National Landscape Zuid-Limburg
Cycling through an idyllic hilly landscape with rolling fields, babbling brooks, marl quarries, ancient castles and distinctive half-timbered farms.

The Landscape
The National Landscape of South Limburg is known for its unique rolling hills that flow gently through the scenery like soft ripples. This area is a striking exception within the otherwise flat Netherlands. The hills were shaped by a long geological history, where a chalk-rich underground and river erosion defined their character. On the slopes of the hills, forests of Scots pine and beech trees thrive. Between the rolling hills lie narrow valleys with clear streams, bordered by willow and poplar groves. Small-scale fields and traditional orchards alternate with meadows, where classic Limburg timber-framed farms stand as silent witnesses to centuries-old agricultural traditions.
The gently rolling landscape is beautifully decorated with ancient castles and forts, golden yellow marl cliffs, hawthorn hedges, small terraces, and sunken lanes. Also characteristic are the marl caves, carved out of the soft limestone and holding special cultural and historical value. The blend of nature, culture, and history makes South Limburg a vibrant palette of colors and scents, where the landscape changes continuously with the seasons. In spring, the hills turn a soft green with blooming wildflowers, while in autumn the trees radiate a warm golden glow.

Forests and Heaths

Estates and Heritage

Polders and Farmlands

Hills and Valleys
Route map
Start and finish near bike node 61 on the Sint Gerlach in Houthem. However, this bike route is a circular tour, so it offers the possibility to start from any of the following bike nodes.
61 - 102 - 64 - 104 - 9 - 105 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 37 - 36 - 87 - 83 - 84 - 72 - 85 - 25 - 93 - 55 - 54 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 39 - 60 - 40 - 61
- 93% of the route runs on paved roads.
- 7% of the route runs on unpaved and semi-paved paths.


