Holiday Apartment in Helden: Forest, Culture and Discovery

Heldense Bossen: Hiking, Cycling and Nature Observation

The Heldense Bossen form the Heldense section of an extensive area of drifting sand between the municipalities of Helden, Kessel and Maasbree. The woodland lies in a landscape that was largely planted with Scots pine in the past. People hike and cycle in the Heldense Bossen. At the same time, the extensive woodland is considered a tranquil area and is not subject to heavy recreational pressure.

The Heldense Bossen are visited primarily for nature observation, especially because of their birds, mammals, insects and mosses. IVN Helden e.o. organises guided walking and cycling tours. Through its walking group, the association also offers informative guided nature walks on request.

Routes between Nature and History

The GPS heritage app “Erfgoed Route Limburg” includes a walking and cycling route through Helden featuring historical highlights. The “Parels aan de Maas” route starts in the Heldense Bossen in Helden and is 46 kilometres long. At 46 kilometres, the route requires its own time frame; it can be planned as a longer walking or cycling excursion rather than just a short stopover.

Lambertus Church and Mariaplein

The Lambertus Church on Mariaplein was built in 1455 on behalf of the Carthusians from Roermond. The first documented mention of St Lambertus Church in Helden dates from 1230. A statue of Saint Lambertus stands at St Lambertus Church; it was created in 1953 and is among Rob Stultiens’s earliest works of art. The first documented mention in 1230 and the construction in 1455 therefore predate the statue at the church site, which was created in 1953.

In the centre of Helden lies Mariaplein, locally known as “de Pool”, which has a kiosk. A livestock watering trough used to stand here. A pump now commemorates this former use and is therefore one of the visible historical reminders in the square.

Museum Peel en Maas: Rooms and Collection

Museum Peel en Maas is housed in the former Mariaklooster, a building dating from 1929 with nineteen museum rooms. The collection includes archaeological objects, agricultural and other tools, personal belongings, documentation on the Second World War including the barracks, popular religious culture, furniture and clothing. The documentation on the Second World War, including the barracks, adds a tangible connection to the wartime period to the collection.

The themes thus range from archaeology and agriculture to personal mementos, wartime history, popular religious culture and former everyday furnishings. At Museum Peel en Maas, children can do something at more than thirty locations.

Cooking Workshop in Helden

Kookstudio de Garde in Helden offers hands-on cooking workshops. A cooking workshop follows a different rhythm from hiking, cycling or visiting a museum and adds its own culinary touch to Helden.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to plan your trip beyond Helden, you can find more places here: Grashoek, Baarlo, Beringe, Kessel, Meijel, Maasbree, Panningen and Egchel.

To the main travel overview: Peel En Maas.