Up and down along the Limburg Maas

Explore the Dutch border area with Belgium above Maastricht. Between Geulle and Maaseik you cycle from village to city, enjoying the rolling Limburg landscape and the Maas valley. The Meuse originates in faraway France near Pouilly-en-Bassigny and is the guiding principle of this route on Dutch territory. With the sound of the rippling water in the background, you can intensely enjoy all the beauty that the Maas and surrounding nature has to offer on this route. The municipality of Maaseik is part of the Limburg Maasland, which consists of the actual Maas valley, which is about four kilometers wide, and the Maas terraces. In addition to the Maas, there are two streams in the municipality, the Bosbeek and the Zanderbeek. The planned street pattern from the time of the foundation of Maaseik is still clearly recognizable. The ramparts had to make way for the Burgemeester Philipslaan. When this road was reconstructed, the foundations of the Eikerpoort were discovered. The foundations of the count's castle have been exposed in the parking garage under the Kolonel Aertsplein. These can still be seen. Castle Geulle is the first sight you encounter. The current castle is a outer bailey of the former seventeenth-century castle that was demolished in 1847. There is a moat around the castle and on the west side you can reach the gatehouse via an arched bridge. On the other side of the road you see some fence pillars from the eighteenth century. The interior of the castle dates from 1915. Architect W. Sprenger has redecorated the building, which also has fireplaces in three fragments. You find your way through the rolling landscape until you reach De Pannekoekenbakker Maaseik after 29 kilometers. In the heart of the town, on the Markt, you will find this nice establishment where you can go for a tasty snack. More than 250 different pancakes are on the menu, except for the classic pancake with bacon or a sweet old-fashioned with syrup, you can order many more tasty variants. With a full stomach and a new dose of energy you cycle to a castle that was once called"huys van Spaubeke\\\". The current Sint Jansgeleen dates from 1567. The rectangular house, built of marl, has a northern and an eastern wing and two floors. It was surrounded by deep moats and wide ponds. The oldest part of the castle is a former brewery built in 1567, but there is also a tenant farm with a tenant house dating from 1730. The large barn dates from 1720 and the stable at right angles to it dates from 1775. Nothing remains of the old castle, except for the foundations and a small piece of the wall. The mill on the other side of the Geleenbeek, the Sint Jansmolen, also belongs to the castle. The last stop is the Molen van Hulsen along the route. It is a water mill that grinds on the water of the river Molenbeek. The watercourse used to be called the Walsenbeek and this watermill used to be owned by noble families. In 1878-1879 the Lower Mill was demolished and rebuilt. After that a farm was established.