What to do near Brunssum, Limburg?

Fancy a day out? As a EuroParcs guest, it is possible to order tickets for various museums, amusement parks or zoos at a discount.

During a walk or a bike ride you will see all shades of purple, gray and green pass you by in the colorful nature reserve Brunssummerheide. Deciduous forest, coniferous forest, sand plains and heaths alternate here. Thanks to the gentle slopes, this area is also very popular with mountain bikers. Along the way you may come across a herd of grazing Schoonebeker sheep who 'maintain' this nature reserve.

There are different cycling and/or walking routes to discover in the area of EuroParcs Brunssummerheide. Be inspired, choose the best one and go out into nature together!

Hidden away in the rolling South Limburg hills you will find the ancient marl town of Valkenburg. When you enter Valkenburg, you really feel as if you are going back in time. Discover the castle ruins, the Velvet Cave, the Roman Catacombs and the many marl caves that run around Valkenburg. In the historical center you can find many special boutiques and cozy terraces where you can wander around.

Cozy terraces, chic restaurants, art, caves and ancient city walls. Maastricht is a mix of past and present, various cultures and (Burgundian) flavours. That makes Maastricht a popular place for a shopping day or to discover local culture. Dive into the daves of Fort St. Pieter, the ENCI Quarry or the Kazematten. You can admire all the artworks in Limburg's art museum.

At the Discovery Museum you will discover all about the influence of science and technology on your daily life. In the expedition you will discover bizarre facts, look through your own skin and learn about the future. In the Earth Theater you step into the footsteps of an astronaut while in the Innovation Gallery you discover everything about new designs. Fun for young and old!

Photo credit: Discovery Museum

Stroll through the more than 40 rooms of Hoensbroek Castle and imagine for a moment that you are a knight or a princess. Hoensbroek Castle is one of the largest and most beautiful castles in the Netherlands. The enormous castle dates from about 1360 and nowadays serves as a museum. For the little ones, there is a greenhouse play tour and in the summer months birds of prey shows are organized and there is a chance that you will run into a real knight.

What a surprise! This zoo is located in the gardens of former Castle Born. At the castle ruins you walk past porcupines, deer, predators, camels and mischievous coatis! In the middle of the park there is a large playground next to a terrace. So you can enjoy a drink yourself while the children clamber around, romp and jump.

In this archaeological museum you can step back in time 2000 years. The highlight of the collection is the restored Roman bathhouse, the oldest building in the Netherlands.

GaiaZoo has been voted the 'Best Day Out of the Netherlands' several times. This is because it is a unique zoo in the South Limburg hills. Here you can see animals from all over the world. You'll stand eye to eye with red pandas, zebras and giraffes, or you'll spot wolverines and gorillas. In the limburgHUIS you will discover endangered species from our own soil.

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Take a nostalgic trip on the steam or diesel train that winds its way through the South Limburg hills. You can choose from two routes along the Million Line' of the South Limburg Steam Train Company: between Kerkrade and Schin op Geul or between Simpelveld and Vetschau in Germany.

Everything in this area revolved around coal mining in the early twentieth century. Bring the mining past to the surface in the Dutch Mining Museum Heerlen. The location alone is fantastic: it is located in shaft building II of the Oranje-Nassau I mine. In Brunssum you will find monuments of the State Mine Emma and State Mine Hendrik. Here you will also find the deepest mine shaft in the Netherlands with a depth of 1058 meters.

Dive underground and explore the many marl caves of Valkenburg. They are connected to each other by means of a kilometre-long corridor system. The corridor system of Valkenburg alone is 250 km long. If you add up all the cave systems in Limburg, the total length is 750 km. Famous caves are the Gemeentegrot with a nuclear shelter and the Fluweelengrotte. Under the guidance of a guide you can make a tour through the caves.

Rush down the slopes on your skis or snowboard in the largest indoor ski resort in the world. At SnowWorld in Landgraaf you experience the ultimate winter sports feeling in your own country. Whether you are old, young, beginner or advanced, everyone is welcome!

The hilly landscape of South Limburg around Gulpen and Schin-op-Geul is a paradise for cyclists. Conquer the Dutch 'cols' like the vicious Keutenberg and Cauberg. Or climb calves like the Kruisberg and Gulperberg. For less experienced cyclists there are many nice routes over moors and through valleys. Many climbs in this area are part of the course of the Amstel Gold Race which is held here every year in April. Since 2005 Valkenburg is the starting point of this cycling classic and since 2017 the finish is in Berg en Terblijt.

The Limburg 200 routes have two types of mountain bike and gravel routes. The MTB route is 209 km long and a combination of existing MTB routes. You pass beautiful places such as Valkenburg, Brunssum, Heerlen, Margraten and the rest of the Limburg Hill Country. The gravel route is a newly constructed route of 203 km and its start and finish are both at the Shimano Experience Centre in Valkenburg. Curious about the routes and want more information? Then click on the button below.

Sandwiched between nature reserves the Brunssummerheide and Schinveldse bossen is the public Golf Course Brunssummerheide. The challenging course has 45 holes, including 27 holes at Championship level.

Climb the highest point in the Netherlands and see three countries lying at your feet. You can do this at the Vaalserberg, which, with a height of 322.40 meters above sea level, is the highest point in the Netherlands. Nearby you will find the Three Country Point where you can look out over the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany from the Wilhelmina Tower. Nearby you can also get lost in the labyrinth

At the top of the Cauberg in Valkenburg, one of the most beautiful spots in South Limburg, lies Holland Casino. Excitement and relaxation come together in a sublime way at this prime location. A visit to this casino is more than Roulette, Black Jack, Poker or playing on a slot machine. You are assured of a stylish afternoon or evening out.