Print this route

In Roman times there was a settlement called Ceuclum on the site of today's Cuijk. At the edge of that settlement was a large bridge over the Maas. Until at least the fifth century, the Romans moved their troops across this bridge, but ordinary citizens also used the bridge a lot to cross the river. Over the decades, the structure fell into disrepair and eventually the bridge ended up little by little in the Maas. In the 18th century, fishermen, among others, found the first remains of this structure. For example, they regularly brought up stones and wood and when the water levels were low, poles could be seen in the water. In the 19th century, the river was canalised and then coins and turf stone foundations were found. Archaeological research has determined that these remains date from Roman times.

The bottom of Cuijk is a true treasure room full of traces from the Roman era. The remains of a Roman fort and a settlement were found here. There are also foundations of a Roman bridge in the Maas on the edge of Cuijk. In Roman times the village had two temples with which gods were worshiped and along the road outside the current Cuijk were burial fields where the Romans buried their dead. The Buitenmuseum van Cuijk connects the most important places and various cultural institutions with each other via a panel route that tells the Roman story of Cuijk. These panels can be found on the church square, along the Maaskade, on the Grotestraat and in front of Museum Ceuclum.

Nowhere is Cuijk's Roman past better visible than in Museum Ceuclum. Here you can admire models of the temple, the fort and the Maas bridge from Roman times. There are also many Roman objects on display, including a pair of leather shoes that have been preserved in the water for centuries. In addition to Roman times, the museum also shows other periods in Cuijk history. For example, stone arrowheads of 10,000 years old can be seen. The Middle Ages and the New Age are also discussed. The museum is located in the medieval tower of the Martinuskerk. You can climb up here and enjoy the beautiful view over Cuijk, the Maas and the surrounding landscape. That alone makes a visit more than worthwhile.

This monastery is the only medieval monastery in the Netherlands that is still in function. Crosiers have been living and working here since 1371. The Heritage Center for Dutch Monastery Life has been located in part of the monastery since 2006. The Heritage Center preserves the archives, publications and historical objects of more than 100 orders and congregations from all over the country. You will also find the centuries-old library of the Crosier Monastery itself here. In addition, there is an annually changing exhibition about Dutch monastic life in and around the monastery church. The beautiful 18th-century garden of the monastery contains a spiritual route with texts from different monastery traditions.

The weir and lock complex of Sambeek is located on the border of the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. The impressive complex was completed in 1929 and comprises two small locks and a large lock in addition to the weir. The weir and the lock complex were built from the beginning of the 20th century to make the Maas more navigable for ships.

The collection of this museum mainly consists of utensils, uniforms and related items from the period around the Second World War. There is also a large collection of objects that are older, sometimes much older, and even date back to the Stone Age. In short, there is plenty to see here for history buffs.