Peel en Maas: Nature, Castles and Paths along the Meuse

Raised bogs, the Meuse landscape and castles come together in Peel en Maas. De Groote Peel National Park is a raised bog area covering approximately 1,400 hectares; hiking trails lead through bogs, heathland and bodies of water. De Groote Peel is known for its many bird species and diverse flora.

Nature and Paths

Buitencentrum De Pelen is a starting point for exhibitions, activities and routes in De Pelen. The family trail at the visitor centre is 2 kilometres long, paved and suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs.

IVN Helden e.o. offers guided hiking and cycling tours in Peel en Maas. The tours may focus on birds, fungi, flora and fauna or visit nature areas in Peel en Maas. Within the municipality, there are also five cycling tours featuring notable and protected trees.

Most of Dubbroek lies in an old branch of the Meuse on the border between Baarlo and Maasbree. Alder swamp forest grows mainly in the low-lying, wet areas, while oaks and pines also grow on higher ground. The entire area is freely accessible on roads and paths; a 3.5-kilometre hiking trail runs through Dubbroek.

A ferry connects the banks of the Meuse near Baarlo with the monastery village of Steyl and operates there every 5 to 10 minutes.

Culture and History

The Peel en Maas Museum is housed in the former Mariaklooster, a building dating from 1929 with nineteen museum rooms. Its collection mainly comprises archaeological objects, agricultural and other tools, as well as documentation on the Second World War. The museum also presents Roman finds, stories from the Second World War and life in Peel en Maas in earlier times. Children can actively participate at more than thirty stations.

The courtyard and hospitality facilities of Kasteel De Keverberg are freely accessible; an admission ticket is required to explore the rest of the castle. A visit includes a tour of the Huys, the garden and the area along the Meuse. Kasteel De Keverberg dates back to the castle where the Counts of Kessel resided between 950 and 1305.

Baarlo is considered a village of castles, with four castles. In the heart of the village lies Kasteelpark d’Erp, a monumental area consisting of a castle, a park and centuries-old buildings. Various public artworks by the Japanese-American sculptor Shinkichi Tajiri can be seen throughout the village. Kasteelmolen Baarlo has belonged to the castle of the d’Erp de Baerlo family for centuries. The waterwheel of Kasteelmolen Baarlo has been restored; today, the mill can once again be seen and heard during demonstrations.

At De Meeren in Baarlo, burial mounds dating from the Bronze and Iron Ages have been investigated. From 1644 onwards, the Onderse Schans served as a refuge and protected farmers and their livestock from marauding soldiers, including during the Eighty Years’ War. A house in Baarlo was first mentioned in 1388 and was sold to Jacob van Montfort at that time.

Other Places

For additional information, links lead to Baarlo, Kessel, Helden, Egchel, Meijel, Maasbree, Beringe, Panningen and Grashoek.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Peel en Maas, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be compared on the respective offer pages; nature, culture and regional produce remain separate thematic focuses when planning the trip.

Local Produce and Walks

The Walk and Eat Baarlo event begins in the historic, green village centre at Centraal Baarlo. Along the way, visitors pass several artworks by the Japanese artist Tajiri; the event follows the River Meuse and passes through the beautiful surrounding countryside.

At Peeters Asperges in Helden, fresh white, green and purple asparagus from their own land is available. At an asparagus grower, visitors can see how the fresh harvest is sorted, peeled and prepared for sale. The asparagus season generally lasts from early spring until around the end of June.

For the higher-level travel overview: Limburg.