Bemelen, Maastricht and Geulle

Cycling through the heart of Maastricht, along the river bank and along the Maasboulevard, is a great experience. Here you can taste the atmosphere of the Limburg capital and it becomes clear why Maastricht is known as one of the nicest cities in the Netherlands. Various companies and shops are located on the Maasboulevard, where people come in and out. This forms a nice contrast with the tranquility that the wide Maas radiates. The boulevard is gradually becoming less busy and business is making way for a greener appearance. There are also many vineyards in this area, where different types of grapes are grown. With Maastricht's Burgundian reputation, it is not difficult to imagine that various wines originate here. The Meuse itself rises as a small stream in distant France near Pouilly-en-Bassigny. The Meuse used to be an important shipping route, although it was sometimes difficult to navigate the river. That problem worsened because in 1843 our southern neighbors built the Bocholt-Herentals canal and tapped water from the Maas to irrigate infertile Kempen lands. Despite the fact that a treaty was concluded in 1863 to solve this problem for the Netherlands, hard work was done from 1915 on to increase the water supply of the Meuse by building weirs, constructing canals and cutting off Meuse bends. Because the height of the water is highly dependent on rainfall, the water is meters high in the winter, while the river is almost dry in the summer. With the sound of the rippling water in the background, you can thoroughly enjoy all the beauty that the Maas and surrounding nature have to offer on this route.