Maas route

This area around the Meuse is excellent for cycling. Moraine ridges with mighty yet fairytale-like forests, heathland, and water alternate.

At various points, you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the Meuse Valley, where the Brabant countryside winks at you on the opposite bank. Also noteworthy are the cultural and historical points along this route, such as De Mookerhei and the legend of Kiste Trui, connected to the battle fought here in 1574. In short, highly recommended for nature and culture lovers!

For large parts of the route, you cycle along one of the largest rivers in the Netherlands: the Maas. Remarkably, there are no dikes along the Maas upstream of Mook. Here, the Maas flows through a valley with walls that rise gradually, acting as natural dikes. There are no polder areas here protected from flooding by river dikes. Another special area the cycle route passes through is the Mookerheide; this nature reserve lies on an extension of the Nijmegen moraine and features significant elevation differences. Due to these elevation changes, there are several beautiful viewpoints, the ideal spot to unwind and enjoy the view of the areas surrounding the Maas.

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

A legend connected to this is that of Kiste Trui. Trui was obsessed with the idea of finding the treasure chest of the Nassau brothers, which was said to be hidden at the foot of the hills. She wandered the heath her entire life in search of the chest but never found it. Kiste Trui is immortalized in bronze on the Raadhuisplein in Mook.