Venlo between the Meuse, culture and nature

Historical routes open up the cultural heritage of Venlo, Tegelen and Arcen. Those choosing a holiday apartment in Venlo can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective accommodation pages. The city and its surroundings combine waterscapes, museums, historic buildings and varied trails.

Culture

Along the Meuse, the Maasboulevard connects Venlo's city harbour, views of the Meuse, three works of art and a waterside walking path. The Handelshuis het Korenvat dates from 1566. The Passiespelen Tegelen are regarded as an open-air spectacle, with performances taking place since 1931 every five years.

The Missiemuseum in the Kloosterdorp Steyl displays collections from around the world in showcases several metres high; their unique arrangement has remained unchanged since 1934. The Limburgs Museum presents the history of the first humans and farmers, the arrival of the Romans, the first Christians and the emergence of the first cities. With interactive exhibitions, events and stories for all age groups, it also brings the history and culture of Limburg to life.

The Museum van Bommel van Dam is dedicated to modern and contemporary art as well as design in Noord-Limburg. It is housed in a former post office with a gold-coloured façade whose design was inspired by the structure of envelopes. In Tegelen, the Tiendschuur presents a historical collection of Tegelen ceramics and hosts exhibitions by contemporary artists. Courses and workshops for all age groups complement the programme.

The Openluchttheater De Doolhof in Tegelen presents performances in a historic and green setting and dates from 1927. The Klimtuin Fliegerhorst uses a climbing tower preserved as a remnant of the German wartime airfield Fliegerhorst from the Second World War.

Nature and trails

Ravenvennen is an area of almost 400 hectares with several dozen ponds surrounded by heathland as well as dry coniferous and deciduous forest. In 2011, Ravenvennen received the status of “dragonfly reserve” from De Vlinderstichting and was at that time the second dragonfly reserve in the Netherlands. The area has walking trails as well as cycling and horse-riding routes, plus a special dragonfly route. The different types of routes and the special route each provide their own focus for planning.

Arcen lies on the Meuse and in the middle of Nationaal Park De Maasduinen. The village is known for numerous cycling and walking routes. The Jochumhof is a botanical garden in the heart of the Kloosterdorp Steyl. It includes a herb garden, a naturalistic garden, a Mediterranean greenhouse, a fragrance garden and a rock garden. Its flora and fauna developed from plant seeds collected by missionaries from around the world and brought into bloom in Steyl.

The Floriadeterrein Venlo is a walking and cycling area with green landscapes, colourful flowerbeds and quiet forest paths. Walking trails with waymarker junctions lead through the grounds. The Maasoeverpark has an elevated cycling and walking path along the Meuse between Venlo, via Blerick, and Baarlo.

The Stuw van Belfeld is a weir complex in the Meuse and offers a place for walking with views of the water. The Oude Zandgroeve in Belfeld conveys a special feeling of an unspoilt landscape. Different landscape areas, trail lengths and types of activities can therefore be considered separately, without combining them into a single excursion itinerary.

Experiences

The Kasteeltuinen Arcen comprise more than fifteen gardens around Kasteel Arcen. They include a treasure hunt, adventure minigolf and a play beach with a cable ferry. The rosarium of the Kasteeltuinen Arcen contains thousands of roses from more than 200 varieties.

The 13-kilometre Maascorridor walking route runs from Brasserie Sur Meuse along the Meuse to the Stadsbrug in Venlo and back on the other side. Its length and course make it a clearly defined route. The Klimtuin Fliegerhorst offers climbing, abseiling, lead climbing, via ferrata, bouldering, zip-lining, dry tooling and slacklining.

The Wielerbaan in Venlo offers opportunities for BMX, inline skating and track cycling. A specially constructed 2.5-kilometre MTB circuit begins in the forest behind the Wielerbaan. In Belfeld, the Boerderijen Route uses QR-code paving stones distributed throughout the village, through which old photos and stories about local history can be accessed.

The Superweike in Belfeld is a play forest for playing, climbing and running around, and also has an animal pasture. The Streekmuseum de Hansenhof conveys the village and farming life of times gone by. Guided tours there lead through an old classroom, a nostalgic shop, dollhouses, a traditional wheelwright's workshop, a bakehouse and a tannery from Arcen.

Food and drink

The Hertog Jan Brouwerij offers tours of the brewing rooms followed by a beer tasting at the Hertog Jan Proeverij. The brewery was founded in 1915 by four brewer friends.

Getting there

Venlo is easily accessible by car, train and bus; the modern main railway station is within walking distance of the city. Toeristen Informatie Venlo organises various guided tours through the municipality of Venlo.

More local pages: Arcen, Venlo, Tegelen, Belfeld, Velden.

History

The Gothic basilica dates from the period between 1410 and 1610 and houses a carved pulpit from 1701. A notable building in the late Gothic style was constructed in 1521 for the Romer family.

To the overarching travel overview: Limburg.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Eijsden-Margraten, Bergen, Gulpen-Wittem.