Especially for tourists that love to inhale the rustic scenery on BIKE, yet don't feel up to climbing too many steep hills, I devised this special route, that nevertheless takes you through forests and lets you gaze on magnificent valleys, deep into Germany.

The start will be on the edge of HEERLEN, where after 700 metres the road already climbs up the IMSTENRADERBOS, through the ancient forest. It will be one of the few (and friendly) elevations of the day.

After this, we follow the ancient Roman road to the HULS and VROUWENHEIDE (km. 7), where you can spot the German Eiffel mountains and the town of Aachen in the distance.

We continue downhill on a lovely hollow road past the fruit trees all the way to WIJLRE (km. 15), home of the Brand beer brewery. The open river landscape here is a captivating invitation to hiking and taking panoramic pictures.

Past the romantic Millionaires railroad track, we climb the DIKKEBUIKSWEG (road of the fat bellies) that gradually leads up to a breathtaking plateau top outside the hamlet of ELKENRADE (km. 22).

The ride back to Heerlen takes another 7 kilometres, yet can easily be prolonged if your condition and spirit allows it.

This is a very compact route of easy and steep climbs that take you through the chalky grasslands and breathtaking plateaus of this friendly marlstone region.

We start in HEERLEN where the first climb of the day already waits after 3 kilometres, the rustic PUTBERG. Next we will gain a lot of speed on the road to the next serious hill, the VRAKELBERG (km. 7), beautifully situated in the landscape.

The views from the FROMBERG plateau, which follow, are the most astonishing in the whole province. Next we can decide whether to climb the KEUTENBERG with its first curve of 22%, or the DEAD MAN, with its peak of 18% (both at km. 13)

Both lead to the majestic plateau above GULPEN, where you can see far, as we will descend to the village centre (km. 18). Next in line is the KRUISBERG in Wahlwiller (km. 22), followed by the epic EYSERBOSWEG climb, with its last 200 metres of 16% in the forest.

After 32 kilometres we will be back in HEERLEN again. This should take about 2 hours -- more if you wanna hike on the VROUWENHEIDE plateau as well, and walk around in the phenomenal forest.

The pictoresque region of South Limburg in the South of the Netherlands is a walhallah for mountainbikers that love scenery and clean air.

The city of Heerlen is the portal to the 70+ climbs, many of which star in the annual biking classic of the Amstel Gold Race, which is of the same rank as the Tour of Flandres, Paris-Roubaix, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

According to your personal preferences and stamina, we can device a route, that ideally meets your desires. No hill is too steep for me, and I know all the roads like my back pocket, and can show you all the beautiful panorama's, valleys and hilltops this province has to offer!

This Grand Tour of 55 kilometres will commence in HEERLEN and the featured climbs are the PUTBERG (km. 3), MINGERSBORG (km. 6), the steep GULPERBERG (18% - km. 12), LOORBERG (km. 23), CAMERIG (km. 32, at 300 metres altitude one of the highest points of the country), KRUISBERG (km. 44) and the feared EYSERBOSWEG (km. 48).

You will enjoy the panorama's at the Gulperberg summit and EPERHEIDE and bike past the place where the Netherlands meet Belgium and Germany, on one spot.

At a speed of 18 kilometres an hour, this trip will take you about 3 hours.

In the deep south of the Netherlands you can find the city of 100.000 of HEERLEN (Coriovallum in Roman times). On the edge of the town, in the heart of a vast estate, lies the fully restored medieval Castle of TER WORM.

The grand tour can either start at the gates of the estate (where an excellent highway restaurant is located), or in the amiable lane that is part of the CASTLE RUINS tour I offer as well.

At your choice you can include some sights of that route as well, yet in principle the trail is long enough as it is already. Passing the beehives you will soon be fascinated by the medieval castle, where you might see the falconer at work in the rococo garden, where people get wed.

The a la carte restaurant is top of the bill, and the inviting chique moatside terrace is extremely delightful. After you inhaled the rich atmosphere we will be on our way on the extensive estate, home of the falcon and buzzard.

We will follow the charming GELEENBEEK stream, as it rapidly meanders through the open and forest landscape. You can see miles ahead and get a really good feel of how it was like to be the master of this domain.

Halfway we will pass on our right the biggest furniture boulevard of Europe, filled with building and garden markets, furniture stores, and the largest IKEA of Europe (with a fine restaurant).

We can visit there if you like, yet if you don't want to ruin the medieval mood, we can continue our path to the hidden village of TEN ESSCHEN, home of eccentric houses with Don Quixote doors.

Outside the village, you'll witness artificial medieval fortification hills, as the path keeps on winding eventfully through the realm of the buzzard (who is usually in sight).

