Maastricht, Valkenburg, Kanne

The south of the Netherlands and the connecting part of Belgium is home to a rich history. Some three hundred and twenty million years ago there were tropical swamps and seventy million years ago there was a shallow subtropical sea with Mosasaurs and other marine animals at that spot. The remains of these animals created chalk layers, where many fossils have been found over the years. You can see more about that history at the Natural History Museum in Maastricht.

Well before the Middle Ages, limestone mining began, creating whole systems of corridors underground. Many of these corridor systems are accessible and used for a variety of purposes. Above ground, limestone, sand and gravel were quarried, these quarries, once mining stopped, were usually returned to nature. Which makes for specific natural areas with spectacular views.

This route takes you past the habitat of the eagle owl, past wild orchids and past various caves, which are actually quarries. There are quarries with a military character, quarries where mushrooms grow and wine and beer are matured and quarries with limestone sculptures or a real chapel. It is impossible to see them all in one day, but you can cycle this impressive route many times!

And if you have had enough of the underground for a while, the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht is something completely different, but just as worthwhile.