The sights around Hoesbroek

Broek or Broich means nothing more than 'swamp'. In 1388 the area was donated by Heerlen to knight Herman van Hoen. Since then the family was called Hoen van den Broek and the later Hoensbroek came into being.

The hilly Brunssummerheide borders Hoensbroek. The beautiful forest area has nice views of the purple heath, fens and peat bogs. In the summer, when the many butterflies flutter, the romantic picture is complete. The Brunssummerheide is particularly humid because of the raised bog that still occurs there. The high moisture content makes it an ideal habitat for amphibians and reptiles: it is not unusual to encounter green frogs, grass snakes and sand lizards on the way. Other animals such as the nightjar and the tree pipit also feel at home there among plants such as bone asphodel, white beak sedge and wolf's claw. In addition to the beautiful nature, the history around Hoensbroek has also left an impressive cultural heritage.

Meezenbroeck Castle is just 1.5 kilometres away. Although the main building was demolished around 1935, there is still much to see. Because the castle was originally built in the valley of the Caumerbeek, the water could be dammed up and filled the moats and two southern fish ponds. These water features now form the centrepiece of a neighbourhood park. The still existing castle farm, like the main building, was surrounded by a moat, but because many buildings were demolished and later reconstructed, the only remaining historical element is the gatehouse.

To keep the Brunssumerheide in top shape, a few hundred sheep are sent out into the field every day for maintenance. In the evening, the sheep are allowed in the sheepfold where they are cared for and also have lambs.
If science interests you, you can stop 1 kilometre further at Explorion - Science Center and Sterrenwacht Limburg. You will be presented with a beautiful view over vast heathland or study the sun with its sunspots. One of the two domes is equipped with a 120-year-old telescope.

Amstenrade Castle could easily be called the Versailles of Limburg. The original castle was a massive fortress with three round and one square tower. The current square tower, which was built around 1609, incorporates remains of the old square tower. The current complex is designed in baroque architecture, but flirts with neoclassicism. A beautiful castle park has been laid out around the castle in English landscape style, covering eleven hectares. There is a great diversity of trees here. On the grounds you can also see a neoclassical orangery that was built between 1814 and 1825, a coach house from 1784-1788 and the steward's house from 1856.

In Spaubeek you can enjoy the history at the ruins of Ter Borch Castle. This was once an old water castle, the residential tower of which was located on a raised island behind the current building complex. This house was also called Huis Schinnen, het Bovenste Huis and Terborgh and was already inhabited in 1285. In addition to being a residence, Terborgh Castle served as a court and prison. Around the eighteenth century, members of the well-known gang of robbers "de bokkenrijders" were locked up here.

From the viaduct over the A76 you can see the traffic rushing past below you. You will notice that the enclosed manor farm Terlinden is right on the highway. Although nothing was mentioned about its appearance, Terlinden was already mentioned in the fourteenth century.