. This shunting yard was closed years ago and demolished since 2006. We cycle further towards the border with Belgium and then towards Roosteren. On the way we pass De Dieterdermolen. Roosteren is geographically the northernmost place in South Limburg, although formally it is part of Central Limburg. Roosteren is located on the Maas, opposite the Belgian town of Maaseik. The Juliana Canal has been constructed along the eastern side of the village. From Roosteren we cycle further towards our destination, but not without enjoying the beautiful water of the Maas for 7.5 km.