01. Brunssum-Schinveld-Brunssum

Distance 30 kilometers

A beautiful varied cycling route around the Brunssumerheide and the rolling cultivated land around Brunssum.

Between junctions 74 and 35 you cycle around the Brunssumerheide, which is managed by Natuurmonumenten.

Most undeveloped areas on and around the Brunssummerheide were in wet wetland areas and poor sandy soils. Initially there was forest here with small settlements here and there. The farmers often first started cutting down the forest on the fertile loess soils for arable farming. This ensured that there was more habitation. In the Middle Ages, Schinveld and Brunssum, among others, were small villages with meadows and fields, located among wastelands. Over time, forests also disappeared on poor soils, resulting in extensive heathlands being created under the influence of the deep-shed system. Not all the forest disappeared. Around 1800 there was a local oak-birch forest that was probably used for coppicing. The Roode Beek valley remained virtually in its natural state. In the early 1800s, part of this site (Sternbach enclave) was drained by reclamation attempts. Only in the 20th century did the area experience major changes due to the arrival of mining. Lignite has been intensively extracted in the area and this has created the'sand plain\\\' through the application of excess sand. Coniferous forests were created at the beginning of the last century. The then existing deciduous forests were converted for mining. After the mine closures, these conifers were not cut down but managed regularly. (Source: Draft management plan for the province of Limburg, 2009)

The Brunssummerheide Visitor Center of Natuurmonumenten is located between junctions 76 and 35. Schaapskooiweg 99, 6414 EL HeerlenT (045) 563 03 55
https://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/ Visitorscentrum/ Visitorscentrum-brunssummerheide.