Meuse route

This area around the Maas is excellent for cycling. Moraines with mighty and at the same time fairytale-like forests, heathland and water alternate.

At various points you can enjoy beautiful views over the Maas valley where the Brabant country winks on the other side. Also special are the cultural-historical points in this route, such as De Mookerhei and the legend of Kiste Trui associated with the Battle fought here in 1574. In short, highly recommended for nature and culture lovers!

Large parts of the route you cycle along one of the largest rivers in the Netherlands: the Maas. It is remarkable that there are no dikes along the Maas upstream of Mook. Here the Meuse flows through a valley whose walls gradually rise, like natural dikes. There are no polder areas here that are protected against flooding by river dikes. Another special area that the cycle route passes through is the Mookerheide, this nature reserve is located on an extension of the Nijmegen moraine and has significant height differences. Because of these height differences, there are several beautiful vista locations, the ideal location to relax and enjoy the view of the areas around the Maas. 

In April 1574 the Battle of the Mookerhei took place in this same area. As part of the Eighty Years' War, the brothers Louis and Henry of Nassau fought against the Spanish. Both brothers lost and did not survive the battle, their bodies were never found. For more information about the Eighty Years' War, visit the Huys te Moock Information Center at VVV Plasmolen-Mook.

A legend that ties in with this is that of Kiste Trui. Trui was obsessed with the idea of finding the treasure chest of the Nassau brothers, which would be hidden at the foot of the hills. She has wandered the heath all her life looking for the coffin but never found it. Kiste Trui is immortalized in bronze on the Raadhuisplein in Mook.