A lot of borders in Europe have lost their significance. It’s not uncommon to see borders run through villages, terraces, and even living rooms! In the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, you might not even notice crossing the border until you read a sign that says “Zentrum” instead of “Centrum”.
However, at the same time, there are still quite a few differences between people and cities across the border. Apart from the language, you will notice a change in architecture, food, shops, and even nature, and in all honesty, that’s kind of fun! That’s why, for today, we’re leaving Limburg in our rearview mirror and jumping across the border for a day. This time, I want to leave the usual suspects, like Aachen, Düsseldorf, and Liège, for what they are and focus on some smaller hidden gems. I have gathered a list of things that (hopefully) cater to everyone’s holiday interests. Watch out though, because all of them are *borderline* exciting!
Descend into the deep recesses of an old coal mine via an iron lift cage. Discover a world stuck in a different century during a 3.5-hour tour. The guide will tell you all there is to know about mining machinery and life underground. Gawp at the subterranean halls and imagine how it must have felt working below the earth’s crust your entire life. On the surface, a mining museum will fill you in on an important chunk of mining history in Belgium. During the late industrial period, Wallonia was well-known for its coal mine economy. This unique legacy is displayed in the museum, offering a glimpse into a bygone era. The tour ends with a hike around the mountain, during which an audio guide will point out all the historical sites along the way.
To ensure availability, it is recommended to book ahead of time.
For some unknown reason, little boys of a certain age will foster an intense fascination for a certain topic. Dinosaurs, trains, firefighters, Romans, airplanes, animals… each becomes the single greatest thing in the world to them! Four of the six topics I just mentioned can be found in Irrland, a park where childlike wonder comes alive! Go chariot racing, explore real-life airplanes, visit the fire station and slide down the fire hose slide, or meet some of the world’s most curious birds face-to-face. This German park offers a whopping 80 different activities, so you can easily fill your entire day with adventure. I, for one, never quite got over my boyish obsessions, so I see it as the perfect place to reignite that buried passion!
Yes, yes, I’m quite aware that Designer Outlet Roermond, the largest shopping outlet in the Benelux, lies just around the corner from our resort, but it’s not the only nearby retail village. Just a mere 30-minute drive from Parc Maasresidence Thorn, you will find Maasmechelen Village, a charming Belgian outlet with no fewer than 100 brands! Spend an entire afternoon sauntering around and trying on new outfits. You will come across various well-established designer brands, such as Boss, The North Face, and American Vintage; all with discounts of up to 60%! Cruise through the cozy streets and finish your day of retail therapy with a chocolate ice cream-covered Liège waffle.
It’s impossible to write a blog for our dear Parc Maasresidence Thorn guests without having the word “hiking” appear at least once. Besides the six nature reserves around the resort, you will find a wide range of hiking regions just across the border, including the Birgeler Urwald in Germany. What makes this place so unique are the many fens, swamps, and streams with cool flora and fauna. Grab a pair of sturdy hiking boots and follow the curving trails into a whole new world. Marvel at the high treetop canopies, wildflowers, and interesting mushrooms along the way. Don’t forget to take a selfie on one of the many bridges or boardwalks that traverse the damp forest floor.
If there’s something Belgium has a lot of, it’s abbeys. The 100 different types of delicious specialty beers that flow out of this country every year attest to this fact. However, many of these abbeys do much more than just brewing beer. Take Val-Dieu Abbey, for example. This marvelous 13th-century structure is surrounded by stunning forests and fields, making you feel like the outside world doesn’t exist for a moment. Admire the beautiful architecture and discover the cheesemaking and cider workshops they operate in addition to the beer brewery. I would also highly recommend visiting their restaurant. It serves a variety of Burgundian dishes and local products, including delicacies made by the abbey itself.
To ensure availability, it is recommended to book ahead of time.
Let’s finish off with some excitement! What would life be like as an owl or a squirrel? To effortlessly jump from one tree to the next? To spend most of your life in the treetops? You will find out soon enough at Kletterwald Niederrhein! Prepare for a thrilling adventure high above the ground among German treetops. Make your way across various courses and traverse a whole range of obstacles! Put your balancing skills to the test and embrace gravity as you whiz down the zipline! If you finish early, you can fill the rest of your day hiking through the beautiful forests around Kletterwald Niederrhein. The forests will make you lose track of time as you admire their majestic natural beauty. During your hike, you will also come across Châteauform' Schloss Krickenbeck, a charming old palace surrounded by water.
With these tips, I hope to have expanded your (literal) boundaries just a little. Across the border, outside Limburg, many things may be the same, but there is still so much to discover! From the Belgian mines to the German swamps, the region around Parc Maasresidence Thorn secretly harbors so much more than meets the eye. Whether you’re looking for adventure, shopping, history, good food, or excitement, the border region is a hotbed of fun activities! And even if the borderlands intimidate you, you always have your cozy villa or apartment on the Maasplassen to fall back on.
