Limburg consists largely of sandy soils on the surface in the north. The Maas flows the entire length from south to north through the province and has incised the sand and gravel deposits of the Rhine. The Limburgs Heuvelland in the southeast is often labeled as Mergelland. The best known parts of the Mergelland are the Plateau van Margraten, which is bordered on the north by the valley of the Geul, and on the west by the Meuse valley with on the other side the Sint Pietersberg, on the east by the valley of the Gulp with the in the village of Gulpen and a little further up the heights around the Vaalserberg and south through the Voer region.
Province of Limburg
Limburg.
Limburg consists of 3 beautiful regions, each with its own unique character:
Noord-Limburg
The environment of North Limburg is incredibly versatile. The landscape and culture are definitely worth exploring! Visit the characteristic villages and walk the cities, enjoy peace and space in the nature reserves. In the North-East of Limburg between the Maas and the German border you will find the Maasduinen National Park. This National Park owes its name to the striking drifting sand ridges that are also called parabolic dunes. These parabolic dunes originated towards the end of the last ice age. De Groote Peel National Park is a wide, water-rich and quiet high moor area that is best known for its many bird species and special history. Everywhere in the landscape the "scars" of peat extraction are still visible in the past. You can explore the Groote Peel itself on foot thanks to the bat bridges.
Midden-Limburg
In Central Limburg you can go hiking all year round. Enjoy the colorful landscape, beautiful wooded area, special nature reserves and characteristic village centers. The 2 national parks, NP De Meinweg and NP De Groote Peel and the cross-border nature areas, such as Grenspark Kempen ~ Broek, Rivierpark Maasvallei and the Maas-Swalm-Nette area, have numerous hiking routes via walking nodes. You can walk along the most beautiful places in Central Limburg but also across the border in Germany and Belgium.
Geopark Peelhorst en Maasvallei.The area of the Peelhorst and Maasvallei is unique. Movements in the earth's crust have led to a system of fractures in the soil. This geological phenomenon, which is active to this day, has formed a landscape with horsten (high) and rifts (low).
The Peelhorst and Maasvallei Geopark extends over those areas where the movements of the subsoil along fractures in the landscape have visibly left their mark. In addition to the Peelhorst (the old bed of the Meuse), this is the northern Meuse valley (current bed of the Meuse). The Peelhorst and Maasvallei Geopark encompasses the entire area that can be counted as part of the Peelrand Fault's sphere of influence. It is a large and recognizable area containing nature reserves: De Maashorst, De Stempelberg, De Deurnese Peel, Maria Peel, De Groote Peel, the Meinweg and of course the Wijstgronden. These pointing grounds (with the associated fractures) are very unique and form an important foundation for the Geopark's raison existance.
If you want to explore the area on foot, we recommend the hiking website www.klikprintenwandel.nl. On this site there are many detailed walking routes in this beautiful area.
Zuid-Limburg
South Limburg literally has the highest point in the Netherlands. It is the region of hills and valleys and therefore different then other regions in the Netherlands. When you think of the Heuvelland, you think of hiking areas, unspoilt forests and infinite meadows. In this 5-star landscape you can relax along the rippling waters of the Geul and the Gulp. Be surprised time and time again by beautiful views, hollow roads and real half-timbered farms. The region invites to a true journey of discovery for young and old.