Day trip through the Maasduinen to the Leukermeer

We leave in the village of Afferden, located on the right bank of the Maas. We go northeast, to a strip of river dunes, part of the De Maasduinen National Park. In the middle of the Afferdense Dunes we pass a twelve-metre high lookout tower. From the top you have a beautiful view. The Maasduinen National Park is a forest and heathland area, located on an elongated sand ridge between the Maas and the German border. The park extends over a length of more than 20 kilometers and has an average width of two to three kilometers. This longest river dune belt in the Netherlands was created over thousands of years by an interplay of water, wind and people. The river dunes are almost all covered with forest: the only way to protect the fields and meadows from the drifting sand! In this national park you walk through a series of wild forests, patches of heathland and fields. You will also pass some tranquil fens, such as the Duvelskuil. The Leukermeer is a beautiful lake near the Limburg Maas with leafy banks. The Leukermeer may be connected to the Maas, but it was created by sand extraction. The marina't Leuken is a household name in water sports, it is one of the most beautiful marinas in the Netherlands. Before reaching our end point, we pass the St. Rochus Chapel from 1715. Now we are close to our end point: the brasserie of the Beach Club.