How to Spend 3 Days in South Limburg, The Netherlands

Visit the ENCI quarry and be surprised by a non-Dutch landscape

Limestone has been mined in the ENCI quarry for 100 years. Nowadays the quarry is out of action and is managed by Natuurmonumenten. You can walk through a part of the quarry, along the clear blue water, the steep marl walls and through the underground tunnel systems. Take the stairs to climb to a higher viewing platform, where you float above the ENCI quarry.

In the closed parts of the ENCI quarry lies the Eagle Owl Valley. This quiet area is the ideal habitat for the largest owl species in the Netherlands; the Eagle Owl. These rare birds of prey create their nesting grounds in the marl walls and with a bit of luck it is possible to spot the Eagle Owl from the Kiekoet lookout point.

Walk through the Geul valley along the watermill Volmolen

In the Geuldal just outside Epen you will find the impressive ancient Volmolen. This water mill has been used since the 19th century to grind grain for organic livestock farming. Around the mill you will find beautiful walking routes over the green hills of South Limburg where you walk along the river Geul, half-timbered houses, farms and cozy restaurants.

Enjoy the peace and quiet in the Eijsder Beemden nature reserve

Along the banks of the Maas is the rugged nature reserve Eijsder Beemden. You can discover the nature reserve between sunrise and sunset. Enjoy the diverse flora and fauna, spot herds of grazing Konik horses and Galloways and walk across the open plains and along several lakes. Be aware that the animals can exhibit unpredictable behavior. That is why it is important to always keep a distance, about 20 meters.

Eijsder Beemden is easily accessible. There is a free car park. From here you can directly enjoy the beautiful nature.

Explore little Italy in Eys

During sunset we went off-road in search of the most dreamy places, where hot air balloons fly over the hilly landscapes and the last rays of the sun light up the grain fields with an orange glow. We stopped at lookout points where you spot the Eifel and the Ardennes in the distance. On a warm summer evening, the drive past the cypress trees, hills and vineyards will make you feel like you are touring the Tuscan hills!

The next morning we drove back to Eys, to discover even more of this beautiful area. In the afternoon we made a stop at the inn Bie de Tantes. Here you can have a delicious – vegetarian – lunch. Find a spot on the cozy terrace, with a view of the church tower of the cozy village. The service is friendly and the food is delicious!

Drive the Mergelland route

The approximately 110 km long Mergelland route can be followed via the brown Mergelland route signs. We started the route half way. Via winding roads you drive past vast nature and picturesque villages. Noorbeek, Epen, Wittem, Slenaken and Mechelen surprised us! Here you get to know the traditional South Limburg culture.

Look for fairytale castles

You will find many castles in South Limburg, but the most idyllic castle is in Oud Valkenburg; Schaloen Castle. Under an arch of trees you walk towards the castle which is surrounded by a moat, bridges, a castle garden and a forest. Tip! If you visit the castle during sunset, you will experience an enchanting golden hour. Around the castle you can follow hiking trails that lead you along winding rivers and vast fields. Do you want to spend the night in a special way? Then you can book an overnight stay here in one of the holiday homes or hotel rooms.

From Valkenburg you can walk in 20 minutes to the castle. There are also plenty options for parking nearby.

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Tips for 1 Day on Texel, a Wadden Island of The Netherlands

Texel Mill

How to travel to Texel

The ferry TESO takes you from Den Helder (province North Holland) to Texel in 20 minutes. You can enter the ferry by car, motorbike, bicycle or on foot. We recommend you to go by car, so that you can see a lot of the Wadden Island and get around easily.

Tip: On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you get a 30% discount on your ferry ticket. You can easily buy a ticket online in advance. It is also possible to buy your ticket at the ticket booth.

Flying-Bird-On-Our-Way-To-Texel

Discover the vast nature

The first thing that you will notice when you arrive on Texel is the vast nature. It is a small populated island, so there is more space for animals and nature. You will find a number of nature reserves where you can walk endlessly. Our favorites are:

  • The Muy. The muy is a dune area with steep slopes and elongated plains. it is the breeding area of ​​a spoonbill colony and you can discover even more beautiful bird species and special vegetation. Also a part of the Muy is grazed by galloways cows. From the Muy it is possible to walk to the Slufter.
  • The Slurfter. The slufter is directly connected to the North Sea. So only plants that can live on salt water grow here. If there is a storm in the Slufter, a part will be under water. Most of the area is breeding and resting area. But through the southern part there are a number of hiking trails and routes that you can follow.

Spot seals in Ecomare

Seals can be spotted all year round on the sandbanks of Texel. A fun way to see the seals is by taking a boat trip to the sandbanks. Another way to admire the seals up close is by visiting Ecomare. This is a rescue center for injured or weak seals who cannot survive on their own. By buying a ticket you help the seals grow up and recover so that they can be released back at the sandbanks as soon as possible. You can also support Ecomare by donating. We have so much respect for their good work.

Tip: From Ecomare you walk in a few minutes to Strandpaviljoen 17. Here you can enjoy lunch or dinner on the terrace overlooking the beach. There are many vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Seadog-Ecomare-Texel

Cuddle with baby animals on a sheep farm

If you love (baby) animals, you should definitely visit sheep farm Schapenboerderij Texel. They are open daily from mid-February. There is a small entrance fee, but parking, the cuddling with lambs and other activities such as sheep herding demonstrations are included. Also pigs, a donkey, goats, calves, chickens, dogs, ponies, guinea pigs and 25 different sheep breeds, living on the farm.

Admire the icons of Texel

The entire west side of Texel is a beach strip. The Wadden Island has wide beaches on which you can walk for miles. Enjoy the tranquility and the sound of the waves. For the most dreamy sunset you have to go to the lighthouse on the northernmost point of Texel.

In addition to the iconic lighthouse, there is also a beautiful spot in the eastern part of Texel. Here you will find the windmill Het Noorden. This windmill is surrounded by water and a polder landscape. This is really a typical Dutch view.

Visit the cozy villages of Texel

In Texel you will find mainly small, cozy villages with unique boutiques. Local food is served almost everywhere and there are plenty of accommodations to stay overnight. Let’s visit:

💛 Den Burg
💛 Den Hoorn
💛 De Koog
💛 Oosterend
💛 Oudeschild

Plan your next trip

*When you click on the links in our blogs and make a purchase or book your stay, we are rewarded with a small commission (at no extra cost to you). In this way you support us, so we can keep creating blogs and travel guides for you. 🫶🏼

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