Cycling holiday Maaseik

Across the Meuse, where the Netherlands is at its narrowest, lies the small town of Susteren with its beautiful Romanesque collegiate church. You then cycle on to Sittard, one of the oldest and greenest cities in the Netherlands. Along the east bank of the Meuse, past the hamlets of Illikhoven and Visserweert, you cycle back to Maaseik.

Past the Aldeneik vineyard and nature-rich gravel lakes, you follow the Meuse to the white town of Thorn. From the Middle Ages until the French Revolution, this former abbey principality managed to preserve its sovereignty. The abbey church stands at the highest point and dominates the white houses all around. This is where the noble canons used to live with their court. Passing Maasbracht's large inner harbour (with shipping museum), you drive back to Wurfeld Castle.

You take a tour through the beautiful Belgian National Park Hoge Kempen with its forests, heaths and creek valleys. But you also pass by traces of the miners' past: the closed coal mines with shaft towers, slag heaps, train tracks and typical garden suburbs. In Maasmechelen, you can visit a traditional miner's house.

A ride through the Kempenbroek Borderland Park, a stream-fed, rolling farmland with wind and water mills. Quiet roads wind past the nature reserves Jagersborg, Itterbeekvallei, 't Koelerheike, De Luysen and Stamprooierbroek. For a pleasant break, visit a number of rural taverns or the atmospheric village centres of Tongerlo, Opitter (brewery) or the old town of Bree.

You follow the winding course of the Meuse, a lovely river landscape with lovely villages and castles. In Stokkem, you can visit the braiding museum. The picturesque village of Elsloo, with its regional museum and castle, is the turning point. Across the other bank of the Meuse, you cycle back to the castle hotel.