The last stretch will lead us back to the castle, where we can have a well deserved drink.

Just outside the town of 100.000 of HEERLEN (named Coriovallum in Roman Times) lies the majestic medieval castle of TER WORM, in the heart of a vast estate.

This smaller (yet lovely) tour of the estate starts at the edge, leading past a medieval farm house, with a bridge and dry moat. After that we'll be mesmerized by the discovery of a former natural swimming pool, that has been given back to nature.

Then it will be time to visit the unchallenged Castle of TER WORM, where you can have a drink at the chique moatside terrace, eat dinner in the a la carte restaurant, be married in the rococo garden, or spend the night at the fairytale tower suite.

Yet we'll be on our way, past the beehives and fruit trees, to the tremendous ruins of the Castle of EYCKHOLT, that dates back to 1389. The view of the nearby EIKENDERMOLEN mill (of 1479) and the pond, is most idyllic. We finish exactly where we started.

Overall it is quite an adventurous trail, as we will enjoy forest time as well. At the gate of the estate is an excellent Van der Valk highway restaurant, if you like to have a meal, before or after this hike.

This exciting trail starts at the Inn of Saint Bernard, in the hamlet of MINGERSBORG, just outside of UBACHSBERG (a village at 4 kilometres distance from HEERLEN, in the South of Limburg- NL).

It's easy to reach by bike, car, or bus, from Heerlen. Or if you are up to it, we can walk to the start through the PUTBERG reservate, on the outskirts of Heerlen (add an extra hour for this).

The trail is very inviting and kicks off promisingly, with many panoramic highlights. Outside the village of EYSERHEIDE you can pan a full 360 degrees and inhale the typical South Limburg landscape, you grow to love.

The village itself is a pearl of tranquility and offers many grand farmhouses. Plus the entry to the only completely secluded valley from the Netherlands, free of traffic.

It's an absolute delight to follow the trail there, that lingers on through the lofty hills. Ultimately we will reach the steep EYSERBOSWEG, outside the lovely village of EYS, where the climb back up begins.

We will follow the stairs leading up from the cemetary and pass vineyards and ever more revealing horizons, making you feel very small, and glad to be alive.

After 2,5 hours we will return once more in MINGERSBORG, where you are free to walk through the geological monument of the VROUWENHEIDE as well, which 1 million years ago formed the banks of the primordial river MAAS.

This thrilling trail starts at the Inn of Saint Bernard, in the hamlet of MINGERSBORG, just outside of UBACHSBERG (a village at 4 kilometres distance from HEERLEN, in the South of Limburg- NL).

It's easy to reach by bike, car, or bus from Heerlen. Or if you are up to it, we can walk to the start through the PUTBERG reservate, on the outskirts of Heerlen (add an extra hour for this).

The trail offers great views of the mill of the VROUWENHEIDE (which can be visited as well), and shows you the typical landscape of valleys, hills, grasslands and forests, topped by the ever gorgeous skies.

As we progress, the path gets narrower, and leads us past a small chasm in an enchanted forest.. where suddenly the DEVIL's TREE rises in front of you, as discovered by me.

We then continue on winding slopes through farm lands, past the water purification plant, after which a steep hilltop rises, on which you have a grand outlook at the MILJOENENLIJN railroad.

We can pause there, and wait for the tourist steamtrain to appear in the landscape, in spring and summer. The end is quite appealing as well, right through the lovely farmer's village of BOSSCHENHUIZEN (where time stood still), heading towards the mill of the VROUWENHEIDE.

This walk usually takes up to 2,5 hours, and can be completed walking around the geological monument of the Vrouwenheide, which 1 million years ago formed the banks of a gigantic river.

You will meet me in HEERLEN, on the edge of this green heart of the region of South Limburg in the deep south of the Netherlands. Nearby the Atrium hospital is the gateway to the ancient IMSTENRADERBOS forest, and the landscape park it is a part of.

You can decide, whether we walk the yellow, white, or red trail (all 6 kilometres), or "the best of the 3 trails".

Each trail begins in the rustique village of Benzenrade and is quite breathtaking, in the realm of the buzzard. Passing apple trees, we will cross this secluded forest, hiding wuthering heights as well.

If you are up to it, we can scale, 100% safe, a natural cliff in the heart of the forest as well (which is part of the red trail).

We will meet at the Maastricht railway station and I will join you on your discovery of this 2000 year old town, the second most visited in the whole of the Netherlands.

You will walk the streets of cobblestone, visit medieval churches and their treasuries, look in awe at the old city walls and its pleasant park, and inhale the tranquility of inner courtyards, or the inspiring environment of the university.

The walk is compact and can be completed within 2-3 hours, and there are numerous places to eat or have a drink on the route.